The Mindoro Empowerment Project

Manyang families in the Mindoro region in the Philippines are trapped in ongoing cycles of
absolute poverty.
Help a family break free today with just 30,000 won a month.
View more

Mother and Child Reading Project

Countless families across the world are marginalised from society due to illiteracy.
Human Asia works to create a brighter world where both mothers and children can learn to read. View more

Digital Literacy

Human Asia advocates digital rights for all so that no one living in the new technology age is left behind. View more

Human Rights-Based Development (HRBD)
Human Asia conducts human-rights based development projects
to spread the light of human rights across Asia and the world.

Together with our advocacy activities, we dream of promoting the concept of human rights on
a wider scaleand improving the lives of marginalised communities in Asia.

Using a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), Human Asia seeks to integrate human rights and development to
realise strong and sustainable development programs. Our programs aim for each individual to live their lives
independently and autonomously. We also strive to promote a more encompassing and effective idea of human rights
by implementing HRBA projects alongside our human rights research and advocacy work.

Human Asia actively cooperates with existing local government programs, international organisations, and other
development cooperation programs to maximise each project’s overall efficiency and sustainability.

We implement our HRBA projects in accordance with the following international standards and goals.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights  ·  The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
The UN Human Rights Council’s resolution on ‘New and emerging technologies and human rights’ (A/HRC/41/L.14)
Our Development and Cooperation Team carry out a diverse range of HRBA projects:
for human rights development in which the rights of every individual are realised and respected

The Community Empowerment Project (CEP)

  • We support self-reliance and economic stability for communities living in extreme poverty.
  • Our monthly sponsors provide ongoing sustainable support for local families
Main Activities
Mindoro Empowerment Project, the Philippines

Learn more

“ Knowing that my donations are used to help Manyang families learn to read
and children to go to school really makes me feel the light of hope for human rights in our region. ”
Kang-ho Jhe, Partner at Kim Chang & Lee law firm

Program Areas

Education
Nutrition, Hygiene & Health
Business
Digital Technology & ICT
Social Participation
Humanitarian Aid

