What we're on about..

I've been writing our organisations' core values. This probably won't be the final version, but I think it expresses something of what we're on about:

EMPOWERMENT
We acknowledge our dependence on God and express this through prayer, worship, asking for advice and listening to the Scriptures.
We recognise each other's gifts and skills. We also build out capacity through training, coaching and professional development.
We recognise that a long-term commitment needs to be made to see transformation in individual people's lives, in churches and communities.

HONESTY
We strive to keep our commitments.
We honestly evaluate the communities we live in and our responses to the people around us.
We share information with our team, donors and the government and friends and family through formal and informal reporting.
We acknowledge that we don't 'have all the answers' but we are continually learning.
We take risks, make bold plans, offer second chances, forgive mistakes and hold onto hope, knowing that failure isn't final.

SERVICE
We value people and maintain a respectful attitude to people from all cultural and subcultural backgrounds.
We 'put the last first' by removing barriers to participation in our activities. We especially encourage participation of children, women, the poor and people with disabilities.
We develop relationships with the people we serve.

SUSTAINABILITY
We initiate and sustain cooperative relationships with churches, NGOs and schools in Poipet through our work.
We prefer to work in partnership with other groups rather than doing any activity by ourselves.
We are patient with each other and the people we serve, accepting people as they are and encouraging them to be what God intends them to be.

FUN
We relax in the security and joy of God's love.
We encourage lunchtime naps and time off on weekends and holidays to keep our smiles and our sanity.
We seek to infuse all our activities with some fun and to help others' recognise their own moments of joy.