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Organisational
Structure of St. Martin-CSA
The
organisational structure of St. Martin is different from usual ones.
Unlike many other visual presentations of a decision-making structure,
ours looks like it is presented upside down. This has been done on
purpose. Originally, the structure looked like any other, with the
directors and trustees on top. However the structure did not reflect
the real identity of the organisation. We saw ourselves differently
from what the chart represented.
As a result, the structure was redone upside down with the
community volunteers placed at the top and the directors, management
board and trustees placed at the bottom. This new set-up visualises St.
Martin’s approach. It shows that the weight of the work lies with the
people in the communities. These people, the community volunteers, form
the heart of the organization. They have to take the initiative and
develop appropriate strategies that solve the problems. They are the
most important people, since they are actually the ones who increase
the solidarity and love in the community and improve the lives of the
people who are in need. The staff and administration only support the
efforts of the community. They play a facilitating role, helping the
community to address their own problems, making them realise that they
have resources and potentials.
The community is not only involved at the grass roots level, but also
at the decision-making level of the organisation. Each programme of St.
Martin is managed by a committee of volunteers, who represent the
community. The organisation is managed by a board, consisting of the
chairpersons of all programme management committees and six other
community representatives, all volunteers. This set-up guarantees that
indeed the community takes the lead in developing the programmes and
strategies that are required to address the problems of vulnerable
people among them.
This organisational structure is also more in line with the
St. Martin community prayer: “the greatest
is the one who
serves more and the first is the last of all” Indeed,
it is the community volunteers who serve more. The people that visit
their neighbour, suffering from AIDS, every evening to wash the dirt
from the body, to feed, to hold hands and to give love, acceptance and
encouragement: these are the people who deserve to be put in the place
of honour.
The
department for spiritual formation has been given a central position in
the structure. It is a department that is crucial for the functioning
of staff and volunteers as it has to ensure that competence is coupled
with a loving heart. It has to keep on inspiring people: keeping their
motivation high and making them united in work. It helps St. Martin
staff and volunteers becoming a real community, which can celebrate
together but which also provides space for mutual correction. It helps
people to accept their weaknesses, find ways to cope with them and
discover their value. The department plays an important role in
bringing out the best in people.
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