Blog

March 17, 2025

Today, March 17, 2025, marks the 45th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a landmark piece of legislation that solidified the United States’ leadership in refugee protection. For decades, this legislation has upheld our nation’s commitment to welcoming those in need, providing a vital pathway to safety for the world’s most vulnerable.  However, recent executive orders from the Trump …

Murakami Kotomi | March 12, 2025

Murakami Kotomi, a CWS Japan intern, recently interviewed participants in the “Enhancing Resilience of Afghanistan through Integrated Risk Reduction” project. This blog features her interviews with local community members about the impacts that the project has had in supporting disaster risk reduction efforts in Afghanistan. Impacts of Disaster Risk Reduction Projects Disasters can upend lives in an instant, but proactive …

Nozomi Igarashi |

In January, CWS Japan hosted a hands-on Tunisian chapati cooking class, bringing together newcomers and local residents for a shared cultural experience. Through events like these, the cafe fosters deeper connections, promotes cross-cultural understanding and creates a welcoming space where the community can engage and learn from one another. The new year has arrived, and a month has flown by …

Yukiko Maki |

One year after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, CWS Japan reflects on its efforts to support disaster-affected communities. By fostering local partnerships, CWS Japan continues to address the long-term challenges of disaster recovery while working to build a more resilient and inclusive emergency response system. The CWS Japan team spent the New Year praying that no large-scale disasters would occur—in fact, …

Nozomi Igarashi |

In November, CWS Japan hosted several events, including a disaster risk reduction walk to inform Japanese language school students about local disaster preparedness resources and storytelling sessions. Through events like these, the cafe fosters deeper connections, promotes cross-cultural understanding and creates a welcoming space where the community can engage and learn from one another. CWS Japan recently opened a café—the …