The Better Life Foundation (BLF) was established in 2009 by a group of young, educated leaders from marginalized communities in Nagaland, (Founder: Mr. Sethrichem Sangtam, Co-founder: Mrs. Lidingla Namjin & Co-founder: Mr. Tronglichem Sangtam). With diverse professional backgrounds from Management, Community development, and Finance, they had gained valuable experience working abroad. Despite the success overseas, they remained deeply connected to their roots and united by a shared vision to address the developmental challenges faced by their communities in the region.

From its inception, BLF has focused on tackling the region’s most pressing issues, including livelihood generation, women & youth empowerment, access to basic healthcare, and education. Its early initiatives included organizing health camps, providing educational support, and introducing sustainable livelihood projects such as food forests, apiculture, goat farming, rabbitry, piggery, backyard poultry, and the cultivation of high-value crops like large cardamom, ginger, and mushrooms etc.

Over the years, BLF has broadened its initiatives to focus on two key areas: biodiversity conservation and the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage. In the realm of biodiversity, we work to protect and restore natural ecosystems, encouraging sustainable practices that benefit the environment. Simultaneously, it dedicates efforts to safeguarding Indigenous traditions, languages, and cultural practices, ensuring they endure for future generations. These dual efforts have empowered local communities, enabling them to pursue sustainable livelihoods while preserving their cultural identity. Through this work, we have contributed to both environmental sustainability and the strengthening of cultural resilience among the people of Nagaland.