Embodying community values

During 1997, a number of village communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin American were invited to help develop a list of values, principles, and ideals that they would like to see established in their own communities. The following is the preliminary outcome. A Village Peasant's Declaration of Hope: 10 Commitments For A Better Life.  I will encourage: (1) Discipline to improve myself by being more consistent and responsible in my own personal behaviour; (2) Hard Work to improve my family by being more dedicated to meet the economic, social, and cultural needs of my family; (3) Unity to improve my neighbourhood by being more willing to help my friends and neighbours to succeed in their lives; (4) Courage to improve my area of activity by being more willing to try things that can expand and enrich our lives; and (5) Cooperation to strengthen my community by being more aware of opportunities to uplift, enrich and improve the quality of our lives.

I will discourage: (6) All forms of dependency that cause increased poverty and personal degradation, such as child marriages and excessive dowries, drunkenness, gambling, and drug use, and prostitution and family abuse; (7) All forms of violence, brutality and injury that cause physical or emotional distress, harm, pain or death; (8) All forms of dishonesty and corruption that cause loss of personal, family and community resources; (9) All forms of jealousy, intolerance, unkindness and criticism that cause social divisions and community conflict; and (10) All forms of injustice and exploitation that keep our community poor and disadvantaged.