Formerly known as the Shanti Volunteer Association (Shanti Kokusai Volunteer Kai, SVA), JSRC aims to promote global civil society, co-existence, learning and solidarity with people in developing countries through international development activities, development education and policy advocacy. Its activities include educational support, construction of schools, production of teaching materials, management of vocational training centres, rural and slum development and support of publishing. The history of the organisation dates back to 1980 when Sotoshu (the Zen school of Japanese traditional Buddhism) organised the Japan Sotoshu Relief Committee (JSRC) for the purpose of assisting Cambodian refugees evacuated to Thailand. After completing their emergency aid programmes to the refugees, the JSRC volunteers established the Sotoshu Volunteer Association to continue their assistance; a Bangkok office was opened in 1980, a Phnom Penh office in 1991 and a Vientiane office in 1992. In 1999 the Association was authorised by the Japanese government to become a judicial organisation (shadan hojin) and changed its name to Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA) - the word shanti means peace and tranquility in the Sanskrit. The name reverted to JSRC in 2005. A non-governmental organisation (NGO), JSRC supports educational and cultural activities in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. JSRC has been engaged in providing libraries and printing and publishing of teaching materials in the Cambodian refugees camps in Thailand. At the present time it is also managing nursery schools and students dormitories in the depressed inner cities and agricultural regions of Thailand, constructing schools and preparing and distributing teaching resources and materials in Laos, and constructing schools and managing vocational training centres in Cambodia. In all three of these countries it is expanding library services (including mobile services) and supporting the revival and development of traditional cultures.