About JVC

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Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) has various projects such as agriculture, water provision, forest preservation/utilization, children's education, peace building, and emergency relief. Cambodia, Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, South Africa, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, D.P.R.K and Sudan are the current fields of our projects. Here in Japan, we are devoting to enlightenment activities toward the fair and just society through advocacy, development education and networking.

JVC was established in 1980. Since then we have accumulated experiences in supporting people in over 20 countries.JVC strives for a "truly effective project." Our projects might seem not to obtain immediate results on occasion, however, we implement activities meeting local needs and situation with an eye toward the future of people and community. What we are aiming at is peaceful, self-sustainable society.

Support farmers and people in village for their self-sufficiency and livelihood improvement

1. Working out a better farming method to increase the harvest as well as the kind of crops
2. Well digging, reservoir installation
3. "Cow bank" : help poor households to provide female cows
4. "Rice bank" : a cooperative system to resolve the rice shortage problem
5. Community forestry program to manage people's forest

Respond to emergency and provide aid to restore peace in concert with citizens around the world

• Children's library, peace education, exchanges
• Power generation with solar panels, Children's art exchange exhibition
• Mobile clinic in the region without a doctor

Advocacy and enlightenment activities in Japan to realize the fair and just world with global citizens

• Advocacy: Study the factor of poverty and conflict. We bring the people's voice to the policy-making process
• Development education: Extend the knowledge about life in Asia; provide a chance to reflect on our own lives
• Network: Act with other organizations to advance the cause of peace and harmonious co-existence

Activity policy

People play the main role and JVC supports. Our activity guideline is not to take things and high technology to villages, and not to force the culture of developed countries.

History

JVC was founded in 1980 by Japanese volunteers who rushed to Thailand to save displaced people in Indochina. Later our activities were developed from refugee relief to rural development for a safe and stable life, which JVC thought was the ultimate solution to prevent refugees. The main pillars of activity at present are rural development, emergency relief, peace exchange, and advocacy.

Activity scale in fiscal 2005

about 330 million yen

Staff (as of 2005)

33 Japanese, including 15 associates working overseas, 37 local staff members

Awards

1988 The Tokyo Bar Association Prize for Human Rights
1989 Asahi Welfare Prize
1992 Mainichi International Exchange Awards
1995 Prime Minister's Awards