Values
Milele is founded on a set of core values which shape how we work and the kind of support we provide.
Choice
We believe that the role of Milele is to provide children and their families with choice.
Milele is passionate about facilitating choice, to empower children to take control of their own lives and destinies and shape their own future - Milele Mission Statement
Our support aims to provide children and families with the skills and resources they need to make their own choices. Rieder (Kenya Coordinator) lives and works in the area where Milele operates, he is a valued partner in the Milele leadership team and is given the resources and support he needs to create change in his own community.
Below are a couple of examples of Milele programmes which embody the value of choice.
Education
We believe that access to high quality education is a fundamental right for all children and this is the core of Milele’s work. Children and their families are able to choose which school they attend, which subjects they focus on and which additional activities they pursue.
Business Grants
Milele provides access to grant funding and practical support to enable parents to setup their own business which can help to sustain their family. Families choose what kind of business they run, how they spend their grant funding and do not have to repay anything.
Diversity & Equality
We believe that diversity is a strength of any group and that opportunities should not be restricted based on age, disability, nationality, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, relationship status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.
Milele actively tries to support children from a range of cultural backgrounds and genders. We encourage children on our programmes to pursue all interests, regardless of stereotypical norms. We ensure that children are offered the right support and resources to follow their dreams - no matter what they are.
The children and families who receive support from Milele are equal to those who provide support. Kenya has been impacted by European nations (including Britain) imposing their rule on the country, this has created economic imbalances which continues to exist. Indeed our country’s stronger financial position, built on these historic injustices is part of what allows us to provide support today.
We will always treat those who receive support from Milele as equals. We ensure that any media shows children and families in a respectful way and provides opportunities for Kenyan voices to tell their own stories. This is also important for equality in the UK as it ensures that we promote honest and powerful images of black people.
Sustainability
Milele believes in building a legacy of sustainability, rather than dependence; and seeks to provide meaningful, reliable support to a small number of children and families.
Many of the people we work with have experienced significant challenges in their lives already. We believe that providing reliable support and delivering what we promise is absolutely critical to ensure that children and families are able to focus on the other elements of their life; and begin to recover from past trauma. Rieder has been working with Milele for over 10 years and is a core part of the stability that families can rely on. We will not allow ‘voluntourism’ but instead facilitate meaningful partnership working based on the sharing of valuable skills and knowledge. It is important that every relationship built through Milele is long-term and dependable, especially as many children have already experienced disruption in their attachment relationships.
This value of sustainability has also led us to create a financial structure which ensures that Milele is able to guarantee our support will continue despite uncertain circumstances.
Milele moves slowly and deliberately - we do not use ‘quick fixes’ or make impulsive promises. We value well thought through projects which plan to empower individuals in the long-term.
Learning & Reflection
We believe that learning is essential, whether learning the basics of reading and writing or being able to listen to other points of view and experiences.
We are very aware that the Milele team is primarily white British and that our programmes support children and families in Kenya. It is therefore critically important for us to listen to and act based on the experiences of those living in the community. We are privileged to have Rieder as a valued part of our team and we also have strong relationships with many community leaders.
We frequently reflect and build on our programmes and are eager to hear from anyone who has comments or suggestions we can learn from.
It is the responsibility of all involved with Milele to listen, learn and act in a way that both embodies our core values and respects the children and families we work with.
Kindness
We truly and deeply care about every child on our programme and passionately want to help them achieve their goals. We treat people as we would like to be treated and accept them for who they are and what they have experienced. We believe the foundation of the care we provide should always be kindness.