[Dawn] From NGO Activities to the Formation of Catuddisa Sangha
2000
- • Established the predecessor organization AIM (Association for International Volunteers) and began projects in Cambodia.
- • Held the 1st "March of the Wonderful Law" in Cambodia.
2002
- • Held the 2nd "March of the Wonderful Law".
- • Formed "Catuddisa Sangha" with Katsuyuki Imoto as the representative.
- • Named the emergency food relief effort in Tagnen village, Cambodia, the "Catuddisa Sangha Project".
[Growth Period] Expansion of the Cambodia Lifeline Project
2003
Held the 3rd "March of the Wonderful Law". Distributed 20 tons of rice as emergency food relief for the famine in Tagnen village.
2004
- • Constructed the first "Buddha's Pond" (reservoir) in Prey Prier village.
- • Established a "Rice Bank" in Tagnen village.
2005
- • Successfully signed an MOU (incorporation) with the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and agreed on a business partnership with the Ministry of Cults and Religions.
- • Confirmed collaboration with the Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation and others for the "Global Simultaneous Peace Memorial".
2006
- Mar Held the 1st "Global Simultaneous Peace Memorial" in Phnom Penh. It has been held annually since.
- Jun Launched "Catuddisa Sangha Hokkaido" and started rolling out the local currency "Bodhi".
"Catuddisa Sangha Taiwan" was also established. - - Began construction of the "Myoho Center" (Myoho-ke-in) in the suburbs of Phnom Penh as a base for faith.
[Expansion Period] Building the Asian Network & Emergency Relief
2007
- Jan Opening ceremony and dedication of the "Myoho Center".
- Nov Installed non-electric "water ram pumps" in Tibetan settlements in southern India.
- - Issued a protest statement to the Myanmar government against the suppression of monks.
2008
- Mar Issued an emergency statement regarding the tense situation in Tibet.
- May Inspected areas affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and started emergency relief. Established a "Cow Bank" to support recovery.
- - Conducted emergency relief for Buddhist villages affected by cyclones in Bangladesh.
[Launch of Buddha Bank & Expansion in Bangladesh]
2009
- Jan Representative Imoto proposed the "Buddha Bank" concept.
- Apr Opened a Buddha Bank in Cambodia.
- Nov Opened a base in Sri Lanka. Buddha Bank joined the Japan NPO Bank Union.
2010
- Jun Started the first Buddha Bank in Bangladesh in Rajbila village, Bandarban district.
- Nov Katsuyuki Imoto stepped down as representative, and Tomohiro Kojima assumed the role of the 2nd Representative. Yasunori Kamikawa became the Secretary-General.
2011
- Mar The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. Conducted fundraising and relief activities in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima.
- Nov Officially recognized (legally registered) as a National NGO in Bangladesh.
2012
- Jun Launched "CS Shop (Catuddisa Sangha Shop)" in Bangladesh, a fair-trade base to prevent the unfair exploitation of ethnic minorities.
- Sep Conducted emergency relief in response to the attacks on Buddhist temples in the Ramu area of Bangladesh.
2013
Approved regulations at the general meeting in March and launched a new executive structure.
[Transition to New Structure & Incorporation]
2014
Mar Yasunori Kamikawa inaugurated as the 3rd Representative.
2015
Started the "100 Villages Project" to expand Buddha Banks to 100 locations in Bangladesh over two years. Local Bangladeshi staff Aung Marma received the "Mother Teresa Award".
2016
- Sep 29 Completed the registration of "General Incorporated Association Catuddisa Sangha".
- - Issued a statement condemning terrorism following the murder of Japanese nationals in Dhaka.
2017
Held the 1st Bangladesh Study Tour.
2018
Conducted emergency relief delivering bedding sets to orphanages in response to a severe cold wave in Bangladesh.
[Recent Trends & Handoff of Support Activities]
2020
- Feb General meeting in Osaka. Summoned local staff from Bangladesh.
- Apr 8 Publication of the book "The Challenge of Buddha Bank" by Yoshinobu Ise.
2021
Following the retirement of Representative Kamikawa, Shigenori Sugawara was inaugurated as the 4th Representative.
2023
- Feb Achieved "autonomous capital transfer (circulation)" for the first time in 15 years, where funds grown in one village are moved to open a new bank in another village in Bangladesh.
- Jun Revised the articles of incorporation in preparation for the disruption of international exchange caused by COVID-19. Also considering domestic social welfare projects.
2025 ~ Toward New Prospects
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Jun 4
At the general meeting, decided to withdraw from support operations in Bangladesh due to the deterioration of security caused by political unrest.
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The "Buddha Bank" project and charity calendar business were handed over to Yoshinobu Ise, to be continued under a separate framework from Catuddisa Sangha.
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Future
Set a new goal of memorializing the war dead in the Bashi Channel, Taiwan, as well as the collection and repatriation of their remains.
Building upon our experience of supporting self-reliance in Asia, we will take steps toward a new project of facing our own history and passing on prayers for peace to the next generation.