CWS Japan is an NPO that carries out disaster response and disaster risk reduction in Japan and abroad. It is a member of Church World Service (CWS), headquartered in the United States, whose roots lie in relief goods sent to Japan just after the war. In 2011 an office was opened in Tokyo to provide emergency support after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and CWS Japan was established.
Its aim is a society where no one is left behind without support during disasters. It sets out three approaches: drawing out the strengths communities already have, continuing to learn and share beyond local areas, and creating synergy through partnerships. It also describes respecting, as far as possible, the decisions and roles of local communities, and valuing the viewpoints of local organizations and the people affected.
Its work includes community disaster preparedness and emergency food and preparedness support in Afghanistan, disaster recovery and preparedness support in rural Pakistan, disaster resilience in Indonesia, and a multicultural disaster preparedness project in Shinjuku Ward in Japan. It also runs the Anime x Refugee Support project, in which refugees and displaced people learn skills for earning a living through animation production.
Key points
- Has worked on disaster response and preparedness in Japan and abroad since 2011, starting after the Great East Japan Earthquake
- Three approaches that draw out local strengths and value the views of local organizations and affected people
- Besides preparedness support in Asia, it runs domestic efforts such as Shinjuku's multicultural disaster preparedness project and a community cafe
Why this organization deserves attention
It focuses not only on emergency aid after a disaster but also on disaster preparedness that builds people's own ability to prepare in ordinary times. Its consistent stance is to respect local decision-making as an outside supporter and to draw out the strengths of the community.
It is also appealing that it carries out disaster preparedness and recovery support overseas alongside multicultural disaster preparedness in Japan. Besides donating, events such as the monthly community cafe give people a chance to think about preparedness and multicultural coexistence starting from their own neighborhood.
Editor's comment
Because disasters will surely happen someday, being connected with one another in ordinary times is a great support. The words "leave no one behind" in CWS Japan's mission seem to carry that importance.
The official website has activity reports and event announcements. Why not take a look, perhaps as a way to start thinking about disaster preparedness in your own community?