We step in to help communities that lie outside the reach of their own government’s educational initiatives. We choose local partners and develop projects that address the physical, educational and environmental needs of children. Lotus Outreach follows certain general criterion in establishing projects:
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Children are at the heart of everything we do
Children are the most vulnerable target group, and working with them provides the greatest long-term and sustainable benefits to communities in need. We believe it is easier to raise a healthy child than to repair an adult.
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Greatest need
Lotus Outreach programs serve children and communities that are among the poorest and most vulnerable—those most in need of assistance.
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Projects operate at the grassroots level
Believing that change spreads fastest from the ground up, our projects are delivered at the grassroots level by local people. We choose smaller partners who show the capacity to do excellent work and could benefit from program development and financial assistance.
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Gender imbalances are taken into consideration
We are mindful of gender inequalities in the regions in which we work, and many of our programs target girls specifically. Experience and evidence tell us that educating girls is among the most powerful instruments of social change, yielding long-term benefits far greater than the initial investment.
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Resources are applied judiciously and expended carefully
Our projects must be cost-effective to maximize donor funds. Lotus Outreach attempts to fill in the gaps left by larger organizations and by governments. We ensure our projects integrate logically with existing programs, and strive not to duplicate others efforts. We spend ample time conducting research before committing resources.
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Sustainability is an eventual outcome
We follow the principal of “a hand-up, not a hand-out” (change not charity) and aim to build local capacity in the areas we serve. We work toward our own eventual redundancy.
