The Better Life Association for Comprehensive Development (BLACD) is an Egyptian non-governmental, non-profit organization working to improve the quality of life of poor and deprived people in Upper Egypt. The Association was established in 1995 in Minya in Upper Egypt and registered as an NGO with the Egyptian Ministry of Social Affairs in 2003. The Association is directed by a board of trustees consisting of five men and women with long experience in development. More than 30 full time employees manage and coordinate projects which are implemented with the support of 300 local volunteers from the target villages. Following the rights based approach to development BLACD currently works to prevent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), support democracy at the village level, improve the livelihood of fishermen, improve housing of the poor, bring water and sanitation to houses in poor villages and to empower women.
Our vision is a community free of poverty, violence, illiteracy and unemployment for a better life; to improve the living conditions of poor communities that lack basic services and training them on the best ways to express their needs and how to make a change.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life of marginalized communities through empowering them.
Our strategy is to provide essential living needs to the poor; organize poor communities through raising their awareness and linking them to available resources; and advocating for the rights of marginalized groups.
The founder of BLACD Mr. Maher Boshra, was awarded the prestigious Ashoka Fellowship for his social entrepreneurial work in 2004. Mr. Boshra was also nominated in 2006 for the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship award for BLACD's practical solutions to development issues in Upper Egypt.
