Buddhism For Developement

We celebrate on many things that have been done and achieved during the past 20 years and we celebrate our commitment in continuing our roles and services for the next 20 years and we hope that you would join us in making Cambodia a better place to live and then contributing to the world peace and prosperity.

BFD started in 1990 at Site 2, one of the biggest refugee camps along Cambodian-Thai border, by  a few Buddhist monks who were committed to reconciling all the conflicting groups within the Cambodian political and community landscape and to the reconstruction of Cambodia socially and economically.  BFD has now become one of the largest registered Cambodian non-governmental organizations (NGO) with approximately 150 staff operating in seven provinces of the north and west of the country: Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Oddor Meanchey, Siemreap, Kampong Thom, and Preah Vihear. 

BFD envisions Cambodia as an educated democratic society free from poverty and preventable illnesses, law abiding and respectful of human rights and the environment and a moral society with respect for Buddhism and Cambodian culture and traditions whilst being aware of the threats and opportunities presented by globalization.

With the participation of our target groups, the facilitation of Cambodian government, and the support from international donor communities we are proud that we are able to contribute to the reconciliation, reintegration, peace, and development of Cambodia during the last 20 years.  We started with the slogan “Buddhism as cement for Cambodia” believing that socially engaged Buddhism is the best tool for reconciliation and reintegration of all Cambodians with different ways of political thinking.  “Put down the gun take up the Dharma” was introduced in 1996 national seminar conceived and conducted by BFD where all political groups agreed that weapons could not solve any problem but discussion and negotiation were the options. “Buddhism for Peace and Development” has been implemented widely since 1999 by village Peace and Development Volunteers (PDV) in 1,233 villages and commune Committee to Prevent and Manage Human Rights Violation (CPMHRV) in 154 communes of 24 districts within seven provinces.

The next slogan which is based on the previous three is “Towards Dhammocratic Society”, a Cambodian civil society holding democratic culture in which people are educated to harmoniously live in the middle path, respect for Human Rights, maintain social justice, protect the rule of law, and the development in which people will not lose their human consciousness and their natural environment.  A global civil society where people with different background can peacefully living together, sharing suffering and happiness, and maintaining this green world for the next generations.  We invite you to join us in making this society become a true reality.

Our Board of Trustees, our Management Team, and our staff are full of energy and capacity to effectively and efficiently carry out activities for the people in need.  We have open ears to listen to your advice and recommendations and will appropriately adopt these into our development process.  We also have something valuable in our hands that we can share if needed.  We Cambodians are used to receiving from others but Buddhism teaches to give instead.  Therefore, we are gathering Cambodians and hoping that they are able to re-learn the way of the Buddha – to give for the support of their own and to become active donors responsible for the growth and development of Khmer society.

We are gratitude to what you have done for us and we thank for considering joining us in our mission: “To encourage, advise and provide services and support to Cambodians to participate in the sustainable socio-economic development of their own communities”.

Thankfully Yours.

Heng Monychenda

Executive Director