Building a Strong Value System: ARPO’s Journey with Aikyam

Staff Writer

20 Mar 2025 — 1 min read

As ARPO continues to evolve into a structured organization, we recently embarked on an introspective journey to define our core values and collective purpose. Shemeer from Aikyam facilitated an immersive workshop that helped our team align on fundamental principles, navigate power dynamics, and reinforce our commitment to cultural preservation with social sensitivity.

Understanding Our Values

The workshop emphasized the need for a strong value system, guiding ARPO’s growth beyond an informal collective. Through engaging discussions and structured exercises, we explored the significance of being value-driven, ensuring our actions reflect our mission of empowering communities through cultural heritage conservation.

Key Takeaways

Stakeholder Mapping: Recognizing the diverse groups we engage with and understanding their roles in our ecosystem.
Power Imbalances: Acknowledging the inherent hierarchies in heritage work and finding ways to mitigate disparities.
Embedding Values into Organizational Culture: Moving beyond statements to actionable steps that integrate these principles into our daily operations.

Team members during the workshop conducted by Aikyam

A Collective Experience

What made this workshop unique was the opportunity for each team member to introspect and share perspectives. The sessions facilitated deep conversations on responsibility, inclusivity, and ethical storytelling, reinforcing the need for mindfulness in our work.

Moving Forward

With these insights, ARPO is better equipped to navigate its next phase. Our gratitude to Aikyam and Shemeer for guiding us through this invaluable process! Stay tuned as we put these learnings into action.

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