Bridging Grassroots and Systems for Sustainable Impact.
At Torii, we believe that true, lasting change happens when efforts at the grassroots level are combined with systemic interventions. Our philosophy is rooted in the understanding that to address the world's most pressing challenges—such as human trafficking, mental health, and youth empowerment—we must work simultaneously on the ground with communities and at the policy level with institutions.
Research
Strategy
Youth Leadership
Mental Health
Social Equity
Peacebuilding
Mission
To bridge gaps in global philanthropy by empowering communities and fostering systemic change, Torii is dedicated to tackling urgent challenges such as human trafficking, mental health, and youth empowerment through innovative, cross-border collaboration and grassroots action.
Vision
We envision a world where justice, peace, and equity prevail—where every individual, regardless of their background, has access to the resources, support, and opportunities needed to thrive in safe and inclusive communities.
The Creation.
Torii was born from the shared vision and combined experiences of three individuals who have dedicated their lives to creating impact in diverse yet interconnected fields: Uma Chatterjee, Tomomi Shimizu, and Roop Sen. Their personal journeys and professional expertise in mental health, disability, international development, migration, child protection, and violence prevention brought them together with a singular goal—to create an organisation that bridges gaps, uplifts vulnerable communities, and drives systemic change across borders.
Uma Chatterjee
With a deep-rooted commitment to mental health and disability rights, Uma’s motivation for co-founding Torii stemmed from her desire to go beyond the traditional boundaries of her sector. Having worked extensively in systems transformation, Uma wanted to create an organisation that could address complex, intersectional issues—connecting mental health with broader global challenges like poverty, displacement, and inequity. For Uma, Torii is a culmination of decades of work aimed at empowering the marginalised and advocating for inclusive, rights-based frameworks that can be applied on a global scale.
Tomomi Shimizu
Tomomi’s experience in philanthropy and international development in both Malaysia and India gave her a unique perspective on the power and limitations of global aid. She saw the need for a more collaborative, community-driven approach that wasn’t simply about directing funds but about building lasting partnerships. Driven by her passion for nurturing relationships between local actors and international donors, Tomomi envisioned Torii as a platform that connects resources to real needs, ensuring that development efforts are sustainable, culturally responsive, and grounded in the realities of those they aim to serve.
Roop Sen
Roop’s work in migration, child protection, and violence prevention has long been focused on systemic interventions—addressing root causes of vulnerability while providing immediate protection for those at risk. His commitment to justice and equity inspired him to co-create Torii as a space where innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues can be developed and scaled. For Roop, Torii is about building resilience in communities affected by migration, exploitation, and violence, while also challenging the larger structures that perpetuate these issues.
Grassroots Empowerment
At Torii, we recognize that lasting change begins at the grassroots level. By engaging directly with communities, we address pressing challenges like human trafficking and mental health. Our efforts focus on empowering local leaders and leveraging their expertise to drive impactful and sustainable solutions that reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.
Systemic Transformation
We believe in addressing complex social issues by advocating for change at policy and institutional levels. Torii bridges grassroots efforts with systemic interventions, working alongside governments, civil society organizations, and businesses. Our collective impact model fosters collaboration across borders, ensuring that the solutions we implement are inclusive and resilient for a sustainable future.
Get in touch
info@torii.international