Good Neighbors International (GNI) is an international humanitarian development NGO founded in Korea in 1991 to make the world a place without hunger, where people live together in harmony. The first community development project in Bangladesh was launched in 1992 and currently Good Neighbors is working in 196 communities in 36 countries (as of Nov. 2019) with our focus on inclusive community development approach and child protection.

GNI has attained General consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) in 1996. In recognition of valuable efforts in providing universal primary education over the world, Good Neighbors was awarded the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Award by International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) in 2007.

GNI adopts a ‘people-centered’ and ‘comprehensive approach’ as the basis for development in order to achieve ‘self-reliance’, which is crucial for sustainable development. Accordingly, GNI believes that one of the best ways to transform communities is to empower people. We work with those who are socially and economically marginalized to support them to be better aware of their human rights and focus our efforts on the following four Global Development principles.

1. We support our suffering neighbors
2. We raise awareness of human rights and the role of duty bearers
3. We empower people
4. We promote cooperation and solidarity

Under these principles, GNI, as a member of the international community, contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it did for the Millennium Development Goals. In this effort, we identified the contribution of Strategic Objectives to SDGs and 8 Strategic Objectives are as followed;

1. People are free from hunger
2. Every child is protected
3. People enjoy the right to education
4. People exercise the right to health
5. People live in sustainable environments
6. People build inclusive and democratic communities
7. People achieve economic empowerment through solidarity and cooperation
8. People are protected from disasters

To achieve these strategic objectives, we implement diverse sectors of projects in the field countries including education, health, water & sanitation, social economy and so on. Especially, education is an essential human right that enables individuals to develop their own abilities and improve their quality of life. However, gaining access to quality education remains a challenge to those vulnerable within the society, especially girls. To solve this issue and support those vulnerable, GNI education work focuses on the two areas; i) Ensuring quality education for all and ii) Enabling access to lifelong learning for adults.

In Asia, there are 16 field countries including CLMV countries. Under GNI education strategy, each country has its own education strategic plan upon the needs of community. Considering the national education issues, Asia countries mostly are strived to ensure the child right for education through the diverse advocacy activities like child club, child right education and campaign. To raise the awareness on the right for education, GNI targeted not only students but also parents, teachers and community member who have an influence to child’s education. With this holistic approach, GNI strives to ensure the sustainability of results on each education project.