SVA History (Chronological table of SVA's activities)

1980

Japan Sotoshu Relief Committee (JSRC), antecedents of SVA, was established. JSRC opened office in Bangkok, Thailand and commenced mobile library services to Cambodian refugee camps. Then, JSRC opened printing unit and permanent libraries in Sakeo refugee camp.

1981

Volunteers of JSRC established Sotoshu Volunteer Association (SVA).

1983

Campaign to donate clothing was developed in several places in Japan.

1984

First development project was commenced in Baan Sawai village, Surin province, Thailand. SVA was awarded Shoriki Matsutaro Award.

1985

Printing project commenced at Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand. SVA also commenced library activities at Chiang Khan district in Loei province and Suanphlu slum in Bangkok. SVA received the Soroptimist Japan Foundation Award. SVA received the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Award.

1989

SVA opened vocational training center at Klong Toey slum in Thailand.

1991

SVA opened office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. SVA established Sikkha Asia Foundation, local subsidiary of SVA in Thailand.

1992

SVA opened office in Vientiane, Laos. The name of organization was changed to Sotoshu International Volunteer Association (SVA). SVA was awarded the Mainichi International Exchange Award by the Mainichi Newspaper.

1995

SVA undertook relief activities for the victims of the Hanshin/Awaji great earthquake. SVA received a letter of appreciation from the head of Toshima Ward, Tokyo. SVA served as the secretariat of the Japan NGO Forum for HABITAT II, and participated in international conferences as a representative of Japanese NGOs.

1997

SVA donated relief foodstuffs to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. SVA organized Shokichi Kina charity concert at Sojiji Temple in Yokohama. Tokyo office was moved from Sugamo to Daikyocho, Shinjuku-Ku. SVA organized "Shinjuku Asia Festival."

1999

SVA was registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a public association and re-named as Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA.) SVA undertook relief activities for the victims of great earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan.

2000

SVA started library activities for refugees from Myanmar (Burma) in Thailand. Rev. Jitsujo Arima, former executive director of SVA, passed away.

2001

SVA undertook relief activities for the victims of earthquake in western India. SVA undertook emergency food support to Afghan refugees in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

2002

First "SVA Day" celebrated. Kazuhiro Sasaki, then with Seattle Mariners and now professional baseball commentator, was nominated SVA goodwill ambassador.

2003

Opened Afghanistan (Jalalabad) office. Launched relief activities for victims of great earthquake in southeastern Iran. Published posthumously "Serenity on Earth", a manuscript of the late Rev. Jitsujo Arima.

2004

Launched relief activities for victims of flooding caused by typhoon no.23 in Toyooka city of Hyogo prefecture, victims of the great earthquake in Niigata Chuetsu, and Victims of the Indian Ocean Earthquake.
10th memorial service for Hanshin/Awaji great earthquake took place.

2005

Launched support activities for refugees from volcano eruption on Miyake Island to return to their homes. Participated in the World Expo 2005, Aichi. Launched relief activities for victims of great earthquake in northeastern Pakistan.

2006

Launched relief activities for victims of the　earthquake in Central Java, Indonesia.

2007

Undertook relief activities for victims of Noto Peninsula and Niigata Chuetsu-oki earthquakes.
Launched relief activities for victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.