Methodology – Our Approach
We collaborate with disadvantaged families, schools and communities to develop and implement solutions for self-reliance that are holistic and sustainable.
Collaborate – with our partners, who do the same with families, schools and communities, to understand people’s challenges and the root causes of those challenges.
Holistic – combines people, process and parts to create solutions for self-reliance that address the root causes of challenges.
Sustainable – by the families themselves throughout the life cycle of the solution, enabling them to move towards food, income, and education self-reliance.
Approach – Collaborative
A collaborative solution brings together feelings of ownership and goodwill that are fueled by sharing of knowledge. Solutions are collaboratively designed with our partners, families, schools and communities so that the root cause of the need is understood and addressed.
Ownership
By the families and schools to help each other and their children to be healthy, educated and able to earn an income.
Goodwill
Trust, responsiveness and mutual benefit can develop an enduring collaboration between our partners, families and schools.
Wisdom
Families and schools can benefit from sharing and using best practices that improve everyone’s lives.
Approach – Holistic
A holistic solution brings together people, process and parts to create solutions that address the root causes of challenges to achieving self-reliance.
People
Work parties are made up of interested people who are willing and able to work together to create value.
Work parties have clear accountability and responsibility.
Process
Procedures from the Better Lives library are combined to create repeatable processes.
The procedures are based upon easy, efficient and effective steps that are enjoyable to teach and learn.
Parts
Fit-for-purpose modular parts are enjoyable to use because they help achieve a process’s purpose easily, efficiently and effectively.
A “Low total cost of ownership” part can be maintained, repaired and improved.
Approach – Sustainable
A sustainable solution provides predictable, continuously improving value so that it can be sustained by families and communities throughout it’s life.
Life Cycle Design
Life Cycle Design’s purpose is to develop solutions that provide predictable, valuable and continuously improving outcomes.
Design & Build
Collaborate with families, schools and communities to design, build and implement fit-for-purpose solutions.
Protect & Operate
Protect the parts in the environment from weather, animals and people, and make them easy to operate.
Maintain & Repair
Maintain parts to minimize replacement, and repair as needed so that the parts will last a long time.
Improve & Sustain
Improve any processes and parts over time so that the user will create more value and want to sustain and keep using the solution.