ホープ・インターナショナル開発機構

開発途上国に住む貧しい人たちに対しての自立支援活動を通じて生活状況の改善を行っています。同時に、先進国に住む人々に対して国際開発に関しての理解を促進し、世界の貧困をなくすための行動を推進しています。

Please scroll down for the English version.

「水が出るなんて、信じられなかった——」それが、生活のすべてを変える第一歩でした。

安全な水が手に入らないことで、学校に行けない子どもたち。
働くことができず、未来を描けない女性たち。
世界には、当たり前の生活が届かない場所がまだたくさんあります。

でも、水が出ることは“ゴール”ではありません。
そこから始まる教育・収入・地域の変化こそが、未来を支える力になります。

私たちホープ・インターナショナル開発機構は、カンボジア・エチオピア・フィリピンで、水を起点にした“自立のための支援”を届けてきました。

「どんな環境に生まれても、持っている力を生かせる希望ある世界」を目指して。
 その想いを胸に、24年間で8万人の生活を変えてきた私たちは、これからの5年でさらに5万人の自立を支える挑戦を始めます。

その一歩を、あなたとともに。「水からはじまる自立支援」を続けるための仲間が必要です。
あなたの支援が、一人ひとりの未来を変える力になります。
ぜひ、私たちの25周年に向けた挑戦に力を貸してください！

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"I couldn't believe water was coming out" — that was the first step that changed everything.

Children who couldn't go to school because they lacked access to clean water.
Women who couldn't work and envision a future.
Even today, there are still many places in the world where a basic standard of living remains out of reach.

But access to water is not the “goal.”
The true power lies in the changes that follow — education, income, and transformation within the community.
At HOPE International Development Agency Japan, we’ve been delivering support for self-reliance — starting with water — in Cambodia, Ethiopia, and the Philippines.

Aiming for a world where each person is empowered to reach their full potential, no matter the circumstances they are born into.
With that vision at heart, we have transformed the lives of 80,000 people over the past 25 years — and now, we’re taking on a new challenge: to support the self-reliance of another 50,000 people in the next five years.

We invite you to take this next step with us.
To continue offering “from water to self-reliance,” we need companions on this journey.
Your support can truly change someone’s future.
Please join us in empowering lives and expanding hope as we approach our 25th anniversary!

水からはじまる自立支援を続けて24年。これからも支援を続け地域を広げていく挑戦を応援してくださるマンスリーサポーターを募集します！

できることから応援プラン

本気で応援プラン

全力応援プラン

<h1>Cambodia</h1>In Cambodia, our support starts with access to clean water. Since most of the land is flat, we build wells using simple, non-electric systems that local people can maintain themselves. Each well is shared by a group of 5–6 households who work together to take care of it. This setup helps nurture a sense of ownership—the feeling that “this is our water”— which is key to keeping the system running even after our direct support ends.Next, we provide hygiene education alongside water access. Then, we support families with vegetable seeds, tools, and training to start home gardens—improving health and nutrition. With less time spent fetching water, children can go to school, and when needed, we even help build school facilities.We also run small business training for women—like how to start a shop or café. Many women who were once tied down by the daily task of collecting water now gain the confidence and income to step into new roles in their communities.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/86ec0d04-7c40-407e-b411-0ef9fbbe9c6e.png"><h1>Ethiopia</h1>Just like in Cambodia, our support in Ethiopia begins with access to clean water, followed by hygiene education and women’s empowerment. In this mountainous country, we take advantage of the elevation differences to build gravity-fed water systems—no electricity needed. These systems can serve thousands of people, so local residents form a water management committee to maintain the system themselves. To build a sense of ownership, community members also join in the construction work and learn how to make repairs when needed.When we first launched the project, some residents said, “There’s no way water will ever come out of a tap here.” But once the system was complete and they saw water flowing with their own eyes, their reaction was full of joy: “The water really comes out!” At first, it may seem unbelievable—but as life starts to improve, people begin to believe in the change and take an active role in shaping it.One inspiring moment came during a recent project: a mother who had dropped out of primary school returned to her studies—alongside her own child—after being freed from the daily burden of fetching water.As in Cambodia, we also offer women’s empowerment programs through training that supports income-generating activities, helping women build confidence and independence through small business opportunities.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/cd4662d8-220d-4436-a447-c0f3747ad3ac.png"> <h1>Philippines</h1>In the Philippines, we provide scholarships to Indigenous youth. The country is home to over 100 Indigenous groups, each with their own unique languages and cultures. However, many face discrimination and are excluded from public services, leading to poverty and a loss of cultural pride. As a result, many traditions are fading away.To help preserve their heritage and create new possibilities, we offer young people from these communities the chance to pursue higher education. These future leaders become bridges between their communities and wider society—carrying their culture forward while helping shape a more inclusive future.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/31cdbd6d-b71b-4f85-b71b-8ccab0198cee.png">

