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| Children build the future, and we want to foster their dreams and creativity. Honda is engaged in initiatives that convey to children the joy and wonder of daring to dream, and then turning their dreams into reality. Through a variety of stimulating and constructive initiatives for preschool to university-age youth, we’re helping young people develop the power to dream and create. We will continue to work to provide youth with opportunities to discover how much fun learning new things and challenging themselves can be. We want young people to realize their full, individual potential. |
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| 5th Children’s Idea Contest |
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| 5th Children’s Idea Contest |
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In the Children’s Idea Contest, which started in 2002, entrants are asked to draw a picture of something they imagine would be really cool, and send it to us. In 2006, for the fi fth such contest, 3,414 entries were received from elementary school children all over Japan. A panel of judges selected the top entries, which were created by 33 groups of students (a total of 40 children). The children were then invited to make models of their ideas and present them for final review before a large audience, and 13 prizewinners were selected. The Children’s Idea Contest is now a cultural exchange: this year, for the first time, prizewinners from the Honda ASIMO Super Idea Contest in Thailand were invited to attend the final review and participate in games with their new Japanese friends. |
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Environmental Conservation Initiatives |
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Honda is proactive in environmental conservation. From research and development to production and purchasing, from distribution, sales and recycling to the operation of office facilities, we’re making the environment a priority throughout the life cycle of our products and in every aspect of our operations.
One of Honda’s first steps in environmental conservation was the beginning of the Community Forest initiative in 1976. Since then, the company’s efforts to keep things clean and green around its facilities and coexist with local communities have expanded throughout the world. |
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| The Beach Clean-Up Project |
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| The Honda Beach Clean-Up Project in action at Tsuzumigaura beach, Mie Prefecture (October 2006) |
In Japan and around the world the problem of seashore pollution is getting worse. Trash left on the beach or dumped into the ocean finds its way ashore onto beaches worldwide. Much of it is non-biodegradable plastic, which can cause injuries to people, harm fish and birds that ingest it, and have other negative impacts on ecosystems.
Seeking to alleviate this problem and return beaches to their natural condition, a caravan of current and retired Honda associate volunteers began a new environmental conservation initiative in May 2006. Working with municipal authorities, the volunteers began cleaning up at beaches with a light, compact, simple, easy-to-use and towable Beach Cleaner. In the first year of the Beach Clean-Up Project in FY2007, the caravan of volunteers cleaned litter at 19 beaches in Japan.
In response to requests, starting in FY2008 the initiative is expanding beyond the volunteer caravan, as Beach Cleaner and Honda ATV sets are being loaned to qualified municipalities. |
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| Akira Yamazaki |
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I participated in a clean-up at the beach on Iki Island in Nagasaki Prefecture in November 2006, and then again in May 2007 in Kochi Prefecture. We soon realized that the sand and litter were very different from location to location. With an initiative like this, the team gains experience and expertise over time, so it’s that much more important to keep at it. In order not to break sea turtle eggs that might be buried in the sand, the teeth on the Beach Cleaner’s rake are short, and we also lowered the pressure on the ATV’s tires. I was driving the ATV, and I could see that the impact we were having, both in terms of speed and the efficient application of people’s labor, was very signifi cant. Seeing the results—and the smiles of local residents—I felt a strong sense of having achieved something worthwhile, and a strong motivation to participate again. |
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| Fuel cell vehicle classes |
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| FCX test drive (January 2007) |
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| First fuel cell vehicle class (January 2007) |
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What’s global warming? What’s a fuel cell vehicle? To give easy-to-understand answers to these and other questions that children may ask, Honda holds fuel cell vehicle classes at the Welcome Plaza showroom at its Tokyo headquarters ten Sundays per year.
The presentations, given by members of the Honda R&D fuel cell vehicle development team, feature a picture book-style computer slideshow, as well as live demonstrations of electrolysis and tiny fuel cell vehicles. The kids get a chance to ride in a real-life Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle and experience the vehicle’s smooth acceleration for themselves. At intervals, they’re given fun quizzes to test their understanding and encourage them to experience the joy of learning. At the end of class, each child is given a certificate that includes their own picture to commemorate their participation. Their earnest looks are ample evidence of the program’s ability to stimulate interest in environmental questions. |
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Traffic Safety Initiatives |
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| Traffic Safety Caravan— Traffic safety training for pre-schoolers |
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| Traffic Safety Caravan |
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Honda is working in many ways to make sure we can all get around in safety and comfort. One of our top priorities is protecting children from traffic accidents and helping make sure cars and communities get along. Seeking to reach children in their formative years and give them a chance to master the basics of road safety, Honda started the Traffic Safety Caravan program for pre-school children. The caravan visits nurseries and kindergartens, where it gives children an opportunity to learn the rules of the road through storytelling and game-playing.
Launched in the Kanto region in 1999, the program has expanded to cover other communities that host Honda factories in Japan. In FY2007 it visited 590 nurseries and schools and entertained 76,329 participants. |
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Kazumi Saito
Teacher, Suginami Toyo Kindergarten |
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The traffic Safety Caravan visited our school last year. Reading aloud to the children is the key to the success of the traffic Safety Caravan. I always try to start every activity with a reading too. It engages the children and helps them concentrate. And when teaching the children about using crosswalks, the caravan cast always repeated the point being taught, and the children had a chance to try it themselves—learning by doing. When children are allowed to do things for themselves, they really get involved. We’re hoping that getting on and off the kindergarten bus could be the theme of a future lesson. Ideally, the traffic Safety Caravan would include lessons to match the circumstances of each educational institution. Everyone here has just one question: “When will the traffic Safety Caravan be coming next?” |
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