About Us  

Who we are …

Agency for Basic Community Development (ABC) is a Catholic humanitarian organization. Its foundation dates back to Cyclone Nargis disaster of Myanmar (a.k.a. Burma) in May, 2008. The Cyclone Nargis killed about 140,000 and affected another 2.4 million people particularly in lowland delta area. This disaster invited international civil society organizations. At the same time it helped the local civil society groups to organize themselves for cause.

Cyclone Nargis was a catalytic push for the mushrooming of local civil society organizations (LNGOs). There are an estimated 300 local NGOs in Myanmar in the aftermath of Nargis disaster. Yet, very few NGOs exist in the highland region, for example Chin State, where most of our indigenous minority live in extreme poverty.

In our efforts to expand the outreach to the mainland and highland residents, our ABC organization was founded in 2009 with the help and endorsement of our patron, His Grace Archbishop Charles Bo, SDB., DD., Archdiocese of Yangon, Myanmar. Catholic Christian in origin, ABC helps people of different faiths and social backgrounds without discrimination for the enlightenment, empowerment and transformation of Myanmar society.

Why ABC exists …

ABC exists for its "passion for humanity". Our organization is composed of people with this same passion who build a good relationship with the people it helps – the beneficiaries.

We see groups of people at the margins of society without voice. A few people in these groups start to meet, decide to organize themselves in order to get enlightenment and more resources for their struggles toward "fullness of life".

In its desire to address a just and common cause, ABC decides to "help them help themselves", that is, "helping some help others". In fact, ABC exists for mission and passion for humanity.

What We Do…

We reach out to the neediest people in the least developed rural communities for impartial small-scale assistance in the fields of (1) basic needs, (2) hydraulic needs and (3) civic educational needs by collaborating with non-government, nonprofit, nonreligious, humanitarian, and development organizations in order to build a just, peaceful, and humane society.

How We work…

Agency for Basic Community Development works with the beneficiaries of its programme for extreme poverty eradication, self-reliance, self-empowerment, and the promotion of social justice and economic development. ABC delivers direct benefits to poor people through programmes on the ground.

Our concept of development covers every aspect of human and environment life. It is multidimensional and multisectorial and therefore our framework for development is based on wisdom, methods, approaches and techniques of different international, regional, national and local nonprofit, nonreligious, nongovernmental organizations.

We help the needy people and their projects which are nonprofit, noncommercial, nonreligious and not against policies of the government. We do not accept projects with exclusively religious or political ends.

Where We work…

ABC opts a road less traveled and works in the areas of greatest need for the grassroots, with the grassroots, through the grassroots and by the grassroots with specific purpose of providing assistance for community development.

ABC serves people of different philosophies, beliefs, ideologies, ethnic origins and genders in accordance with the humanitarian principle of impartiality. In other words, it bridges divisions of thoughts, cultures, faiths, and social conditions.

It gives priority to the vulnerable and needy in general and ethnic minority groups and the displaced in the grassroots communities in particular.

Our Creed: ABC's Fundamental Values

We believe in the supreme worth of human dignity and in his/her right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.
We believe in truth, justice, equality, compassion and love as fundamental to a developing society.
We believe in reliability, honesty, impartiality and integrity as our guiding principles. We believe in the sacredness of every individual irrespective of race, religion, gender, social status, practice, creed or philosophical convictions.
We believe in the possibility of forming a new modern developed society where all are treated equally according to their potential and due.
We believe in transparency and accountability as keys to earning the public trust. We believe in values such as participation, peace, solidarity, compassion, subsidiarity and ownership to be at the core of human development initiatives.

Passion for Humanity…

We help people regardless of their gender (LGTB: lesbian, gay, transsexual, bisexual), religion (Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, Indigenous Beliefs, etc), race and color (Black, White, Brown, etc), and so on. We do support people in need. Needs keep changing and growing but basic needs never change. ABC dedicates itself to helping the grassroots communities meet their basic needs. The most poor and vulnerable persons and families have a special claim to our services and programs. Poverty is 'unnatural' disaster which marginalizes people. It is a moral and social wound.

Our Priority…

We give priority to the poor of the poorest in the rural areas. Among them, the realities of minority groups, women, children, the oppressed and the neglected are taken into serious consideration. We do not go to the communities, for humanitarian assistance, where international humanitarian organizations and other faith-based organizations are already active in service. Rather, we identify a map of least explored territories where we find a good number of people who deserve help but get none yet. We opt to take the road less traveled.

Our Dedication…

We dedicate ourselves to form, foster a culture of life, of peace, of dignity, of equality, of justice, of inclusion, of solidarity, of harmony and of integrity. We acknowledge the uniqueness of every individual and respect their rights to life. We also acknowledge that law is made for human being but not human being for law. There is no development without peace. No peace without justice. We commit ourselves for the cause of justice, peace, and development of our people. Indeed, ABC is at the service of integral human and environmental well-being.