RET’s founder Mrs. Sadako Ogata and Angelina Jolie at the screening of In the Land of Blood and Honey in Japan, 29 July 2013. Photo by Alice B/ Pinterest.

Article by RET Global Communications

Mrs. Sadako Ogata founded RET with a clear belief that young people affected by conflict deserve more than short-term assistance. They deserve opportunity, dignity, and the chance to build stable futures through education. Her vision continues to shape our work today, twenty-five years after our creation, and remains a guiding force behind our efforts to support youth, women, and vulnerable communities around the world.

Leadership That Shaped Global Humanitarian Action

In 1991, Mrs. Ogata became the first woman and the first Japanese national to serve as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Her leadership came at a time marked by complex emergencies, including the Kurdish refugee crisis after the Gulf War, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, the Rwandan genocide, and the large-scale displacement of Afghans.

UNHCR grew substantially during her tenure. New operations expanded protection to internally displaced people and civilians trapped inside war zones. This experience shaped her conviction that humanitarian action should not only save lives, but also open pathways to education, stability, and long-term resilience. That core belief later inspired her decision to found RET.

Expanding Human Security Through Development

After leaving UNHCR, Mrs. Ogata became President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where she served from 2003 to 2012. Her leadership helped expand global development programs in health, education, protection, disaster response, and peacebuilding.

She promoted the idea of human security, a concept that places people and their safety at the center of international cooperation. Her work at JICA reinforced a simple truth that still guides RET today. When young people have access to learning, support, and opportunity, communities become stronger and more resilient.

A Shared Commitment With Angelina Jolie

Mrs. Ogata and Angelina Jolie shared a deep commitment to protecting displaced people and survivors of sexual violence in conflict. Although they came from different professional backgrounds, their work often aligned within the humanitarian space shaped by UNHCR.

Mrs. Ogata admired Jolie’s advocacy and viewed her creative work as an important contribution to raising global awareness. Jolie’s film In the Land of Blood and Honey drew attention to the impact of conflict on women and civilians in Bosnia, a crisis Mrs. Ogata had confronted firsthand while leading UNHCR in the 1990s.

Both supported efforts to strengthen protection for displaced families and to call attention to the trauma faced by women and children in war. Their mutual respect reflected a shared commitment to human dignity and to amplifying the voices of those affected by violence and displacement.

Carrying Her Legacy Forward

RET’s work today continues to reflect Mrs. Ogata’s belief that education can protect, empower, and transform lives. Across the regions where we work, we help young people gain the skills and support they need to build safer and more hopeful futures.

For a quarter century, we have remained true to her vision. Education should be a promise, not a dream. By investing in youth, strengthening communities, and working to prevent violence, we honor the legacy of our founder and continue the mission she set in motion.

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