HRBD News

2019.05.23 Introducing Human Asia's Children School (2019.05.10) Do you remember the Jumma refugees from Bangladesh, now living here in Korea? Last year on October 5 2018, Human Asia met with some of the Jumma mothers residing in Gimpo. Following that initial meeting, Human Asia has now started a new project with refugee Jumma children in Incheon and Gimpo, ongoing between May and September 2019 with the support of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. These children are often at the very heart of the socially vulnerable in Korea. The ‘Human Children School’ gives these children the chance to learn about a number of different subjects, and to be inspired by academic experts and volunteers from diverse professions and fields. Through learning about different aspects of society, the school helps the children learn more about their own selves and identities. The school further expects to encourage these children to manifest a positive outlook about their futures. Whilst the school is aimed towards children, their mothers too naturally have an important role within the project. During the planning process for the school which began in February, Human Asia met with the childrens’ mothers to organise the project collaboratively. This joint meeting was an opportunity for all those involved to to brainstorm ways to get the kids actively involved in the school, and concluded with the content and schedule of the school being confirmed. Please support Human Asia in our work to create a society where every child can grow up into a happy and healthy citizen!
2019.04.18 Construction of SNEHA School Office and Bathrooms in Bihar, India (2019.04.18) Human Asia is constructing an office and a bathroom facility at SNEHA School in Bihar, India in order to improve the quality of school environment. SNEHA Bihar School was founded for providing education to Chakma children, as with SNEHA Daiyun School. Currently, approximately 150 students ranging from first grade to eighth grade are studying at this school; to access quality education for children living in remote areas. Students currently take classes in classrooms made of bamboo. The toilets are built with iron plates without a proper roof, making them difficult to use during the rainy season. Since 2018, Human Asia has been preparing for the reconstruction of the school in order to improve the school’s basic infrastructure. Although it was challenging as Bihar is in a very remote region in India, thankfully, we are able to finally start the construction this month. The construction will begin around the beginning of April and will be completed between May and June. We would like to give thanks to all of you who have supported us so far. Current feature of SNEHA Bihar School SNEHA Bihar School's Office Under Construction Post navigation
2018.11.29 Visit to SNEHA Schools in India (2018.11.16~26) From November 16 - 26, Human Asia visited Arunachal Pradesh in India, under the 2018-2019 Chakma Education Support Project. This visit was intended to open a discussion with teachers on the details of project activities, as well as modifying communication channels for more efficient project management. Human Asia has been operating the Chakma Education Support Project since 2017, with the aim of providing quality education to Chakma children who are frequently deprived of the opportunity to receive basic education. Human Asia is working with SNEHA, an NGO founded to tackle such issues in India, in order to improve the learning and teaching environments in SNEHA schools. ▲학교 교사와 사업 논의 ▲ 학생들과의 만남
2018.11.28 Joint Event ‘Refugees and Development Cooperation’ with Incheon International Development Cooperation Center (2018.11.23) In celebration of Development Assistance Day, on November 23 Human Asia co-organized “Refugees and Development Cooperation” with Incheon International Development Cooperation Center at Incheon G-Tower. During the forum, refugees, experts and activists from selected fields were invited to discuss the reality of refugee countries and the lives of refugees in South Korea. The event additionally offered film screenings and a ‘talk concert’, where refugees discussed how best to overcome public attitudes centred on pity, and further efforts towards peaceful co-existence.
2018.09.27 2018 Samsung Global-Hope Scholarship Certificate Award Ceremony (2018.09.13) On Friday September 13th, the 2018 Samsung Global-Hope Scholarship Certificate Award Ceremony was held in the Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation office, located near Seoul Station. Secretary-General Hyeyoung Park and Program Officer Eunah Seol attended the ceremony and received the certificate for Human Asia. At the ceremony, we were able to hear news of the children who started to dream again through the Foundation. We also heard the news of a student who sent a letter saying, “My dreams are coming true.” After hearing their news, we decided to put all our efforts into making the dreams of the Chakma children come true through Human Asia’s own different projects. Furthermore, after hearing the “Hope Messages” from different organisations conducting projects in Asia, we felt very grateful. Human Asia will work hard to provide quality education to the Chakma children, in accordance with our own goals and vision. We would like to sincerely ask for your continued support and interest for our educational support projects for the Chakma children starting in September. Human Asia will continue to work on constructing human-rights friendly schools.
