At the heart of AIDAN lies a firm and deliberate commitment to a set of values that guide everything we do. These are not abstract ideals; they are lived, practiced, and embodied in our fieldwork, in the relationships we build, and in the outcomes we strive for. Every mediation we facilitate, every project we support, every conversation we host, and every partnership we nurture is anchored in these values.
This page outlines the principles that define AIDAN’s identity and fuel our actions. Understanding these values is key to understanding who we are, what drives us, and what we expect from ourselves and from those who work with us.
1. Respect for Human Dignity
Respect for human dignity is the cornerstone of our work. At AIDAN, every person—regardless of their age, origin, gender, religion, education level, economic condition, or life experience—is treated with the utmost respect. We believe that dignity is not earned; it is inherent.
In practical terms, this means we never impose solutions. We create spaces where individuals are heard, understood, and empowered to speak for themselves. We avoid judgment. We listen attentively, acknowledge pain and frustration, and strive to ensure that every person feels recognized as someone who matters.
2. Neutrality and Impartiality
Mediation requires the ability to hold space without taking sides. This value of neutrality is one of the most challenging—and also the most essential—in our practice.
AIDAN commits to being impartial in every situation we intervene in. We do not support one party over another. We do not judge who is right or wrong. We are not here to decide outcomes but to enable communication and mutual understanding. We ensure that all voices are heard fairly.
Neutrality also means refusing to allow personal beliefs or assumptions to influence our work. Whether we are working in public spaces, in housing disputes, or with youth collectives, we stand as facilitators, not actors. Our role is to support the process, not to control it.
3. Active Listening and Empathy
Listening is not simply waiting for your turn to speak. It is a practice of attention, openness, and care.
At AIDAN, listening is our most powerful tool. We listen not only to the words being spoken but to the silences, the body language, and the emotions behind the expressions. We seek to understand the needs, fears, and aspirations of the individuals we support.
Empathy—the ability to step into someone else’s experience without losing our neutrality—is closely tied to listening. It allows us to hold complex realities, especially in moments of conflict. When people feel truly heard, conflict often begins to transform.
4. Access to Rights and Justice
A just society is one in which every individual has access to their rights—not only in theory, but in practice.
One of AIDAN’s central missions is to support people in understanding and claiming their rights—whether in housing, public services, education, transportation, or civic participation. This work is not always visible, but it is essential. We help individuals navigate administrative procedures, interpret documents, and find their way through institutional systems that can seem hostile or inaccessible.
We believe that rights are a form of dignity—and that people have the right to know, understand, and exercise them. Our commitment to justice does not mean replacing institutions. It means making institutions more accessible and more accountable to the people they serve.
5. Peaceful Conflict Resolution
Conflict is natural. It is part of human life. What matters is how we choose to respond to it.
At AIDAN, we believe that conflict can be an opportunity for learning, growth, and repair. Our work is grounded in the belief that violence—whether physical, verbal, or structural—is not inevitable. We encourage dialogue, and we create the conditions in which people can express themselves safely, name their needs, and find mutually acceptable ways forward.
We reject domination, aggression, and coercion. We work patiently, calmly, and respectfully, always aiming to rebuild trust and understanding where it has been broken.
6. Community Engagement
We do not operate from a distance. We are embedded in the communities we serve.
From the beginning, AIDAN has understood that real change happens when people feel involved and empowered. That is why resident participation is a key value in our projects. We do not arrive with ready-made solutions. We co-construct our actions with the people most concerned by them. We support local dynamics. We encourage people to take ownership of their living spaces, of their shared responsibilities, and of their common future.
This approach requires humility. It means listening before acting. It means recognizing the strengths that already exist in communities and building from them.
7. Solidarity and Inclusion
We live in an increasingly fragmented world. At AIDAN, we actively work against exclusion, isolation, and inequality.
Solidarity is not charity. It is standing together, recognizing that we are all interdependent. It is refusing to leave anyone behind. Our approach is inclusive, and we deliberately reach out to those who are too often marginalized—young people, the elderly, migrants, people experiencing economic hardship, or those with complex family or social situations.
Inclusion means making space for all voices, not only the loudest or most powerful. It means being attentive to the barriers—visible and invisible—that people face, and actively working to remove them.
8. Trust and Confidentiality
Mediation and support work cannot succeed without trust.
At AIDAN, we take confidentiality extremely seriously. Individuals who come to us must feel safe—safe to speak freely, to express difficult emotions, and to disclose sensitive information. We do not share information without consent. We do not gossip. We follow clear ethical guidelines to protect the people we serve.
We also strive to be transparent and reliable in our commitments. We show up when we say we will. We follow through. Trust is built through consistency, respect, and care—and we do everything in our power to preserve it.
9. Autonomy and Empowerment
Our goal is not to make people dependent on us. It is to help people reclaim their own power.
Empowerment means helping individuals, groups, or communities develop their own solutions. It means recognizing that every person has resources within them: ideas, courage, creativity, strength. We help people recognize those resources. We provide tools. We support reflection and action. And then, we step back when needed.
Autonomy is both a means and an end. It means trusting that people are capable, and giving them the space to act as such.
10. Commitment to Continuous Learning
The world is changing. So must we.
AIDAN encourages a culture of ongoing learning. We reflect on our experiences. We attend trainings. We adapt our methods. We ask for feedback. We evolve.
We also believe that learning happens in community—not only through books or lectures, but through relationships, conversations, mistakes, and successes. Our volunteers and staff are encouraged to remain curious, humble, and always open to growth.
Living Our Values
These values are not a list we hang on a wall. They are what we live by—day by day, case by case, conversation by conversation.
They guide how we speak, how we listen, how we act, and how we relate to others. When we are unsure of a decision or a strategy, we return to them. When we face obstacles, we find strength in them.
If you share these values, then you share the spirit of AIDAN. And we would be honored to have you stand with us.