Our Work in Cambodia, Ethiopia, and the Philippines

<h1>カンボジア</h1>安全な水の供給から支援活動が始まります。主に平地が広がるカンボジアでは、井戸を建設しています。動力を使わずシンプルな構造にし、住民自身が管理できるようにしています。井戸を利用する5～6家族でグループを作り、井戸を守っていきます。これは、「自分たちの水」という意識「オーナーシップ」を育て、事業終了後も地域で給水設備を維持していくための大切な工程です。次は、水の供給とあわせて衛生教育を実施し、続いて家庭菜園や農業の技術支援を行い、健康と栄養状態の改善につなげます。水汲みから解放された子どもたちは学校へ通えるようになり、必要があれば学校の建設も行います。また、女性のエンパワメントとして、商店やカフェなどの小規模ビジネスを始めるトレーニングも行っています。これまで水汲みに追われ社会に出る機会がなかった女性たちが、収入を得ることで経済的な自立だけでなく「自分にもできる」という自信を育みます。<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/3d49e3b2-ccc7-416f-bfdf-76b9983b6450.png"><h1>エチオピア</h1>カンボジアと同じく、水の供給支援から始まり、衛生教育、女性のエンパワメントを実施します。標高が高く高低差が大きいエチオピアでは、その高低差を生かし、動力は使わずに重力のみで水を配水する簡易水道を建設します。エチオピアでは数千人が簡易水道を利用するため、住民で水管理委員会を組織して水道を維持していきます。こちらもオーナーシップを育むため、建設工事には住民も参加し、修理が必要なときに対応できるよう学びます。事業を始めたときには、「水道から水が出るはずがない」と半信半疑だった住民もいましたが、水道が完成し、水が出てくるのを目の当たりにして「本当に、水は出るんだ！」と、とても喜んでいました。初めは信じられないかもしれませんが、事業が進み生活の質が良くなっていくのを体感することで、住民たちの意識も徐々に変わり、積極的に参加するようになっていきます。 2024年までエチオピアで実施していた事業では、かつて小学校を中退した母親が、水汲みから解放されたことで復学して、自分の子どもと一緒に学び直すという嬉しいニュースもありました！ 女性にむけては、カンボジアと同じくエンパワメントとして、収入創出活動をサポートするトレーニングを実施します。<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/f1732c17-735e-4ee2-b8aa-49c563ea5678.png"> <h1>フィリピン</h1>先住民族の若者への奨学金支援を行っています。フィリピンには100以上の先住民族が存在し、それぞれの言語や文化を持っています。しかし、社会での差別や公的サービスを受けられず貧困に陥り、自分たちの文化に自信が持てなくなって、伝統や文化が失われつつあります。そこで、次世代のリーダーが高等教育を受ける機会を提供。教育を受けた若者が社会との橋渡し役となり、民族の未来を支えていくのです。<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/52d24e2f-2599-47a5-8b75-aa3d1aad12ce.png">

