Sustainable Living Pyramid
The sustainable living pyramid is a framework for thinking, which guides sustaining judgement.
The pyramid offers a big picture view of five levels of thought that contribute to sustaining judgement. It guides us to base our decisions in sustaining principles and practices, in order to deliver programs that achieve our purpose and moves us towards our hope for happy sustainable lives.
PURPOSE
Everyone living sustainable lives.
PATH
People’s path steps to sustainable living.
PROGRAMS
Programs that assist people to solve challenges on their path steps to sustainable living.
PRACTICES
Practices that assist disadvantaged rural schools, families & children to solve sustainable living challenges.
Mandala
The step pyramid’s purpose, programs, practices and principles levels are depicted in this mandala image of avocado leaves, petals and seeds.
- Leaves – purpose and programs
- Petals – practices
- Seeds – principles
Purpose
Leaves represent these 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.
Programs
Leaves also represent solution programs for challenges faced by schools, families and children on their path steps to sustainable living.
- 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)
Practices
Petals represent practices that build and care for solutions for sustainable living challenges:
- NEED:
- RELATE to understand a challenge’s root cause
- SOLVE the root cause
- PRIORITIZE:
- AGREE ownership of the solution
- BUDGET:
- DESIGN fit-for-purpose solution
- RESOURCE low life-cycle cost solution
- ORDER:
- IMPLEMENT budgeted project
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