Our Approach
- We work from a facilitative development paradigm: Our partners participate as they learn new insights and their current levels of awareness rise. We ensure that communities are seen as partners in their development process, they set the agenda and are allowed to speak for themselves.
- Solution focused approach: We have found this approach (which focuses on encouraging a person to be active in finding solutions which are appropriate to their unique situation rather than assuming responsibility for addressing people’s problems externally), constructive in moving young people from a negative space to a hopeful plan for their future. Personal development through youth-to-youth peer support is integral to this approach.
- Well-facilitated residential workshops: Providing space and time for reflection distanced from personal context, these workshops allow people to learn about themselves and others and formulate personal and group intentions to bring about change. The use of group work and interpersonal dialogues is important to this process.
- Indigenous knowledge systems: Through our work, particularly the peace building component, we have intentionally sought out and used existing local knowledge and practices, for example Ihlambo. Since indigenous knowledge is the basis for local-level decision-making in many rural communities, we believe this has been central to the success of these processes.
- Bottom-up advocacy: which recognises that communities are best placed to identify their needs and organise themselves to find a shared response.