2017.03.22 Visiting Badikhel, Nepal and Arunachal India (2017.03.18~21) Channgrok Soh, President of Human Asia, and Somi Kwon, Secretary General, visited the Human Asia Nepal Office in Badikhel.After the earthquake from 2015 April, Human Asia conducted numerous campaigns and fund-raising activities to rebuild the destroyed houses in Badikhel. After looking around the construction sites and the village and donated bags and warm clothes from Patagonia and Neomio. Human Asia also delivered the signboards to the recipients of the rebuilt houses. While visiting Nepal, Human Asia went to a school for Jumma Chakma students in Arunachal Pradesh, India, through the Jumma People's Network Korea, located at Gimpo. Only 2,500 people among 50,000 Jumma residents in Arunachal Pradesh have citizenship, because the local government is relunctant at granting the High Court of India approved papers. They suffer from cases caused by the absence of citizenship; no right to vote, no birth certificates for newborns. From numerous government benefits, right to education is largely denied which led to the establishment of Sneha School for Jumma students. The Jumma people have much enthusiasm for education, and the Sneha School is producing excellent outcomes compared with other regional schools. However, the school is in much need to operate and function, and as the first visiting foreigners to register in Diyun (Arunachal Pradesh), Human Asia is planning to seek measures to support Sneha School in the future.
2011.10.27 Week 6, Development and Human Rights(2): “The Dominance of Discourse on Human Rights and Rights-based Approach to Development Cooperation Viewed from Actual Field of International Development collaboration.”(2011.10.27) The sixth week of Human Rights Academy – Jin-ho Song, Planning Manager, National Council of YMCAs in KoreaJin-ho Song, Planning Manager of National Council of YMCAs in Korea and Dong-hwa Yang gave the sixth lecture of Human Rights Academy in Room 115, International Studies Hall, Korea University. The topic was “The Dominance of Discourse on Human Rights and Rights-based Approach to Development Cooperation Viewed from Actual Field of International Development collaboration.” Dong-hwa Yang told us about the process of producing Peace Coffee – coffee produced through Fairtrade in East Timor region.I hope you all to have a great interest and a big affection for PEACE COFFEE produced through Fairtrade.
2011.10.20 Week 5, Development and Human Rights(1): Greateful Korea with International development cooperation of KOICA (2011.10.20) On October 20, Bo-min Kim, Chief Researcher of KOICA ODA delivered a lecture, “Grateful Korea: International development cooperation of KOICA.” I believe the stories of personal experiences in the actual fields of the international development were a great gain for everyone.
2011.09.30 "Jum" Library Opening in Kimpo (2011.09.30) Opening "Jum Library" for Jumma people, Bangladeshi minority On Friday September 30th, Human Asia (President: Changrok Soh) and JPNK (The Jumma Peoples Network Korea) held opening ceremony for ‘Jum Library’ at JPNK headquarter located in Kimpo. The ceremony started at 3 p.m. Organizers as well as the following sponsors attended the ceremony: Global health NGO MediPeace (Chairperson: Young-seok Kang); BIR Publishing Co., Ltd. (CEO: Sanghee Park); Kinderland (CEO: Jongwon Lim); Monami Co., Ltd. (CEO: Hakyung Song). The attendance of various civil society members as well as religous leaders made the ceremony all the more meaningful. JPNK President Jagadish Tanchangya introduced the guests and thanked everyone for attending the event. Through his welcoming address, he revealed that: "Jum is a local term in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh which stands for slash and burn style of shifting cultivation on hill slopes . Jum is a specific term for the land of Jum cultivation with its ripen products namely paddy, cotton, sesame, fruits and different kinds of vegetables. In the old age, the Jumma people used to compare “Jum” to a market place for its variety of agricultural products. Jummas traditionally live on the food products of Jum. In a metaphoric sense, a library is like a “Jum” filled with intellectual products (books) of different kinds of knowledge that we need in everyday life. Hence, “the Jum library” optimistically will influence on building an insight development, progressive and peaceful society in Korea to be represented and replaced by the Jumma generations to come."The opening of Jum Library is a dream come true for all the Jumma peoples-about 70 of them. He thanked all the organizers and sponsors for their active involvement. In his congratulatory remarks, the President of Human Asia Mr. Soh Changrok said:"This is an meaningful event especially in lieu with the fact that this year is the 60th anniversary of 1951 Refugee Convention. The collaboration of different actors-private companies, human rights NGOs and Jumma peoples-for this initiative, made this event all the more meaningful. My deepest and most sincere congratulations." The congratulatory remark was followed by formal official ceremony of commemorating BIR.co. Ltd.'s and Kinderland's delivery of 1,000 volumes to the library. Official tape-cutting ceremony followed.President Kang Byung-seok of the Kimpo Council for Supporting MigrantsI, President Lee Minyoung of Buddhist Solidarity for Reform and President Ahn Hyosang of Korea Socialist Party each delivered a short congratulatory remarks, which concluded the Session 1 of the event. At Session 2, Ronel Chakma Nani the former JPNK Secretary General briefly introduced the organization's activity, also providing explanations about Jumma Peoples and where they came from, etc. After the brieft presentation by Mr. Nani, everyone shared traditional Jumma dishes, enjoying each other's company.Most Koreans are unfamiliar with the term, ‘Jumma’. They are the indigenous people mostly residing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. As ethnic minority, they account for only 0.7% of Bangladesh total population, with 650,000. During the Partition of India in 1947, Indian subcontinent was partitioned on the basis of religion, Pakistan for Muslims and secular India for non-Muslims and Muslims alike. Despite 98.5% of the population of the Chittagong were Jummas and thus non-Muslims, the Pakistani leadership conspired and the Boundary Commission of Great Britain ceded the Chittagon to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in violation of the principles of partition and against the wishes of the Jumma people. During Bangladesh’s war of independence with Pakistan in 1971, Jummas sided with Bangladesh’s majority Bengalis. After the independence however, Bangladesh government did not accept Jumma people’s demand for autonomy. Instead, Jumma people are subjected to such human rights violations as land-grabbing, sexual assault, violence and murder, often organized and/or condoned by the Bangladesh government. Escaping from such human rights violations, some of them become refugees in other countries, away from their home.In Kimpo’s Yangchon district specifically, there reside about 60 Jumma people around the JPNK headquarter. 