Why is fhn Unique?

ISOLATED COMMUNITIES

• In Ecuador & Ghana, we work with populations that have been virtually ignored by the national government. For example, no census had registered the total population of these regions to date and almost no government-sponsored health or social services had been offered in the past.

• The coastal populations of Ecuador have also been overlooked by the international aid community, which has primarily focused aid on the Andean and Amazonian populations in Ecuador.

MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT

•fhn is innovative in creating successful partnerships with local people and local governments, ensuring that we also hold local agencies accountable.

COMMUNITY DIRECTED PLANNING

• fhn always responds fully to the agenda set forth by the community – not the other way around.

• Local communities themselves donated time and labor to construct the health center.

• We work with a concept of health as defined by local people.

TRUST and TRANSPARENCY

• The level of trust between project personnel and local inhabitants is very strong, as our relationships are built first and foremost on friendship and transparency.

PARTICIPATION and FACILITATION

• fhn employs participatory approaches and methodologies to help the communities and individuals improve their well-being. To this end, we involve ourselves in the local community as facilitators rather than directors.

SENSITIVITY and COMMITMENT

• fhn is committed to sustained, deep engagement with local people in order to understand their social, economic, political, and health realities, needs and desires at each stage of project implementation.

PASSION and PROFUNDITY

• We are passionate with a deep-seated desire to benefit the short and long-term wishes and needs of local people. We aim to tackle the causes of issues of concern and not just treat the symptoms.