カンボジア・エチオピア・フィリピンで、こんな活動をしています！

“I couldn’t believe water would actually come out.”That one comment marked the first step in transforming the lives of 80,000 people.But that wasn’t the goal — it was just the starting line. Even with water, without access to education or job opportunities, it’s still difficult to build a brighter future.Community-based support for self-reliance—starting with water—is now needed more than ever before.In a world where 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, reaching “50,000” people is a tremendous challenge for us. That’s because we’re aiming to reach 50,000 people in just five years — the same scale of support it took us 24 years to deliver to 80,000. Now begins the challenge of not only bringing life-saving water to each individual, but also supporting the journey toward self-reliance.<h1>The Risks Faced in Remote Areas with Poor Access, Far from Major Towns, and Beyond the Reach of Government and NGO Support</h1><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/032452c5-7caf-4a33-8e54-cd75445c2527.png">Our activities always start in response to needs expressed by the local communities. However, without sufficient funding, we are unable to meet those needs.Even after more than 20 years of working in the field, the need for support remains urgent.For example, in Ethiopia, the government is overwhelmed with managing tribal conflicts in the northern regions, and infrastructure development in rural areas has been left behind. In recent years, the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation even worse — many migrant workers who lost their jobs have returned to rural villages, only to find no work available, deepening the cycle of poverty. This ongoing situation continues to fuel a high demand for self-reliance support.The areas where HOPE works are often remote, far from towns, with poor access and little to no support from the government or other NGOs. In these regions, there is a severe shortage of safe water, sanitation facilities, and adequate food — conditions that have a serious impact on health and living environments. Children and the elderly, in particular, face high risks of diarrhea, dehydration, and infectious diseases caused by contaminated water, making immediate support essential.This is not an issue limited to the areas where HOPE works. According to UNICEF, as of 2022, some 2.2 billion people worldwide still lack access to safely managed drinking water. Even today, one in four people rely on untreated sources such as lakes and rivers for their daily water needs.<h2>Voices from Our Cambodian Staff</h2><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/bf286335-e563-463c-8f25-9bc56201c1d8.jpg">When I see families right in front of me who are hungry, I cannot just walk away. They have no food to eat and no access to safe drinking water. I cannot abandon them, ignore them, or leave them in such conditions.Even if we give them something today, it would only last for half a day or a single day. But by building just one well, we can support ten families — and generations to come. It’s not just about today or tomorrow; the impact will last for a hundred years.<h1>Aiming to Build a World Where Everyone Can Reach Their Full Potential, No Matter Where They Are Born</h1>We are an NPO working toward Helping the Neglected Poor Become Self-reliant. Our vision is to create a world where each person is empowered to reach their full potential, no matter the circumstances where they were born. We support and enable individuals suffering from ultra-poverty in Ethiopia, Cambodia, and the Philippines.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/f0339f8f-ad20-462d-b153-459476bf4971.png">Since launching our activities in 2001, we have carried forward the motto &quot;from water to self-reliance.&quot;Our efforts include building wells and water supply systems to provide access to safe drinking water, delivering health and hygiene education, supporting agriculture, constructing schools, and creating opportunities for higher education.By offering phased support — from building the foundations of daily life to achieving economic independence — we help communities expand their future opportunities.Our goal is not just to provide aid, but to empower people to gain skills, knowledge, and ownership through our programs, enabling them to move forward independently even after the projects are completed.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/2db19731-7b1b-4f96-b1bb-4017e36b005f.png"><h1>Continuing Our Support to Help More People Break Free from Poverty and Shape Their Own Futures</h1><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/40775520-31a6-40ce-a7ec-3cc0785695b9.png">To meet the growing needs and sustain our activities, stable funding is essential. In particular, there are two key areas we are determined to focus on going forward.