47 of them have already obtained refugee status. JPNK strives to raise awareness on the human rights situations of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Jumma people, seeking solidarity for peace and the promotion of human rights. They maintain close ties with other ethnic minorities residing in Mongolia, Burma, etc. They also advocate for improving human rights of low-income multicultural families. One of JPNK's future projects is Weekend Cultural School , through which children of Jumma community can educate themselves their own languages, Korean as well as other foreign languages; studying of their own culture and Korean's will be also available through the Cultural School. Public lectures on Jumma peoples' human rights anc cultures are being organized as well. Additionally, scholarship funds are being prepared for the Jumma community in Bangladesh. The Jum Library currently holds about 2,000 volumes of Korean language and 500 English languag books. The library will be also used as a place for children to study after school. More donations (books, bookshelves, etc.) are always welcome.
2011.09.30 After Attending the Opening Ceremony of Jum Library (2011.09.30) September 30th, 2011, the opening day of Jum Library will be remembered as a very meaningful day not only for Human Asia (President: Changrok Soh) but also for me, myself. For Human Asia, the opening meant a lot in that it made a contribution to improving human rights for Asians in Korea through a humanitarian campaign, expanding its field of activity from foreign countries which it had focused more. For me personally, it was more fulfilling than any other projects I had worked on as I could give Jumma refugees visible and practical help. The library was able to be open with the help of many. Two publishers, BIR Publishing Co., Ltd. (CEO: Sanghee Park) andKinderland (CEO: Jongwon Lim), gladly donated one thousand books respectively when they learned that the Jumma refugee children in Korea could not study and read many books under the difficult circumstances. Monami Co., Ltd. (CEO: Hakyung Song), a stationery company, generously offered stationery supplies for the children and MediPeace (Chairperson: Youngseok Kang), global health NGO, had The Jumma Peoples’ Network Korea (JPNK) office wallpapered for free, making the library much more beautiful. The opening ceremony of Jum Library, which held at JPNKlocated in Kimpo on Friday September 30th, had more significantmeaning as not only the organizers and sponsors but also people from various communities and civic groups were present. Most Koreans are unfamiliar with the term, ‘Jumma’. They are the indigenous peoples mostly residing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. As ethnic minority, they account for only 0.7% of Bangladesh total population, with 650,000. During the Partition of India in 1947, Indian subcontinent was partitioned on the basis of religion, Pakistan for Muslims and secular India for non-Muslims and Muslims alike. Despite 98.5% of the population of the Chittagong were Jummas and thus non-Muslims, the Pakistani leadership conspired and the Boundary Commission of Great Britain ceded the Chittagon to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in violation of the principles of partition and against the wishes of the Jumma peoples. During Bangladesh’s war of independence with Pakistan in 1971, Jummas sided with Bangladesh’s majority Bengalis. After the independence however, Bangladesh government did not accept Jumma people’s demand for autonomy. Instead, Jumma people are subjected to such human rights violations as land-grabbing, sexual assault, violence and murder, often organized and/or condoned by the Bangladesh government. Escaping from such human rights violations, some of them become refugees in other countries, away from their home. In Kimpo’s Yangchon district specifically, there reside about 60 Jumma people around the JPNK headquarter. 47 of them have already obtained refugee status. JPNK strives to raise awareness on the human rights situations of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Jumma people, seeking solidarity for peace and the promotion of human rights. They maintain close ties with other ethnic minorities residing in Mongolia, Burma, etc. They also advocate for improving human rights of low-income multicultural families. Through his address of thanks, JPNK President Jagadish Tanchangya explained that "Jum", the name of the library, was a local term used in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh. He said that for Jumma people who grew rice, cotton, sesame, fruits and vegetables "Jum" was an farming method and an important means of living. And in that sense "Jum Library" was a knowledge supplier which provided Jummaswith intellectual produce that they needed every day, he added. He sent his gratitude to all the parties concerned with the library, saying that the library was a dream come true for around seventy Jummas living in Korea. I felt more affinity when I learned the meaning of the word "Jum." After the book donation and ribbon cutting, everybody came together by sharing traditional Jumma dishes and celebrating the library opening. I felt so great when I looked at the children with big smiles and about two thousandvolumes of Korean and five hundred English books. As I thought that the library would be used as an after-school study room for Jumma children and a resting place filled with knowledge for Jumma people, I was once again reminded that our job, working together to look around the marginalized people in our society and making as many of them as happy, was very much valuable. As a member of Human Asia, I want to continue to pay attention to Asian people with compromised human rights and take the lead to improve them even a little.Ahreum KimProgram Manager of Human Asia

