AVSI, relying in a particular way on its personnel in the field working side by side with local partners, holds education as the overall goal of each cultural, social and economic project and initiative. Education cannot be reduced to schooling, training sessions, or information campaigns; instead, to educate means to introduce ourselves and one another to reality, to its meaning and to the value of things, thereby sustaining the individual’s responsible undertaking to better his/her life and the lives of others.

An education to reality entails sharing an experience, through a relationship, where the fulfillment of life and the awareness of meaning are already being lived. With this ultimate goal and guided by the following principles, AVSI does not create dependency, but helps individuals and communities address their own present and future needs through education and building permanent and sustainable institutions.

Centrality of the person

The person is seen as a unique being in his or her fundamental relationships, family and society. The person cannot be reduced to a social category or a limitation such as poverty, disease or disability.

Starting from the positive

Every person and every community represents a potential resource, regardless of their vulnerability. This means valuing and strengthening all that has been made by people and also helping people to understand their own value and dignity.

Doing with

Starting from a relationship with the people to whom the project is directed and building with them on the basis of their development path.

Development of Civil Society and Subsidiarity

Development projects must favor associations, ackowledgment and must value the establishment of intermediate bodies along with responsible and engaged social fabric.

Partnership

Promotion of partnerships with all the actors in the field in order to favor synergies and optimize available resources.