The work of the LCFN acts upon following basic principles:

- Self development and self responsibility
- Partizipation
- Authentizity
- Low financial input

Self development & self responsibility

An important point of the LCFN for successful development cooperation ist the cultural self development and through that the resulting maximum responsible of the project group.

Often projects of the development policy fail because they are seen as an exterior influence within the areas to be developed. The LCFN is convinced that development cooperation as exogenous factor oposes the human strive for self development. This often results in the rejection of development projects from the receiving groups. A further result is frequently a relationship of dependence, if foreign projects are carried out. Development has to come from within. Only then it is possible to gain the highest possible and necessary responsibiliy for a project.

Thus the LCFN exclusively supports projects that has been developed by the project group itself. These projects can be initiated and drafted by the LCFN in cooperation with group members of the community concerned, ideas can be generated and suggestions can be made, but the projects themselves should be developed and executed by the project groups. 

This approach bears two advantages: Firstly aspired projects will only be realised by a group if they have a value within the cultural understanding of the group. Secondly the project group identifies itself with the project, as it is their own, self made and self administered business, which gives them new income opportunities and which promotes their cultural awarenes. The result is that through the complete liability for the project the project group develops sustainable learning and problem-solving acesses. The LCFN assumes that an overall acceptance of the complete project is only possible if all these factors have been fulfilled. 

Participation

The LCFN assumes that through the participation of the project group in every step of development within the project the identification with the project increases. Those who decide to develop a project intiated by the LCFN will construct every development process of the project themselves. They are responsible for the development of ideas, the design and the implementation of decisions, as well as the establishment, accomplishmet and evaluation of the project. During all these processes they will be supported by the LCFN.

Authenticity

The projects within the frame work of „Living Cultures“, which are a major part of the development program of the LCFN, live of the representation of realistic and traditional cultures of the specific groups. The authenticity and crediblity of the presentation are of vital importance. 

Tthe LCFN only supports projects, which are - according to research of the specific cultural group - accepted as being authentic. Given that the presented parts of the culture are in fact showing the traditional culture of a certain time and group, the project group will be able to establish a new income opportunity and at the same time prohibit a further loss of their culture. Especially the regain of a new cultural identity can only be achived if the original culture is presented as authentic as possible.

Low financial input

Important in the frame work of “Living Cultures“ is the fact that all projects are realisable without large financial input. For the establishment of the projects the project group seldomly needs resources from outside, but has to invest in man power.

The LCFN supports projects indirectly (marketing, advertising). Apart from few exeptions the project group will not receive financial help. The sponsor should not be recognised as such,  to avoid dependency of the project group implied by the sponsor. This allows the development of self responsibility for and identification with the project.

As a non-profit  organisation we are thankful for every donation that supports our work...

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