Spotlight

2020.12.22 Introducing Human Asia's New Intern! We would like to introduce our new intern, who will be working with us from December 2020 until February 2021. Yeri Lee Hello! My name is Yeri Lee, working at Human Asia through the Citi-Kyung Hee NGO internship programme. My major is Political Science and Diplomacy and I took classes related to minority politics, global terrorism, international conflicts, etc. By doing so, I became interested in the international cooperation to solve these problems and the human rights issues of individuals in the grand framework of the world. I have got a good opportunity to be an intern at Human Asia, and I want to learn about human rights protection and development and get experience.
2020.04.30 New and Emerging Digital Technologies and Human Rights
2020.03.16 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (60th Anniversary of the Sharpevile Massacre) Human Asia dreams of a world without discrimination ✨ #antiracism #fightracism #endracism #stopracism #worldagainstracism
2020.02.28 CSR VS BHR (Similarities, Differences, and Mechanisms) Corporate social responsibility (CSR) vs business and human rights (BHR) - what’s the difference? ⠀For more information keep up with the Asian Business and Human Rights Center (link in bio)#businessandhumanrights #humanasia #humanrights #abhrc
2019.12.27 Political Gender Equality As of February 2019, only 3 countries have over 50% women in parliament. To learn more about political gender equality and gender representation in political-economic realms, sign up for the 2020 EAYAN Program (link in bio).
2019.12.18 Sexual Harassment in East Asia Sexual harassment is an issue across the globe and the region, from K-pop scandals to abuse in the workplace. To learn more about this issue sign up for the 2020 EAYAN program workshop (link in bio). #womensrights #humanasia #인권 #휴먼아시아
2019.12.09 Why 2020 for Gender Equality? (East Asia Young Activists Networking Program) Apply now for the 2020 EAYAN program at eayan.org ! #womensrights #humanrights #humanasia #인권 #휴먼아시아
2019.12.05 The Wage Gap & Work-Life Balance for Women in East Asia On a worldwide scale, women reportedly make only 77 cents to every dollar earned by men. For further discussion on the #wagegap and #worklifebalance for women, apply for the 2020 EAYAN workshop (link in bio). #womensrights #humanasia #humanrights #휴먼아시아 #인권
2019.11.20 Domestic Violence in East Asia 1 in 4 women (and 1 in 7 men) will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. For further discussion on this topic apply for the 2020 EAYAN program workshop (link in bio). #womensrights
2019.10.21 What is the Accountability and Remedy (ARP) Project? The 12th Asia Human Rights Forum - Human Rights, Business and Technology: An Evolving Agenda]The Accountability and Remedy Project [ARP]Access to effective remedy is a core component of the UN Guiding Principles on the Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Yet, victims of business-related human rights abuses still often struggle to access remedy. The OHCHR therefore launched the Accountability and Remedy Project (ARP) in 2014. To learn more about the ARP, sign up for the 12th Asia Human Rights Forum at humanasia.org.