Constitution of the Koinonia trust
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Constitution of the Koinonia Trust Liberia Inc.

Preamble

Liberia has suffered an immense amount of trauma from 1985 when there was oppression, mass killings and rapes from all the militants’ elements that were present at the time. Children were kidnapped, abused, drugged and made to become soldiers. This continued from 1989 to 2003 and unfortunately the consequences of this relentless abuse and trauma have not just impacted that generation but has now been manifested into the next generation. Communities have suffered a loss of purpose. They have been rendered powerless and hopeless. The society norms have changed due to the previous long-term conflict and recent Ebola outbreak.
In view of the above we have been inspired to form a Trust which will empower and enable people to move forward with their life's.

Name : The name of the organization is  " The Koinonia Trust Liberia Inc."

'Koinonia' is a Greek word meaning 'love, devotion and fellowship'.

Motto: 'Bringing beauty out of ashes'

Logo: The logo of The Koinonia Trust is the trunk of an oak tree which is in the shape of people reaching out to nurture the nation of Liberia. The branches of the tree shaped as a map of Liberia.

Colour: The colour shall be red white and blues

Mission Statement

The roots love, faith and encouragement of The Koinonia Trust are embroiled in a partnership approach. Through practical actions undertaking to demonstrate Gods love to those who are marginalized and socially excluded from society. Empowering people to reach their fullest potential and realize their God giving purpose in this life regardless of background or circumstance.

Vision

The overall vision of The Koinonia Trust is to support healing, provide Pastoral care and mentor people who have experienced trauma and brokenness in their life. We do this through different method that will nurture new hope in their life.

Focus

The overall focus of The Koinonia Trust is building relationships with people in particular young and vulnerable people. We support their healing, build their resilience and their capacity. Seeking to demonstrate God’s love for each individual.

The key objectives are:

  • To facilitate the teaching of God’s word incorporated throughout our programmes.
  • To provide biblical resources as and when they are needed.
  • To facilitate Trauma Healing Groups (men, women youth and children) to those who have endured trauma in their life from whatever source.
  • To further provide additional support depending on the need such as pastoral care or counselling to those people who request it or are referred to us by different groups (men, women youth and children).
  • To further link those who have gone through trauma healing groups to other opportunities of personal development
  • To help find opportunities for further education and training with other established training centers and colleges in particularly for vulnerable young people. As funding permits to contribute to the cost of those fees.
  • To facilitate our own educational and social project which will focus on vulnerable children, youth, adults, pastors and community leaders.
  • To facilitate vocational training for vulnerable groups.
  • To facilitate sporting activities such as soccer, kickball etc.
  • To engage in other lawful activities which will positively enhance the lives of target beneficiaries such as clean water, sanitation and health promotion.

Values

  • The Trust will have integrity as its core foundational value (honesty, truthfulness, accountability, transparency and honor)
  • The Trust will show impartiality (no favoritism and without discrimination) toward its participants.
  • The Trust will be equitable (be fair and accessible to all). The Trust will show equality (having an equal gender-based approach)

Principles

The key principles for participants of 'The Koinonia Trust'

  • Active participation: by all the stakeholders
  • Empowerment: giving knowledge, understanding and skills to participants in order to support them to make better life choices
  • Equipping: giving the necessary resources to staff, volunteers and participants in order to fulfil the vision and the focus of the Trust
  • Taking a community development approach: utilizing a 'bottom up approach' working alongside those who are most vulnerable, building their capacity and encouraging personal development.
  • Providing opportunities for collaboration between partners, agencies and participants.

Incorporators

'The Koinonia Trust' shall have three incorporators who shall be the owners.

  1. Momo B. Kinnie --- Director/Administrator
  2. Varnie Kenneth ----- Secretary
  3. John Bladea ------- Member

The incorporators do not have executive power.
The incorporators shall serve in the capacity of advisor to the Trust
The governance team through the director/administrator shall make a bi- annual report to the incorporators’, said report is to be done after every six ( 6 ) months of operations.

Advisory Group

The advisory group of The Koinonia Trust shall not be more than five (5) and not less than three (3), who shall serve as guidance and advisors to the Trust.

  • Shall meet quarterly to give advice to the governance team.
  • The advisors shall be individuals of diverse back ground or professionalism.
  • The advisory group shall be headed by a chairperson who shall preside over meeting when they meet.
  • One can resigned from the advisory group with written communication to the director/administrator or the founder.

Subject to funding The Koinonia Trust will be operated by the following team:

Governance Team

The Koinonia Trust shall be operated by a governance team which shall comprise of the below officers (funding and roles permitted)

(1) Director/ Administrator
(2) Founder/Visionary
(3) General secretary
(4) Head of each department
(5) Chaplain

Other position(s) shall be created and appointment made as the need arises.

