Mission and Values

Mission Statement

Loving and serving the impoverished by promoting sustainable livelihoods, diversifying coping mechanisms, thereby instilling hope.

Values

VI is an organization that operates under the principles of love and service to others. As loving and serving others are a part of following Christ, VI operates under Christian principles. However, VI does not require adherence to Christianity in order to work for or be involved in the organization. Potential staff and board members are only required to conform with VI's Organizational and Operational Principles as set forth in its Organizational Plan.

As an organization, VI values:

• Loving and serving others. We believe God calls us to go out into the world and serve one another through brotherly love.
• Respecting people and upholding their dignity, including their beliefs and culture. We believe God calls us to view all people as made in the image of God and therefore inherently worthy of respect.
• Relationships between supporters, field workers, and beneficiaries. We believe that working with the impoverished and establishing real relationships produces genuine encouragement and hope.
• Sustainability. We believe that making a lasting difference for the impoverished involves sustainable solutions and not just quick fixes.
• Communal Knowledge. We believe that communal knowledge is valuable for development work. We will seek to encourage the sharing of knowledge as much as possible.