Supporting Communities // Wise Short-term Missions
PRINCIPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE TO HONOR COMMUNITIES • Understand that children thrive when surrounded by healthy communities and social systems – including families, schools, churches, businesses, and local government. • Instead of focusing on an orphanage or children’s home, consider activities that benefit the entire community. This could be camps, clinics, teaching English, or other training. Events like these can strengthen families and help children separated from family care to integrate with the community. • Train and resource local leaders and ministries that have the potential to positively impact vulnerable children long-term. When your team is big enough with the right skills, consider offering training in business, children’s ministry, financial literacy, parenting, marriage support, or other skills that strengthen families and communities. • Always consider what effect it would have on the community if the activities and relationships that occur on your trip were repeated by other teams over time.