Good Neighbors launched its mission in Rwanda in 1994 amidst one of the gravest humanitarian crises of our time. As the country was experiencing unprecedented turmoil, we swiftly mobilized our organization’s first emergency relief team to the refugee camps in Goma, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), in August to provide timely and life-saving assistance. This demonstrated our commitment to serving people in critical need.
By 1995, recognizing the need to make a lasting impact, we established a field office in Kigali. Transitioning from initial emergency relief efforts, Good Neighbors Rwanda embraced an initiative of sustainable, systematic support, becoming one of the first countries for our community development projects. These projects are characterized by a community-inclusive and holistic approach to achieve self-reliance in communities.
Currently, Good Neighbors Rwanda is making positive changes in six project areas, implementing various programs based on child sponsorship. These programs include child protection, education, health, water and sanitation, income generation, advocacy, and partnerships. As of 2024, our projects cover 22 out of 30 districts. In collaboration with esteemed partners like the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), SBS, Community Chest of Korea, LG, Hyosung, various enterprises, and individual donors, we continue to strive to empower people and transform communities.
Good Neighbors Rwanda strives to create a conducive environment to protect children’s rights and improve the socioeconomic status of the community.
To enable these initiatives, we build strong partnerships with United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, central and local governments, community leaders, schools, health centers, and various stakeholders. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these collaborations enhance our programs in education, health, water and sanitation, and economic development (SDGs 3, 4, 10), promote sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation (SDGs 2, 15), and strengthen global partnerships (SDG 17).