Our Ethical Position
We believe that overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, but an act of justice. We are in Sierra Leone fundamentally to create lasting change for the poorest people in the world.
We take a business-like approach to overcoming poverty. We don’t believe that charity has made the change Africa needs; nor has it delivered value for money.
We aim to rectify those two issues by using business to generate genuinely social returns, as well as healthy financial returns.
We believe we can unify the profit incentive with a moral imperative. We are keen to see wealth generation, and the equitable distribution of wealth to include the poorest as well as the most able in society being fairly rewarded.
How we Operate
We run businesses in farming, food-processing, and run internet cafes. The revenue we generate from these businesses, we then use to fund the running costs of free, high quality education in Sierra Leone.
We believe results are achieved by:
1. Treating staff fairly, and rewarding them reliably and generously. We are proud of the fact that no staff member has ever been owed a wage by Planting Promise.
2. Acting with integrity in our negotiations with farmers and villagers. We always share the profits we make from our businesses with those who have made success possible.
3. Being motivated by social as well as financial goals. Our businesses are doing more than capitalising on economic opportunities. They are trying to unite the economic opportunity with the social need. We see the moral value in businesses that expand industries that Sierra Leone needs to develop: agriculture, food-processing and internet provision.
4. International partnership. Our remarkable results have been achieved by partners in Sierra Leone and the UK sharing ideas, expertise and experience. We do not believe in solutions being prescribed from an office in London; nor do we believe that the modus operandi of Sierra Leonean practices should be accepted at face value. Our partnership brings the best of both worlds to bear.
5. Sharing our progress with the members of our organisation. Our model is only as good as its staff members. We ensure that each and every one of our staff shares our five values:
- Pride
Reliability
Professionalism
Progress for the nation
Absolute quality of what we do.
How we want to be seen
We want to be regarded as market leaders in our businesses, and the best providers of education in Sierra Leone.
Beyond that, we want to be viewed as a professional, effective and well-led organisation making the changes that Sierra Leone needs to make the most of its vast economic and human potential.
