Stories of #GoodChange
Good Neighbours celebrates 34 years
PHOTO: The establishment of Good Neighbours, with 8 members as its very first step. (Right) The first newsletter of Good Neighbours (courtesy of GN GPC)
The global Good Neighbours network began in South Korea 34 years ago. Now, it’s a major global nonprofit organisation working in 51 countries, including Australia. As the organisation celebrates its 34th anniversary, let’s look back at how its journey unfolded.
1991: Foundation of Good Neighbours
After the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea aimed to pay it forward from being a recipient of international aid to becoming a donor. Good Neighbours was founded in 1991 with the mission to provide sustainable development assistance, not just temporary relief.
1992: First International Project in Bangladesh
In 1992, Good Neighbours began its first international project in Bangladesh, introducing advanced farming techniques and setting up a health centre for women and children in Dhaka’s slums. Today, it operates with 212 projects focused on child rights and community development across the globe.
1993: Emergency Relief in Somalia and Rwanda
Good Neighbours started emergency relief in 1993 during the Somali civil war and sent medical teams to Rwanda in 1994. It has since helped in crises like the 2004 tsunami, 2010 Haiti earthquake and 2015 Nepal earthquake, focusing on long-term recovery and community-led development.
1996: UN ECOSOC General Consultative Status
In 1996, Good Neighbours became the first Korean NGO to get General Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC, recognising its effective work in international relief and development. This position remains valid to this day, and as a global leading NGO, Good Neighbours can raise agendas within the UN Ecosystem when necessary
2007: UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Award
Good Neighbours has always focused on education to break the cycle of poverty. In 2007, it received the UN Millennium Development Goals Award for its efforts in providing universal primary education. To this day, we continue our global efforts toward to Sustainable Development Goals.
2018: Establishment of Good Neighbours Australia
A global Good Neighbours affiliate that shares the vision and mission, Good Neighbours Australia has established programs and projects in partnership with local teams in Vietnam, the Philippines, Mozambique, Ukraine, Bangladesh and Laos, over the last 6 years.
2020: Global COVID-19 response
Since the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, Good Neighbours has promptly mobilised its resources to provide emergency support and deliver life-saving aid such as hygiene kits, personal protective equipment, testing kits and food to affected populations across the world. Good Neighbours’ unprecedented efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic aimed to protect the lives of the most vulnerable and to promote community-based resilience in our communities.
34 Years of Connection and Change
For 34 years, Good Neighbours has reached out to its neighbours suffering from poverty, disasters and oppression and helped them achieve self-reliance and rebuild hope. From its humble beginnings in South Korea to its global impact, it stands by children and communities in need, believing that, after all, that’s what good neighbours are for.
