As Two Tunics works cross culturally to address the problems associated with the AIDS pandemic in Africa, we must first of all ensure that we do no harm. As we implement our programs  through community based efforts we want to ensure that we do this in biblical way that promotes God’s kingdom purposes. This includes each person fulfilling the purpose for which God created them and results in restoration of proper relationships of each person with God, with self, with other people and with creation.

Our organizational structure as well as the design of our programs needs to reflect the following goals based on a biblical approach to doing missions in poor communities.

1. Develop Effective Partnerships
2. Avoid Unhealthy Dependency
3. Avoid Paternalism
4. Avoid Providing Relief When Rehabilitation and/or Development is needed
5. Do Relief and Rehabilitation with a “Best Practice” Developmental Approach

Many of theses principles that we follow are from the outstanding book “When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. We highly recommend this book to anyone working in poor communities. We at Two Tunics are committed to working in a non-paternalistic and developmental way to avoid creating dependency, even as we provide needed relief due to the ongoing crisis of AIDS in Africa.