fws draws its name from the teachings of psychologist Abraham Maslow.

Maslow’s Heirachy Of Basic Needs

Maslow's Heirachy of Basic Needs maintains that unless a human’s basic first-level needs (health, food, water, sleep) and second-level needs (shelter, safety) are met, then a human is unable to rise up through the ladder (and reach happiness). Maslow's Heirachy looks like this:

1. Physiological (biological needs - health, food, water, sleep)
2. Safety (shelter, removal from danger)
3. Love/belonging (affection, being a part of groups)
4. Status (self esteem and esteem from others)
5. Actualization (achieving individual potential)

To this end fws has established - and believes in - the following values:

1. Every child has the right to have their basic physiological needs of food, water and shelter met

2. Every child has a right to have their psychological needs met

Then they are able to grow with self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

3. Every child has the right to an education that allows for freedom of thought and expression of creativity

Children in developing communities need early and enhanced support to accelerate their learning and ensure the success of their education.

4. fws works with care for the environment in all practice

fws practice in an eco-friendly manner from the fundraising side of things in Australia, to the expert eco-friendly design and building of a children's village. fws promotes the use of local material of the ongoing recycling and conversion of materials.

5. It takes a village to raise a child

fws will employ local people to build, staff and manage each children's village. This model fosters sustainability by empowering local people to manage local programs and facilities. fws commit to training local staff so that they are able to move towards self management, with fws merely overseeing operations.

6. Moving towards sustainability

It is the aim of fws that the longer each children's village operates, the more it will be able to support itself and the less sponsorship it will need.

7. fws children's villages are part of their community and contribute to community development

The children's village regularly receives input from the village, and in turn, distributes knowledge and resources to the village.

8. fws projects are developed with the expertise of volunteers

There will be a two-way exchange of knowledge between volunteers and recipients. Volunteers enable fws to keep expenditure low. A volunteer's contribution to beneficiaries and the recipient country is a primary concern for fws.

9. fws gives people in developed societies the opportunity to give in a simple and tangible way

The act of giving is a positive experience and a celebration of the culture of our recipient countries.

10. fws is transparent in all activities

By operating with transparency, fws ensures donors are able to see the difference that their contribution is making. fws keeps donors up to date with regular updates on the website and via its free monthly e-newsletter, Gimme Shelter. Donors have access to progress at all times.