ABOUT

Makiko Niwa worked as a part of the nonprofit organization Garuda Supporters, which offers emotional, cultural, and social support to foreign trainees of nurses and caregivers who came to Japan from other countries in Asia (mainly Indonesia). Makiko was actively involved as a volunteer committee member until the organization’s operation was completed in 2013, and now works for the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA). ICA is a global community of nonprofit organizations advancing human development worldwide. As their financial officer, Makiko works to ensure that domestic and international staff members can conduct their projects with peace of mind by guaranteeing them as a nonprofit organization, and verifying that they have social security. She was also instrumental in securing healthcare and other benefits to ICA staff as well as getting ICA registered as a certified nonprofit organization in Japan.