In Japan, we strive to blend in with the regions in which we conduct business, pursuing regionally grounded activities in partnership with domestic facilities, dealerships, and group companies in an effort to coexist with the local community. We have established Philanthropy Offices at our headquarters and five facilities around Japan. Philanthropy Offices in each of Honda's 5 factories and the Philanthropy Office at our headquarters communicate closely to verify progress in common initiatives while sharing information.
Children's Idea Contest
This contest, which encourages elementary school students throughout Japan to draw a picture of their dreams for the future, was launched in 2002 in an effort to help children experience the pleasure of striving to make their dreams come true as well as the appeal of manufacturing. Honda's ASIMO,the humanoid visits the schools of winning children to conduct a special class. We began holding similar contests in Thailand in 2005 and in Vietnam in 2008. During 2010, more than 1,300 children submitted entries.
Grand prize winner presenting his project
Nature Wagon
Nature Wagon is a traveling environmental learning program that brings a van filled with natural objects and materials from the ocean and mountains to elementary schools, community centers, and similar factories. Retired Honda associates volunteer to conduct lectures on natural mechanisms and the importance of conserving the environment, lead children in making crafts with wood and stones, and otherwise help them gain new awareness of—and think in new ways about—nature and the environment. During FY2011, a total of 11,800 children participated in 265 Nature Wagon sessions conducted by 5 Honda factories.
Volunteers help children extend their own autonomy.
Dream Hands
Dream Hands is an introductory handicraft program that children can experience while having fun creating Honda-designed crafts cardboard. Current and retired Honda associates volunteers provide support as participating children experience the joy of creating things. During FY2011, about 11,500 children participated in a total of 180 Dream Hands sessions conducted by 8 Honda facilities.
Children assemble a large number of parts one at a time with their own hands, not stopping until the project is finished.
Honda Beach Clean-up activities
Working with local residents, current and retired Honda Group associates clean sand beaches throughout Japan using a simple, compact, and lightweight towable beach cleaner designed for easy operation. The device was developed by Honda based on the desire of associates to preserve barefoot beaches for future generations. During FY2011, some 2,800 people participated in 31 beach-cleaning events.
Honda associates clean a beach together with local residents.
Watershed preservations in Japan
The water we use is carried by rivers from the mountains to the sea. Forests near river headwaters store water over long periods of time and help sustain the flow of rivers. Honda is involved with forest conservation activities led by current and retired associate volunteers at all of its facilities in order to help preserve these precious Watersheds for future generations. During FY2011, more than 600 volunteers participated in a total of 12 projects in 7 locations.
Associate volunteers participate in a project to watershed preservations activity.
Traffic safety education and promotion activities
For more information about Honda's traffic safety education and promotion activities, see below.
