As a former refugee who was forced to leave his own country during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, Iranian-born Sena Vafa hopes to raise awareness about the plight of refugees here in Japan.

Now a Canadian citizen who first came to Japan in the late 1990s and who has lived here since 2006, Vafa has been sharing his experiences through lectures at various venues across the country while at the same time working for charities and humanitarian causes.

"In my life I've seen poverty, wealth and I've seen people die," said Vafa, who established the nonprofit organization Runway for Hope in Tokyo in late 2010 to raise awareness about the plight of refugees.