Reaching the Unreached was founded to serve the poorest in our area by whatever means are needed and suitable and possible, according to the felt needs and priorities of the people.

Our immediate aim is to help the most destitute in our area in as practical and as sustainable a way as possible. We do not wish our work to be merely a stop-gap, although it will frequently have to be that. We want it to be something permanent, affecting the whole area, by helping to improve as many people’s future as possible. We wish to be gentle, unassuming and in keeping with the people for whom we serve.

No needs of the poor, whether of individuals or of communities, are to be overlooked.  This means that RTU must be multi-faceted and as far as possible run an integrated development programme for the rural poor.

This must especially include women and children, the old, the sick, the homeless, the unemployable, those in need of houses or water, etc.

We believe we must be people-centred and not project-centred, to be able to react quickly to an individual’s immediate needs.  Our projects are, however, also necessary to serve the poor in a substantial and long term way.

We continually strive to be involved and integrated in our area so we are part of it and not outsiders.  This allows us to better understand the needs of those we serve and what would be the most appropriate and sustainable way to help them.

At RTU we believe in treating those we serve as neighbours who have the right to a decent life. We feel therefore we must always be careful that our facilities and the benefits of belonging to an established group do not stop us from always looking out and reaching out and sharing whatever we have.

RTU believes its reputation is built on the work it does.

We think the carefully administered support we receive, whether it is financial, equipment or even fixed assets, belong to the poor.  Therefore all staff receiving salaries do so thanks to those poor people whom we are meant to serve.