Our Mission, Vision, & Values
Our Mission
We enable communities and those who work with them to develop innovative yet practical solutions to poverty through a community-led development approach and widely share these lessons to encourage replication.
Our Vision
We envision a world of equity, justice and peace where people achieve their full potential and live a life of quality and dignity in harmony with the environment.
Our Values
We are inspired and live by our credo. Our continuous effort to build the capacity of the poor and those who work with them is based on our belief in the following principles:
PARTNERSHIPS - We work in partnerships based on mutual respect, knowledge, trust, and help
TEAMWORK - a multi-disciplinary approach valuing diversity and inclusive communication
EXCELLENCE - highly professional work that demands accountability and good governance
THE 4 C’s - individual qualities of Character, Competence, Commitment, and Creativity
The Ping (Our logo)
The PING is a Chinese ideogram, a symbol expressing an idea that cannot adequately be summarized in words. It was the logo of the Mass Education Movement founded in China in 1923 by Dr. Y.C. James Yen and now is the logo for the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) organized in 1960.
There are two levels of meaning of the PING: global and personal.
For the World, the PING is meant to light the path to Peace, Equality, and Justice.
The horizontal bar on top represents the mind or brain– essential for the success of any effort.
The dash on the left is equity.
The dash on the right is justice.
The cross in the center represents compassion for the neglected poor.
“Ping-Min” (common people) “Jiao-Yu” (education) means mass education in Chinese.
According to Dr. Yen, equal education and opportunity for all, correct justice. When there is equity and justice, there will be peace.
For each person, the PING inspires Calmness, Serenity, and Tranquility.
The Chinese maxim “Ping Xin Jing Qu” advises that when provoked and irate, “calm your heart and quiet your mind” to acquire serenity and tranquility.
In honor of our founder, his background, and his beliefs, IIRR has adopted the PING as its logo.
The background image on this page is of the Nine Major Rural Reconstruction Principles, written in Chinese by Dr. James Y.C. Yen. Please click here for a translation.
