RIJ is an all-volunteer, independent, non-profit organization that raises funds to assist refugees around the world.



Founded in 1979 in response to the refugee crisis in Cambodia, RIJ is an all-volunteer organization operating out of Tokyo that raises funds to assist refugees through grants given to NGO charities working in the field.



RIJ also raises public awareness of refugee issues, regularly involving the local community in many of its fundraising activities. RIJ is staffed entirely by volunteers from the Japanese and foreign communities in and around Tokyo and to date has distributed over US$7 million to more than 500 refugee projects in over 40 countries worldwide.



Some of the key attributes of the organization which have made this possible are:



Independence:

There are no lengthy bureaucratic processes, which means fast, effective responses in times of crisis.



All-Volunteer Status:

Minimal operational costs mean that at least 95% of all funds raised go directly to assist refugees.



Proactive Research and Monitoring:

Project inspections and regular monitoring ensure that funds are spent responsibly and as intended.