Our Philosophy
For more than 30 years in 20 nations, Dr. Tom Grassano has been engaged in providing solutions to the effects of poverty. The philosophy of Go-Mission reflects three decades of successfully empowering the poor and underserved:
- We begin by building relationships with the people, knowing that trust must be developed first to create sustainable partnership.
- As we offer solutions, we listen intently to their expressions of their own needs, helping them identify priorities and giving them a primary voice in the solutions.
- We give the people ownership over the efforts to address their needs. With this ownership comes responsibility and personal engagement in solutions.
- Partnership is developed in a way brings positive change to their circumstances and enhances their dignity and self-worth. Giving ownership and engaging in partnership gives them the ability to look at the results and say, "Look what we did!" rather than "Look what they did for us."
- We strategize for holistic and sustainable development: holistic in approach by addressing health, nutrition, hygiene, education, and other daily needs; sustainable by implementing solutions that do not foster dependency.
- We plan forward as we implement solutions. For example, if we help a homeless drug addict or alcoholic to end his/her addiction, we must have a plan in place for job education, employment, and housing or the individual may return to their former state of homelessness and addiction. Likewise, if we enhance children's education, we must pave the way for opportunities upon high school graduation or their incentive to succeed academically will be seriously impaired.
- While we seek sustainability, we do not abandon those whom we have served. We continue in relationship and remain a resource for strategic planning. We applaud every success and partner in finding solutions for every failure, continually working to enhance the dignity and problem-solving of everyone that we serve.
- We do not attempt to serve many locations at one time. Spreading ourselves too thin will only limit the impact that we can make. Instead, we focus a few areas, producing results and imparting methods that can be replicated in other locations.
- We provide opportunities for students and volunteers to serve with Go-Mission, giving them the opportunity to be engaged in strategies that empower the poor. Often these opportunities result in life-changing experiences and a future devoted to making a difference in our world.