<h2>■ Strengthening &quot;Two Forms of Self-Reliance&quot; Through Step-by-Step Support</h2>When families gain stable access to clean water, no longer affected by the whims of the weather, their lives change dramatically compared to before. The most noticeable change is seen in women and children, who used to spend countless hours every day fetching water. Children’s health improves, their desire to learn grows, and they are able to attend school. If there are no schools in the area, HOPE steps in to build them — and sometimes even establishes libraries to provide further opportunities for learning and expanding future possibilities.We also teach women that they have the skills to earn an income by utilizing their household abilities, and we provide financial literacy education. We support women in starting joint businesses, helping them achieve economic independence through small-scale enterprises.These changes gradually spread throughout families and entire communities, influencing even the attitudes of men. When women and men begin to respect each other and build equal partnerships, it leads to a deeper, society-wide transformation.By offering comprehensive support tailored to each stage of self-reliance, we aim to foster not only economic independence but also psychological empowerment. Through addressing deep-rooted gender inequalities and revitalizing local communities, we work to make self-reliance a lasting reality.<h2>Stories from the Community</h2>A New Start: 11-Year-Old Boy Returns to SchoolIn Sameit Village, Cambodia, the installation of a well led to increased agricultural income.As a result, an 11-year-old boy who had once been forced to leave school was able to return to elementary school.Previously, poverty had made it impossible for him to continue his education, but now his family is supporting his dream of going on to junior high.He shared with us, “I want to keep studying hard — for my family.”Coffee, Hope, and a Changing LifeIn a village in Ethiopia, a group of women who received support were able to learn business skills and open a café.“This support gave me hope,” one woman told us with sparkling eyes. “Now I can send my children to school, and even my husband came to understand my work — there were days when he cooked meals for us. I never imagined a day like this would come.”A Village Where Women&#39;s Voices Are HeardIn a village where water supply has begun, improved hygiene awareness has led to the spread of household toilets, the elimination of open defecation, and a healthier living environment.What’s more, in a community where male dominance was once the norm, support programs have helped reduce discrimination and violence against women. Today, women are beginning to speak up at village meetings.Women who once found it difficult to raise their voices are now starting to talk about the future of their community — and finding more spaces where they can thrive.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/2cac3729-6665-4d06-ab43-d8724617017e.png"><h2>■ Expanding Our Reach to New Communities</h2>Our journey, which began 24 years ago with the construction of a single well in a small village in Cambodia, has since expanded to surrounding villages, then to new regions, and even across national borders to other countries facing similar hardships.However, even after completing a project in one area, there are still many people who urgently need support.When a village gains access to clean water, children begin attending school, forming friendships, expanding their horizons, and adults increasingly find opportunities for new jobs. Seeing these transformations, neighboring villages begin reaching out to us with heartfelt requests: &quot;Please bring your programs to our village too.&quot; Witnessing firsthand the positive change in nearby communities gives others hope — hope that they too can change — and so the ripple of support continues to spread.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/7a868d9a-cdd5-4b7a-80a4-bb892ed35556.png">In the regions where HOPE operates, communities are often more tightly knit than in Japan, and individual success alone does not easily lead to the development of the broader community. That’s why our approach goes beyond supporting individuals; we aim to foster growth across entire communities.Looking ahead, we plan to launch new initiatives in Gofa, located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples&#39; Region of Ethiopia. There, we will begin with clean water supply projects as a foundation for self-reliance, while also working to protect water sources and surrounding environments, particularly as natural disasters like landslides have become more frequent in recent years. In Cambodia, we plan to support the newly growing communities in Veal Veng, Pursat Province — an area experiencing an influx of settlers following landmine clearance — by providing access to clean water and helping to establish stable living conditions.We will continue expanding our activities, reaching more people, and supporting them as they break free from poverty and carve out their own futures with their own strength.<h2>Stories from the Community</h2>Change Begins in a Village Where Water ArrivedIn Oyda District, Ethiopia, Meseret (then 33) recalled how some villagers initially opposed the construction of a water point, saying, “There’s no way that could ever work.”But when the water point was completed and water actually flowed, she told us, “It felt like a gift from God.”In the past, many people lost their lives due to contaminated water. Today, with access to safe water, Meseret can live with peace of mind — even while expecting a child.She shared that she no longer spends hours fetching water and can now use her time to work instead.With better hygiene, family relationships have also improved. An awareness of “respecting women” is gradually taking root in the community.Carrying these changes into the next generation won&#39;t be easy, but she says with quiet confidence, “I believe that’s possible too.”