The A.R.C. Worldwide Trust began as a promise between two people. Having travelled to many places around the globe, Dinesh Menon and Natasha Tassell were more than aware of the dire circumstances faced by many of the world's children.

Given their love for experiencing different cultures and motivated by a deep sense of moral and social responsibility, Dinesh and Natasha made a promise to each other that wherever their travels took them, wherever possible they would commit to assisting children in any country they visited.

To date, Dinesh and Natasha have assisted children by personally donating time, and material and financial resources, to a variety of causes. However, Dinesh and Natasha realise much more must be done to help children reach their full potential as human beings - and this requires mobilising resources beyond what any two people can provide.

Consequently, the idea to establish a charitable trust was conceived. The rationale for establishing the A.R.C. Worldwide Trust is to provide a means for energising and mobilising the capacities of like-minded people, and directing these toward initiatives for children. 

By doing this, Dinesh and Natasha believe many of the world's children can benefit, and ultimately be assisted to realise their full potential as unique and valuable members of humanity.       

The primary purpose of the A.R.C. Worldwide Trust is to assist children to reach their full potential, by advocating for their fundamental rights, and implementing programs that provide opportunities for such rights to be met. To achieve this purpose, the broad aims of the A.R.C. Worldwide Trust are:

• To raise awareness about the plight of children worldwide, with a specific focus on those children identified as most in need
• To provide opportunities to those children identified as most in need, due to their personal circumstances
• By achieving the aforementioned aims, assist to alleviate some of the adverse social, economic and personal factors that are likely to impede children reaching their full potential

The A.R.C. Worldwide Trust is committed to operating in a fashion reflective of best-practices, which respect the fundamental rights of the child, and assist all children to reach their full potential. Consequently, the Trust abides by the following principles:

• Always consider the best interests of children above all other concerns
• Treat all children in a way that is equitable and ethical
• Respect the diversity of children from different cultures, ethnicities and religions
• Apply a zero-tolerance policy to any form of discrimination against children
• Recognise parents'/caregivers' rights to decide what is best for their child/ren
• Support and implement the principles outlined in Part I, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Support and contribute to achieving the United Nations Education for All Strategy and the Millennium Development Goals

As a recently established charity, the A.R.C. Worldwide Trust has many plans regarding how we may best achieve our purpose, abide by our principles, and subsequently help children around the globe to realise their full potential as unique and fulfilled human beings. Therefore, the A.R.C. Worldwide Trust has developed a Strategic Plan, which provides a basis for determining the overall direction of the Trust over a one year period. It is envisaged a new Strategic Plan will be drafted each year, to reflect the evolving and dynamic nature of the objectives of the Trust, as we work to enhance the lives of children around the world.

The A.R.C. Worldwide Trust Strategic Plan 2007-2008, may be downloaded here.