What does gandom stand for?

The word ‘Gandom’ originates from Persian, and translates to ‘wheat’. Wheat is considered one of the most basic components of diets worldwide, and has been consumed by people of all races, geographies, and religions throughout history. In a world where people are separated into different groups, wheat can be found on both sides of all borders, and can be used as a unifying factor between people. 

Mission

Our mission is to advocate for, build capacity in, and forge networks with vulnerable people worldwide in order to create a world with empowered people who have the ability to create the life they want. 

Values

Gandom’s core values are rooted in inclusivity and respect for human rights. We believe in approaching social issues by targeting the root causes and looking at the intersection of vulnerabilities. Moreover, we value a holistic approach in our work, and in promoting localization we place the need of the marginalized groups in the center of all our efforts. 

Vision

Gandom’s vision is to see a world where human rights and peace are a reality for everyone, and where dignity and sustainability are at the core of development work.

Our work can be divided into three main pillars:

Advocacy and Awareness Raising

Gandom works within different thematic areas, such as justice, climate change, peace, refugees etc., and raises awareness around these in people and communities. Our awareness raising work feeds into our advocacy work, where we advocate for and help emphasize the voices of vulnerable people.   

Capacity building and challenging power structures

Gandom builds capacity in people world wide in order to enable them to take part in forging their own future and become agents of change in their own communities. The capacity building work aims to challenge the existing balance of power at local, regional and national level. 

Building Networks and Coalitions

Gandom ensures that ideas are sustained and developed by forging coalitions and partnerships with different stakeholders at local, regional and (inter)national level. This work ensures that ideas can be converted into working solutions.

Our team

The Gandom team is best described as diverse but united. We differ in cultural and geographical backgrounds. We differ in educational and professional backgrounds. We differ in sexual orientations and political opinions. However, we are united in our shared belief in Gandom’s vision and mission. Through Gandom we pool together our time and abilities to build bridges and better the lives of others. We share a common drive and sense of duty to work towards a world where human rights and peace are a reality for everyone, and we put dignity and sustainability at the center of these efforts. 

In our work around the world we have found that this drive and motivation can be found in people from all walks of life. We therefore build partnerships and share our vision with people from all over the world.

Mahan Charmshir
Mahan CharmshirCo-founder & Director
Jasmijn van de Rozenberg
Jasmijn van de RozenbergCo-founder & Operational Manager
Manouk van der Klundert
Manouk van der KlundertCo-Founder & Program Manager