<h1>Beyond the Donation — Big Change Starts with Small, Ongoing Support</h1>Ultimately, we need 250 million yen (approximately USD 1.6 million) annually to sustain our activities. In order to carry out our work steadily in the field, covering organizational operating costs is also essential. While we make use of grants and other funding sources, as an NPO, we aim to build a world where each person is empowered to reach their full potential — and we cannot do that without your support.For example:<ul><li>With ¥12,000 per year, you can provide one school desk for an elementary school student.</li><li>With ¥24,000 per year, you can provide vegetable seeds and farming tools to a family, along with training to start a home garden.</li><li>With ¥60,000 per year, you can support a family with hygiene education and the construction of a toilet.</li></ul>In this way, our support extends beyond simply providing water — it touches many aspects of life and self-reliance.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/c781408b-3696-4d8d-b43d-1cbe1e5b96ee.png">In 2026, HOPE International Development Agency will celebrate its 25th anniversary since beginning our activities.But we are not stopping here. We will continue striving toward even greater goals — aiming to support the self-reliance of 50,000 people by the year 2030.The support gathered through this campaign will be used for the following activities:<ul><li>Organizational operation costs</li><li>Overseas project expenses (construction of water supply facilities, health and hygiene education, agricultural support, school construction, higher education support, and support for women&#39;s income-generating activities)</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/1ee774dd-a239-45d1-b068-10e79d076407.png"><h1>Message from Our Representative: “Building Self-Reliant Communities”</h1><h4>Jeffrey Behr, Executive Director</h4><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/ce8fad32-86ee-4edb-9061-e1ff0c08cb1c.png">As we approach our 25th anniversary, I am filled with gratitude and determination. For nearly a quarter-century, HOPE Japan has worked tirelessly to empower communities in Cambodia, Ethiopia, and the Philippines. Through clean water projects, educational initiatives, and livelihood programs, we have witnessed countless lives transformed. Yet, our mission is far from complete.This milestone is not just a celebration of past achievements but a call to action for the future. We are committed to expanding our reach and broadening the scope of our support—from water and education to self-help programs fostering sustainable agriculture and other businesses that achieve self-reliance for our beneficiaries.Our long-term vision remains steadfast: building self-reliant communities, starting with access to clean water as the foundation for growth.The challenges we face inspire us to innovate and deepen our impact. Together with you, our gracious and sustaining supporters, we will continue bridging gaps between ideals and reality, ensuring that no one is left behind. I invite you to join us on this journey of hope and transformation.Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Together, we can create a brighter future for those who need it most.Warm regards,Jeffrey BehrExecutive DirectorHOPE Japan<h1>Final Thoughts</h1><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/e0e248d4-faa9-4755-b5d4-8439c7c82402.png">There are many reasons why people may find themselves in need of support. It could be the illness of a family breadwinner or the loss of livelihood due to a natural disaster — just as our lives here in Japan can change unexpectedly, so too do the lives of people in developing countries who face unpredictable challenges and hardships.Our vision is to create a world where each person is empowered to reach their full potential, no matter the circumstances where they are born. To achieve this, we are committed to improving the quality of our support and building programs that can reach even more people. And to make it happen, we need companions to continue delivering empowerment – from water to self-reliance.Your support has the power to change someone&#39;s future.Please join us in this journey as we take on new challenges toward our 25th anniversary!<h1>About Us</h1><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/5d3139e4-fddb-44a7-b651-2eaec05c35c1.png">We are an NPO working toward Helping the Neglected Poor Become Self-reliant. Our vision is to create a world where each person is empowered to reach their full potential, no matter the circumstances where they were born. We support and enable individuals suffering from ultra-poverty in Ethiopia, Cambodia, and the Philippines.Over the past 24 years, more than 80,000 people have gained access to clean water and have been able to build self-reliant lives.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/syncable-app/upload/dde209ac-e8e0-4b12-a84b-f7fbd8d0a13d.png">

水からはじまる自立支援を続けて24年。これからも支援を続け地域を広げていく挑戦を応援してくださるマンスリーサポーターを募集します！

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