Model

Sustainable Living

Sustainable living is a way of thinking! The Better Lives model assists personal judgement about using sustaining principles and practices to deliver programs that achieve sustainable purposes.

DREAM
Everyone living happy and sustainable lives, in a peaceful and sustainable world.

PURPOSE
Assist disadvantaged rural schools, families and children with solutions to their sustainable living challenges.

PROGRAMS
Deliver expected sustainable quality solutions that are easy and enjoyable to sustain.

PRACTICES
Use sustaining practices to design and build quality solutions for sustainable living challenges.

PRINCIPLES
Believe in values that seed behaviours, which support sustaining practices.

Mandala

Our sustainable living model’s principles, practices, programs and purpose are depicted by this mandala image of avocado tree seeds, petals and leaves.

Principles

Seeds represent beliefs that seed sustaining behaviours, which start with taking ownership and lead to a sense of purpose in life.

  • OWNERSHIP
    • Home – for security
    • Responsibility – for sustainability
    • Health – for capacity to achieve
  • TEAMWORK
    • Gratitude – for others
    • Caring – to understand
    • Trust – each other
  • LEADERSHIP
    • Education – to develop skills
    • Productivity – by using skills
    • Earning – by producing and selling value
  • PURPOSE
    • Confidence – from small sustainable successes
    • Assistance – to achieve sustainable living
    • Courage – to solve challenges

Practices

Petals represent practices that build and care for solutions to sustainable living challenges:

  • RELATE to understand challenges
  • SOLVE root causes of challenges
  • AGREE ownership of solutions
  • DESIGN fit-for-purpose solutions
  • RESOURCE low life-cycle cost solutions
  • IMPLEMENT sustainable solutions

Programs

Leaves represent path steps to sustainable living, which need solution programs that address challenges faced by schools, families and children.

  • GROW
    • Food Always In The Home (FAITH) garden
    • School Grow-own-Breakfast (GOB)
  • EARN
    • Market Garden
    • Village Community Banking (VICOBA) group
  • BUILD
    • Rent-to-Own (RTO) home
    • School Water Sanitation and Hygiene (SWASH) facilities
    • Parents Assistance Award Program (PAAP)

Purpose

Leaves represent the following steps on a possible path to sustainable living:

  • Access KNOWLEDGE
  • Apply RESOURCES
  • Strengthen HEALTH
  • Earn INCOME
  • Improve HOME
  • Enhance EDUCATION

These steps guide how we assist schools, families and children with solutions for sustainable living challenges.