Shanti Volunteer Association ~ Utilizing the Experience Gained Through Overseas Support for Activities in Japan ~

Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA) was established in 1981 by volunteer members of the Japan Sotoshu Relief Committee (JSRC) who were involved in emergency humanitarian relief and assistance activities for Cambodian refugees. It was at a time when there were only a few NGOs in Japan. Since then, SVA has continued to expand its educational and cultural support activities in Asian countries, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of its establishment. In this issue, we interviewed Mr. Hitoshi Ichikawa, manager of the Global Citizenship Division, and Mr. Seigen Muramatsu (who is in charge of domestic projects in the same division) about their new domestic project to support children with foreign roots as well as foreign nationals.

Creating a Safe Learning Environment for Children

For 40 years, SVA has been involved in educational support activities for children in Asia. Believing that education has the power to change lives, they are engaged in library activities, school construction, and personnel training; so that children can learn safely even in harsh environments such as conflict, poverty, and natural disasters. Since they opened their first overseas office in Thailand in 1980, their activities have expanded to eight regions in seven countries. By the end of 2020, they had delivered about 340,000 picture books to children, and more than 38,000 people had participated in training programs to become "A Person Who Delivers Learning." In terms of safe places to learn, they have built more than 400 schools, as well as about 1,000 libraries and reading rooms. In addition, they have provided emergency humanitarian relief a total of 76 times, both domestically and internationally.

Japan has gone from being an economically developed country to a developed country facing challenges.

We heard that SVA - which has gained achievements and experience overseas - has started to develop new projects in Japan. So, we asked Mr. Ichikawa why.
"In the 1980s and early 1990s, Japan was said to be affluent, and 90% of the population was middle class. However, 30 years have passed since then. With the globalization of the economy, the phenomenon of polarization between a small group of wealthy people and the poorer majority is occurring all over the world, including in Japan. In the past few years, Japanese NGOs have shifted their support activities, not only overseas, but also domestically; because, Japan - once an economically advanced country - has become a developed country facing challenges; since poverty - as well as educational disparities - have become more pronounced. About five years ago, we also started to think about domestic support. And, what finally took shape was a support program for children with foreign roots."
In 2020, as a new domestic project for SVA, they started to create a place for children with foreign roots, in collaboration with NPO Toshima Kodomo WAKUWAKU Network.

Creating a Place Where Children with Foreign Roots can Feel That They Belong.

Activities to create a place for children are conducted online, since the face-to-face activities which were originally planned became difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., they use Zoom to conduct an "Online Ibasho (place to belong)." The participants are children ranging in age from upper elementary grades, to high school. And, about 10 children gather each time.
In the "Online Ibasho," children first watch a slide show of "Important Things" such as "It's okay not to talk if you don't want to," and "Take care of other people", then, after that, they play mini games and quizzes as an ice breaker. Once that is done, they all think about the theme of the day. "What are rights?", "New Year's Day in each country", "Thinking about others and society", and many more. "We tend to lump them all together as ‘children with foreign roots,' but each of them is different in nationality, environment, religion, status of residence, and economic conditions. It made me realize that there is diversity among children with foreign roots," says Mr. Muramatsu, who is in charge of the project. There are many children with foreign roots living in the Ikebukuro area of Toshima ward, and it is said that there are problems among these children, such as the stress of living as a minority and mental isolation. Children of different ages and backgrounds have a great time together at the "Online Ibasho". Also, if the children have something they want to talk about privately, they are moved to breakout room sessions. "I think the children who participate feel that this is a place where they belong," says Mr. Muramatsu. "I think that's why they come back every week."

Food Pantry in Toshima Ward Offers a Combination of Consultation Sessions and Food Distribution

In addition, in cooperation with Tokyo Public Law Office and Toshima Ward Residents Council of Social Welfare, SVA provides comprehensive support, including the food pantry and consultation meetings at various locations in Toshima ward as part of emergency livelihood support for foreigners who have found themselves in need, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Toshima ward has the eighth largest population of foreign residents in Japan. When Toshima Ward Residents Council of Social Welfare offered a special loan for financial relief, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they received 16,000 applications. We heard that half of them were from foreign nationals. About half of the foreigners living in Toshima ward are from China, but we know that 80% of the applicants for the special loan were from Nepal and Myanmar," says Mr. Ichikawa. Toshima Ward Residents Council of Social Welfare has been announcing information about the food pantry mainly to foreign residents living in the area around the consultation site. However, recently, some people have been coming from far away after seeing the Facebook posting. Distributing food is important, but our bigger goal is to provide a place where people can talk about their problems," says Mr. Muramatsu. "We have lawyers, as well as social workers from the Council of Social Welfare, and we prepare coordinators who can speak Nepali, Burmese, English, and Chinese, so that people can receive consultation in their native language as much as possible. There are a lot of consultations about work, financial issues, and status of residence." The food pantry, and consultations conducted using dormant deposits, are held once or twice a month. They have been held eight times so far (as of November 2021), with 277 participants. For those who have been identified as needing ongoing support, individual assistance is provided by coordinators, lawyers, and social workers.

Using the Experience Gained Overseas in Coordination

SVA's support program for foreign residents has just begun. Mr. Ichikawa, who has been involved in SVA's activities for more than 30 years and has gained various experiences in refugee camps as well as in Afghanistan during the conflict, says the following. "It is very important to be there for those who are in a difficult environment, and to create a place for them. When it comes to supporting foreign residents, SVA is still in the learning process. However, based on our experience of working overseas, I think we can contribute to solving the problem by connecting and coordinating various stakeholders." In addition, Mr. Muramatsu, who is in charge of domestic projects, told us this. "Graduate-student staff members are playing a central role in creating a place for children with foreign roots. University students with roots in Nepal and China are also working as interpreters. Seeing them hold the "Online Ibasho" without fail every weekend, except during the New Year's holiday, we are impressed to see that they really care about the children. They have a lot to teach us. More than 70 sessions of "Online Ibasho" have already been held, as of November 2021. Once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, we would like to work on face-to-face sessions. We hope to continue this activity, as one of the places where children can feel a sense of belonging."
We look forward to seeing how the two domestic projects that SVA has started to support foreign residents will expand in the future.

*This article is based on information available at the time of the interview. For the latest information, please contact the organization directly.