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, Laos, Thailand, South Africa, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, D.P.R.K, Sudan and disaster area of Great East Japan Earthquake are the current fields of their projects. Here in Japan, they are devoted to enlightening activities that promote a fair and just society through advocacy, development education, and networking.

JVC was established in 1980. Since then they have accumulated experiences in supporting people in over 20 countries. JVC strives for a “truly effective project.” On the surface, their  projects might seem not to obtain immediate results; however, they implement their projects based on local needs and circumstances to improve the future of people and community. What they are aiming at is peaceful, self-sustainable society.

Activity policy

People play the main role and JVC supports them. Their activity guideline is not to take high technology things to villages and not to force culture change towards that of developed countries.

History

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

Finance

In the 2015 fiscal year, the JVC operated on a budget of approximately 360 million yen. The graphic below provides a breakdown of the budget for the 2015 fiscal year.