  • The Governance team shall meet every month for an update.
  • The Governance team shall advise, and contribute to decisions regarding funding proposals for projects and future developments of the Trust.
  • The Governance team shall create innovative ways of raising funds for the Trust.
  • The Governance team meeting requires two thirds of the team members to be present either in person email or by telex/video conference.
  • Each member will have a vote, with the majority vote ruling. If there is an equal divided vote the Director shall have the casting vote.
  • The Governance team shall approve the yearly budget for the individual projects that are being delivered, i.e., tailoring, sport, trauma healing groups etc. according to the available funding.
  • Positions on the governance board shall be reviewed every three years.

The Director/ Administrator is the chief executive officer of The Koinonia Trust.

  • He/She shall share the responsible for creating partnerships locally, nationally and internationally
  • He/She is responsible for applying for funding.
  • He/ She shall carry out the daily duties of the Trust.
  • All communication with stakeholders shall be shared by the Director/ Administrator and the founder/visionary.
  • He/ She shall be responsible to appoint heads of departments such as Trauma Healing, Pastoral Care, Education and Training, Social enterprise, Administration and etc., in
    consultation with the founder/visionary.
  • He/ She shall receive monthly reports from heads of various department.
  • The director/ administrator in consultation with the founder/visionary and the governance team shall set up the budget of The Koinonia Trust.
  • The Director/ Administrator shall in consultation with the department heads shall be
    responsible for developing the action plan of the Trust.
  • He/ She shall make monthly reports including financial reports to the founder/visionary.
  • He/ She shall share responsibility with the founder/visionary for staff support and supervision.
  • He/ she shall serve as head of the governance team.
  • All expenditure of the Trust shall be approved by the director/administrator.
  • He/ She shall be responsible for navigating the legal aspect of the Trust along with a solicitor.
  • He/ She shall be responsible for the implementation of The Koinonia Trust budget, ensuring that the budget line is followed with the along with the department heads.
  • The signatories to the bank account of The Koinonia Trust shall be the director/administrator, founder/visionary and the secretary.
  • The director/ administrator shall be accountable to the founder/ visionary of the Trust

Founder/Visionary

  • He/ She shall share the responsible for creating partnerships locally, nationally and internationally.
  • He/ She is responsible for applying for funding.
  • All communication with stakeholders shall be shared by the Founder/ Visionary with the support of the Director/ Administrator.
  • He/ she shall share responsibility with the director/administrator for staff support and supervision.
  • He/ She Facilitate training for the staff/ volunteers of the Trust.
  • Engage with local leaders, community members to provide opportunities of training as requested.
  • Advocate locally and internationally on behalf of the Trust.
  • He/ she shall consult the director/ administrator as regarding the smooth operation of the Trust.

Secretary

  • The secretary shall be responsible to receive all communication of the Trust and report said communication to the director/ administrator or founder/visionary where applicable.
  • He/ She shall take all minutes when the governance team meet.
  • He / She shall make a monthly report to the director/ administrator based upon the operation of the various departments.
  • He /She serve as the chief scribe of the Trust

Department Head

Every department shall have a head who shall:

  • Lead that department based upon their qualification/professionalism.
  • He/she shall work under the directive of the director/administrator.
  • He/she shall make a monthly report of their department to the director/administrator.
  • He/she shall attend all team meeting and shall make contribution doing these meetings

Chaplain

  • He/she shall be responsible for the daily devotion of the Trust.
  • He/she shall help in the formation of spiritual retreat for pastors and church leaders.
  • He/she shall be involved in all spiritual activities of the Trust.

Dismissal

The dismissal of a person from the Board/Administrative position is outlined in more details in their Code of Conduct. The following shall constitute violations that shall lead to dismissal.

  1. Violation of the code of conduct of The Koinonia Trust.
  2. Violation of the The Koinonia Trust child protection policy.
  3. Misuse of a position/office.
  4. Not adherence to the values of the The Koinonia Trust.
  5. Misuse or misappropriation of the The Koinonia Trust funds.
  6. Misuse or abuse of any of The Koinonia Trust Properties.

Other matters

The Koinonia Trust ( Inc) shall develop an organizational manual which shall describe the operations, procedures of other department(s) and volunteers who will be rendering service(s) with in The Koinonia Trust that are not stated in this constitution. The Koinonia Trust shall further develop & 'Terms of employment'/engagement of staff/volunteer.

Amendments

This constitution can be reviewed and amendments made as the need arises by three quarters of the governance team and with the additional support of the advisory group.