GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Underlying our perception of the human condition are five principles that guide us in the implementation of transformative works in partnership with the grassroots community.
- As-Shidqu was syaja’ah: refers to honesty, righteousness, sincerity and openness. This principle counsels us to be courageous in our interactions with others, by being open in the expression of our inner selves and in accepting others.
- Al Amanah wal Wafa bil ‘ahdi: refers to trustworthiness, loyalty and integrity. A strongly integrated community is one composed of individuals who uphold these principles. This is fundamental, as strongly integrated communities are more capable of identifying, analysing and addressing development challenges together as a collective.
- Al musawa wal ‘adalah: refers to equality and mutual respect. All human beings are accorded rights by virtue of being human. In a just society, individuals recognise universal human rights and actively endeavour to protect the rights of all people. In this way, a just society may also be described as a wise one.
- Atta’awun: refers to mutual support and assistance. According to this principle, those who genuinely support others and engage in benevolent deeds will in turn receive support during times of need. In this way, mutual support and assistance is at the heart of human solidarity.
- Al-Istiqamah: refers to consistency. According to this principle, we should never stray from the path of God but should instead seek to uphold our religious beliefs and ideals in our pursuit to better understand God, ourselves and our position in the world.
STRATEGY
In order to achieve our vision and mission, LAKPESDAM NU Jombang facilitates community-directed change. LAKPESDAM NU Jombang recognises that positive sustainable changes cannot be imposed top-down, but must instead come from the bottom-up. An informed community, who understands the logical consequences of their choices, determines what development activities will be undertaken. LAKPESDAM NU Jombang’s role is to act as a stimulant, helping communities make informed choices by shaping the quality of public discourse through the provision of information, assistance and training in areas like strategy planning and technical delivery.
LAKPESDAM NU Jombang uses a strategy of ‘action-reflection’ to learn from past experiences, thus expanding its knowledge base. Each project has stringent monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems in place which allow staff members to critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each project, and to reflect on project achievements. Future decision making takes into account issues of sustainability and feedback from target beneficiaries and staff members.
Our programs and training employ a people centred approach which is underpinned by adult education methods, structured learning and participatory education techniques in order to empower our community basis to make informed choices. LAKPESDAM NU Jombang assists this process by providing an educational environment in which individuals can direct their own learning, allowing room for individuals to identify useful and practical learning goals related to their own experiences which are contextually appropriate to social and cultural circumstances.
