Rural Asia Solidarity Association
(RASA)
(A
pond in Wat Pa Sukato, Chaiyaphum, Thailand)
Rural
Asia Solidarity Association (RASA) was established in 1982. Participants in a
tour organized by Jesuit
Social Center to villages in the Northeast Region of Thailand (which was
dubbed “Workshop” in RASA) were initial members of this association, and its
secretariat was placed in the Jesuit Social Center.
Since
its establishment, RASA had organized the tour to rural Thailand twice a year,
and participants in the tour were main members of RASA. (This tour is not
undertaken at this moment.)
Present
staff of RASA are all part-time and unpaid. The secretariat is not in Jesuit Social
Center any more upon the move of the center from Akebonobashi
to Yotsuya in September 2010. The fund of RASA
consists of donation by grassroots people and organizations.
RASA’s Aims
Today
our life in Japan links with that of people in developing countries through
trade, investment, aid, tourism, etc. There should be some means for the
Japanese and those in developing countries to unite for improvements of
livelihood beyond the distances stretching in front of us. RASA’s aims are to
cooperate with those seeking for better way of life in developing countries and
to reconsider our life in Japan to accord with the ideal way of life.
RASA’s Activities
(1) RASA’s
Financial Assistance for Asian Students
(2) Management
of Hiraide Fund
Links to Related Organizations
Friends for All Children Foundation
(FFAC), Thailand