LUCIA believes that the key to positive change is to help people in Africa, particularly women, to help themselves with long-term self-sustainable development projects. In turn, this reduces reliance on international aid. Instead of simply giving repeated hand-outs of food or money, LUCIA works towards empowering African communities and individuals so that they can become self sufficient and then go on to help others to do the same. LUCIA does occasionally use a small amount of its money to fund emergency relief work as we recognise that some communities will need this in order to reach the sustainable development phase.

The bulk of LUCIA's programmes are currently in Ethiopia. They include the formation of women's self-help groups the protection and the schooling of young orphan girls. LUCIA currently works with organisations based in Ethiopia to combat these and other issues, and has formal partnerships with the Siiqqee Women's Development Association (SWDA), Developing the Family Together (DFT) and Women and Children Development Organization (WDCO).

Working with African organisations means that the people there are helping each other rather than having outside agents dictate how they should live. Local workers are more sensitive to the cultural aspects of their society and understand the problems, wishes and needs of the local communities.

As a small charity, working this way is important. Not only is it better for the people we are trying to help, but it also means that we do not have to pay for LUCIA staff to travel, live and work in Africa on a permanent basis. Instead, all of our money can be invested into projects to help poor communities.

Of course, projects must be audited and LUCIA representatives visit our projects in Ethiopia to do this, currently at their own personal expense. We also require regular status and financial reports from our partner organisations, which the charity monitors closely.