EWB Releases its newly articulated Values and Beliefs

11 December, 2009 @ 11:19

In January 2009, we burned our mission statement and redirected the course of EWB. In balancing new stakeholders, new projects, and new demands – we decided it was time to ask some pointed questions about our values as an organization.

We take our values seriously because the need we see for our work both in African and at home is vast. The more directed our work, the better chance we have of meeting that need. With common ideas that unite our purpose, Canadian youth, students, the engineering profession, and other actors can together have a transformative effect on the world.

With this in mind, our CEOs asked: “What is it that unifies us as an organization? How do we live our core values on a daily basis as EWBers?” This started a dialogue that invited all EWBers to answer these questions.

Over six months, we gathered the input of over 250 members and volunteers from across Canada, consulted our student and professional communities, and reflected on our past and projected course for the future.

Congratulations go out to all EWBers on creating an inspiring conversation, as we have now finalized EWB’s newly articulated Values and Beliefs!

The result consists of four beliefs that motivate our work and six values that guide our actions and decisions. We feel confident that these Values and Beliefs are the best expression yet of what EWB is all about – a desire to change the world today and to use the best of our skills and resources to improve human lives.

Most importantly, the Values and Beliefs reflect the people who wrote it – EWBers like you –whose drive, passion and vision make up the life-force behind the impact EWB is having both in Canada and overseas.

Together, we hope to use the Values and Beliefs as an EWBer’s guide to decision-making and prioritizing. We ask: How can we get into to the habit of assessing your actions against our values, and engage our fellow EWBers in debate about how well we, as an organization, are living them? EWB is whatever we want it to be – it’s up to us to live the values that we’ve chosen to define us.

Take a look at EWB’s new Values and Beliefs: www.ewb.ca/en/whoweare/ourcharter.html