As an orphan, living on the streets of Uganda's capital city, Kampala, John Nakaswa never imagined he might one day travel to Japan.

So when Ashinaga, a Japanese foundation dedicated to providing educational and emotional support to orphans, offered to send him to Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, he couldn't believe it.

"You've never dreamed of even taking a plane, and suddenly these people come out of nowhere and say, 'We're taking you to Japan. We're taking you to study at a prestigious university.' "