Necessary Commitments

One World participants are expected to make certain commitments before participating in the programs. These commitments include the following:

A commitment personally and to the group:

• in making the transition from our affluent Western culture to another culture and class.
  
  
• for good group dynamics including consensus decision-making and conflict resolution.
  
  
• to be conscientious with regards to One World values and goals
  
  
• to exercise leadership from within the group.
  
  
• to ensure co-ordination of group tasks: travel, projects, finances, health, safety, etc.
  
  
• to be responsible to and for the group when acting as the spokesperson for the group.
  
  
• to counsel a group member whose attitudes and/or actions are detrimental to him/herself, the group, our hosts or the One World Program.
  
  
• to foster the spiritual growth of the group through regular collective, prayerful reflection on your experiences and those of your hosts with each member contributing and each one's traditions respected.

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One World acknowledges and accepts certain responsibilities when selecting participants for its programs. Failure to live up to these responsibilities could have detrimental affects. Participants are therefore required to commit to:

1. One World Goals and Objectives
   
   
2. The communities and organizations that will be hosting us.
   
   
3. Each other (the members of your group).

ONE WORLD GOALS:

There is an assumption on our part that you chose to travel as a part of One World because you share the philosophy and goals of the program. Those include living, working, and developing relationships with the poor and marginalized of the countries you will be visiting. It is further assumed that you will do these things in a community context — as a group. Click here to learn more about One World’s Philosophy and Program Goals.

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OUR HOSTS:

For each program, an itinerary has been set up. This itinerary involves other communities and organizations. These communities and organizations have agreed to host us because of certain assumptions and expectations. Some of these assumptions and expectations are based on their experience with previous One World groups. For others, this may be their first contact with One World and their expectations are based on their experience with other groups, or simply on whatever they may have heard or know about One World (which may be very little). They are generally not familiar with or accustomed to consensus decision-making, and will expect a group “leader” to speak for, and make commitments on behalf of the group.

Many of our hosts’ decisions regarding safety, health, accommodations, education, or projects may not make sense to us. We may find ourselves in disagreement with them from time to time. We suggest that when disagreements do arise, that you discuss them as a group. If you as an individual cannot meet the expectations of your hosts, consult with your group, and address the problem as a group. A situation in which individual participants decide when and if they will comply with the wishes and expectations of their hosts cannot work, and should be avoided except in the most extreme circumstances-i.e. where safety or ethical issues are of immediate concern.

Remember that your hosts have also assumed responsibility for your safety, your welfare, and to a certain extent, your conduct while you are their guest. They cannot fulfill these responsibilities without your collective cooperation. Even if the group seeks to release them from their “self-imposed” responsibilities, they may feel a moral obligation to carry out these responsibilities. Furthermore, arrangements have been made by, or on behalf of your group. It would be unfair to expect our hosts to have to make separate arrangements and contracts with each individual.

One World participants are expected to share in the lives and work of their hosts. We hope that collectively you will see to it that your group and all the individuals who are part of it honour that commitment.

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EACH OTHER:

There is an assumption that you will be committed to each other-to living in community. You will be spending a lot of time together. You will become intimately familiar with each other’s good points, and each other’s bad points. You will become acutely aware of how other people’s decisions and choices affect you, and how your choices and decisions affect others. Sometimes you will be affirmed, encouraged, and praised. Sometimes you will feel ignored or marginalized. Other times you will be challenged, or confronted. You will not be autonomous, independent, ineffectual or unaffected. You may feel hurt, defensive, or wish to withdraw. You may not wish to face or deal with certain issues. You may not wish to tolerate certain behaviors or actions on the part of others. You may feel that other’s expectations of you are unrealistic. Your community may be immobilized by a dispute or conflict that has nothing to do with you.

In community personal problems become group problems. Personality conflicts become group problems. You may not want to involve yourself in someone else’s dispute, or you may resent someone else sticking his or her nose in yours. In reality, everyone is somehow affected when there are unresolved tensions and conflicts within the group, and you owe it, not only to yourself, but your group-mates to identify and address problems. All communities have problems. The difference between a healthy community and an unhealthy one is that the former addresses and tries to resolve problems, while the latter tries to ignore, dismiss, repress or avoid them.

While it may be tempting to walk away from a community and all of its challenges and problems, there are certain rewards to sticking it out. As individuals we may never have to put up with, or work out our differences with those we find too challenging. But we would then also forfeit the affirmation and opportunities for growth that come from living in community. While it isn’t always pleasant knowing how our choices and behavior affect others, it is healthy. Our behavior affects others, whether we are in community or not. The only real difference is that in community we are more likely to find out how! A community in which members are committed to each other provides an enormous opportunity for personal growth. Affirm the good in each other. Lovingly challenge that which needs changing. And seek the courage and encourage each other to rise to worthy challenges.

Community also provides the security of interdependence — you’re not in this alone. It’s a place where you are unconditionally loved — warts and all; a place where you are accountable to others as well as yourself — especially important on those days when you aren’t willing to do for yourself what you are willing to do for others. And finally, when we become more aware of how we affect those close to us in our group, we will also become more aware of how we might be affecting the global community which we are all a part of: part of, but which may not be providing us with a lot of much-needed feedback!

The goal is not to become a single-minded homogeneous entity: you will learn to respect and appreciate your differences. Different life experiences and perspectives enrich — they don’t detract from — the collective capabilities, knowledge, and wisdom of the group. They are a source of empowerment, if you incorporate them. Different life experiences and perspectives can be immobilizing if you try to dismiss, minimize, discount or discredit them.

Don’t affirm what needs to be challenged. Don’t challenge what needs to be affirmed. Acknowledge each other’s feelings, regardless of whether or not you consider them to be justified. Consider, and reconsider when you have new information. Seek clarification if you don’t understand. Don’t be afraid to admit to errors in judgment, or to change your mind about something. And if someone disagrees with your opinion on something, it does not necessarily mean that they don’t like you. If someone lies to you, make sure that they know you could handle the truth (when its you they’re protecting); or that you could still love and forgive them (when its themselves they’re protecting).

The presence of conflict indicates a lack of resignation to the status quo. As long as problems and unacceptable attitudes and behaviour persist, may God continue to bless us and our communities with conflict!