We believe in people and in what they are capable of. Even people living in development countries who feel they aren't capable of much. Due to circumstances they are incapable of looking after themselves. They are, and will always be, dependent on aid from Western countries. Or, as Nobel prize winner Wangari Maathai from Kenia puts it in The Challenge for Africa: "They suffer from the dependence-syndrome: a sizeable bottleneck for development”.
Taking responsibility
We believe that when people manage to grow beyond the position of victim or 'underdog', they will start making their own decisions and become able-bodied and independent. They will develop a different mentality in which they tale responsibility for their own lives and, in a broader sense, for their community and society. We believe that people who believe in themselves contribute to a stable, social and democratic society.
Awareness leads to empowerment
Starting a process of changing mentality begins with young people. The wish to change has to be an internal need. This only happens when someone is aware of themselves and has insight into their own needs and problems. In development countries there is often no room for such a process of becoming aware. However, working on creating this awareness a necessary step towards empowerment - becoming able-bodied. That is what FairPen aims for.
Specialties
Training, Empowerment, Education
