SDGs Promise Japan (SPJ) is a nonprofit that aims to reduce poverty in Africa and other developing countries and to nurture young people who can contribute to the development and stability of the international community. It works toward the world of "leaving no one behind" set out in the UN's SDGs.
It was established in 2008 as Millennium Promise Japan (MPJ) and took its current name in 2018, after the UN goals were updated to the SDGs. Its activities page describes education support such as girls' schooling and school construction, support for economic self-reliance, and recovery support after natural disasters such as typhoons and floods.
Since 2023, in the Amansie area of the Ashanti Region of Ghana, it has been building and operating a vocational training school as a measure against unemployment among young people, including those engaged in illegal gold mining (a project supported by a grant from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs). A timeline on its site also lists a wide range of other work, including food crisis support in Uganda, typhoon relief in the Philippines, and support for its affiliated student organization, MPJ Youth.
Key points
- Tackling both poverty reduction and human resource development, mainly in Africa
- Support for building and operating a vocational training school in Ghana (since 2023)
- Backing for the student organization MPJ Youth to encourage younger generations to take part
Why this organization deserves attention
Beyond providing goods and funds, it focuses on creating places where people can grow, such as schools and vocational training. Support that leads to jobs for young people can be seen as a way of encouraging local self-reliance.
It also continues emergency support for natural disasters and food crises, showing how it has widened its activities as circumstances required. Its blog is updated with reports from field visits, which makes it easy to follow what it does.
Editor's comment
The word SDGs has become familiar, but we rarely get the chance to learn who lives how beyond those goals. SPJ's blog and reports may help close that distance.
If you are curious, why not take a look at its activity reports and ways to take part on the official website?