Every day, news arrives from all over the world. Taking events in faraway countries as our own and reaching out to help is never easy.
At Global Festa Japan 2026, held on October 17 and 18, the NGO network Japan editorial team visited the booth of the Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR). We spoke with Ms. Sachiko Nasuno of FIDR’s Operations Department about its work in Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal, the satisfaction of linking Japanese supporters with the field, and what we can start doing today for international cooperation.
The gap between cities and the countryside, and poverty
FIDR works mainly in three areas: international cooperation projects, emergency relief and public awareness. It currently runs projects in Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal, as well as in Japan.
Asked about the major social issues it faces in the field, Ms. Nasuno said:
“There are many issues, but one that is common is the gap between cities and rural areas, and poverty in rural areas.”
Even in countries with economic growth, the benefits tend to concentrate in cities. Rural areas that are left behind still face serious gaps, including poverty, lack of infrastructure and limited access to education and health care. FIDR stays close to people in these harsh conditions and continues its support to improve them.
The joy of connecting supporters and the field directly
Ms. Nasuno works in the Operations Department at the Japan office and is not directly in charge of fieldwork, but she plays an important role in connecting Japanese supporters with activities on the ground. As a recent highlight she named a visit to Cambodia held from late August to September.
Japanese supporting members, mainly from companies, who regularly support FIDR joined the trip.
“We visited our project site in Cambodia. It was truly a chance for our Japanese supporters and the people at the site to talk, to meet and get to know one another. People who were visiting Cambodia for the first time and did not know much about it came to see its good points and became fans. And they could see that our activities are carried out properly and that the membership fees and donations they give us are put to good use. That made us very happy.”
What changes do donations and membership fees actually bring about across the sea? When supporters feel the atmosphere on site and meet people directly, a connection deeper than mere “funding” is born. For the staff at the office, the moment supporters see that their help is reaching people is a great joy.
The difficulty of keeping people interested in an age of information overload
There are also difficulties in broadening the circle of international cooperation in Japan.
“With so many kinds of news flowing in Japan, it is very hard to get people to understand the issues at our project sites and to support us. Everyone in Japan has their own struggles, so we are very grateful when people think of others, of people overseas, and support us.”
Enormous amounts of information are consumed every day, and many people in Japan are anxious about their own finances. Getting them to take an interest in the problems of faraway developing countries, and then to act, is not easy. That is why deep gratitude toward the Japanese people who keep supporting FIDR in these circumstances came through in Ms. Nasuno’s words.
A “no-strain” way to help
So what can we in Japan do once we become interested in international cooperation? Ms. Nasuno stressed the step of “learning” before taking action.
“First, put your antennae out. Learn about and think about what is happening in the world, whether there are people being oppressed, why that is, and how it relates to your own life. Then, within what you can do, without straining, I hope you will take some step, such as joining an activity or donating money.”
You do not have to start with a large donation or travel to the field. Learn the background of what is happening in the world, imagine how it connects to you, and choose actions that fit comfortably into daily life. Accumulated small steps turn into great strength.
Outlook, and a chance to hear from the field
FIDR plans to keep spreading the word about its work, for example by taking part in report meetings hosted by supporters in Japan and by introducing and selling products made by ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
Coming up on November 4, 2026 is a report meeting on its work in Nepal.
“The head of our Nepal office, who handled the projects there for five years, has come back to Japan, and there will be a meeting to report on the activities and results in Nepal. I hope many people will be interested and take part.”
The meeting will be held both in person and online, a rare chance to hear directly from the person who worked hard in the field for five years.
As a first step toward learning about and thinking about the world, why not join an event like this? You should then begin to see what “no-strain international cooperation” looks like for you.
About the organization: FIDR
You can read an overview of FIDR in our NGO profile.
Read the NGO profile of FIDR → / Official website: https://www.fidr.or.jp/
Interview information
Interview: NGO network Japan editorial team / Event: Global Festa Japan 2026 (booth no. 48) / Dates: October 17–18, 2026
Event: FIDR Activity Report, “From a Village Reliant on Migrant Work to a Village That Builds Its Own Future”
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:00–8:30 p.m. (doors open 6:45 p.m.) / Venue: Ochanomizu Christian Center, Room 411, or online via Zoom / Capacity: about 50 in person, 85 online (registration required, closes November 2 at 10:00 a.m.)
The former head of FIDR’s Nepal office, who led the work on site, will talk about four and a half years of integrated community development in Nepal’s mountains. This is exactly the meeting Ms. Nasuno mentioned at the booth.
Read the event article →