We value diversity in many forms. We are committed to being change agents that contribute to a just and equitable society. We embrace diversity and deliver the utmost value to our stakeholders. We believe that integrity is the foundation of all that we do at Sahiyo, from our individual choices to our collective actions. We seek out dialogue with community members with various views on female genital cutting to encourage discussion. We pursue dialogue, not debate, understanding that social change can only happen when open communication is allowed.

We pursue honorable initiatives and conduct our operations and financial management in a transparent and ethical manner.

We are effective in achieving our mission and hold ourselves accountable to our stakeholders, community, constituents, donors, board, staff, volunteers, collaborators, government, etc.

We use effective communication in our daily operations of Sahiyo to ensure the highest integrity of our programs. Effective communication means conveying a message clearly and concisely, ensuring the receiver(s) fully understands the intended meaning and is guided by principles like clarity, conciseness, active listening, respect, completeness, and providing feedback to ensure the message is received accurately; essentially, it's about open and transparent exchange of information where all parties feel heard and understood.

Mutual trust and respect are prerequisites for open communication and honest dialogue about values, goals, and expectations. They require freedom of expression without fear of retribution, institutional or otherwise, and value the diversity of persons, ideas, and choices differing from one's own.

Consensus decision-making allows us to reach a creative and dynamic agreement with all Sahiyo team members. We strive to use consensus as much as possible to find solutions that team members actively support or understand. If consensus can not be reached, we seek to understand and convey the ways of the majority.

Through teamwork, we bring together diverse skills in complementary roles, fostering collaboration and cooperation. Organizations are far more likely to succeed when their people work effectively as a team. This is because strong teamwork generates synergy—where the collective impact of the team surpasses the sum of individual contributions. By working together, teams leverage varied perspectives, experiences, and expertise to tackle complex challenges, unlocking innovative solutions and ideas that might be unattainable for any one individual alone.

We work with individuals, organizations, and coalitions in a collaborative manner. We value and promote effective partnerships between volunteers, trustees, and staff leadership at all levels of the organization. We are better together. We encourage strategic collaboration to bring out the best solutions and strengthen the fabric of our communities.

We practice the philosophies of feminism and humanism in our daily interactions, recognizing that both frameworks emphasize the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively.

We employ adaptive capacity, meaning we are responsive and flexible to change.