CSR Activity Reports: FY2013

On January 27, 2014, Mitsubishi Corporation donated a Motor Vehicle Training Kit to the Industrial training institute (vocational college for students graduating from High school) located at Tirupati city in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. And during March 4 ~ 7th 2014, trainers from Japan conducted a four day training program on the kit to the teachers of the institution. Starting April 2014 around 40 students of Motor vehicle and Diesel mechanic courses of the institute have already started receiving training using the equipment.
Vocation training institutes in India are facing a critical problem of qualified instructors and outdated training facilities which is resulting in a mismatch of skills of the students and requirements of industry.
Mitsubishi Corporation hopes that this donation will contribute to improvement in quality of training at the institute and also increase the availability of qualified skilled manpower for the automotive industry in southern India, specifically Andhra Pradesh state.

Initiated by Green Cross Japan, the Environment Diary Program is a way of encouraging children - the leaders of our future - to think about the environment. In keeping such diaries, elementary school students are encouraged to not only write about environmental initiatives but to share their ideas and turn them into action.
MC supported the launch of this project in Sri Lanka Since 2012. Approximately 7,000 5th grade elementary school students took part over a three month period.4 winners were eventually selected and invited to an award ceremony in Tokyo. The winners also paid a visit to MC's head office, where they gave their impressive speeches.

Mitsubishi Corporation donated school equipment to Trieu Do Secondary School at Trieu Do Village, Trieu Phong District, Quang Tri Province to contribute to bottom up the education level in one of the poorest provinces in the central of Vietnam. Trieu Do Secondary School was established in 1992. The School has 448 pupils with 39 teachers. School is lack of teaching and studying equipment. Most equipment cannot meet the current demand of education. This area is frequently effected seriously by typhoon.
Looking forward to the near future, as ASEAN integration deepens more, the possibility of central region including Quang Tri Province is increasing due to the good access to neighboring ASEAN countries.
Mitsubishi Corporation is one of the largest Japanese general trading and investment company globally. We established office in Vietnam, both in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 1991 and heavily involved in trading and investment contributing to the development of Vietnam. The relationship between the two countries will be further developed and we are eager to contribute both countries through not only business but also many philanthropic activities.

Since 1991, MC has been providing scholarships to foreign students who are studying in Japan. This year we provided scholarships to 100 students from 42 universities through this program.

As part of the ongoing Global Coral Reef Conservation Project, MC launched a research expedition on Sesoko Island in Okinawa between 23rd and 26th August. Working in collaboration with Earthwatch Japan, Shizuoka University and Ryukyu University, the expedition included volunteers who are MC employees. Led by Professor Suzuki (Shizuoka University), research included fieldwork to observe and examine coral, and studies into the quality of seawater. The purpose of the research was to help shed some light on coral bleaching.

The Friendship Camp for Mothers and Children is a social contribution activity MC has been holding since 1974. The event was held twice this year in the mountain village of Yoshizato, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata Prefecture, from July 27 to July 29 and from August 3 to August 5. A total of 318 people participated, including 231 people from 97 households consisting of single mothers and their children residing in Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture and Chiba Prefecture; 52 MC employee volunteers; and other staff members. Participants spent some memorable summer days together, taking part in a variety of programs such as mountain walks, water activities and camping out.
This event gives children the chance to play freely in verdant, natural surroundings, while mothers can forget their everyday work and family duties, relax and enjoy the local cuisine of Yoshizato and exchange information with other mothers.
The Friendship Camp for Mothers and Children is one of MC's key social contribution activities under its motto of "continuation" and "employee participation."

In the run-up to the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), the Japan Association for the World Food Programme (an NPO supporting the United Nations World Food Programme's mission of fighting hunger worldwide) hosted a charity walk called 'Walk the World for Africa' on 19th May 2013.
Taking place on a bright Sunday morning, the event attracted 3,593 participants including Mitsubishi Corporation employees. The diverse crowd, ranging from adults to children, enjoyed a leisurely 5-10km walk along Yokohama's scenic Minato-Mirai Bay, and in doing so made a significant contribution towards the organisation's aim of raising funds for African children.

On 9th - 12th May 2013, MC launched a research expedition in Okinawa, Japan, as part of its ongoing Global Coral Reef Conservation Project.
The programme is a joint collaboration between Shizuoka University, Ryukyu University and Earthwatch Japan. Working under the leadership of Professor Suzuki (Shizuoka University), seven volunteers flew down to Okinawa to assist scientists with research into the global phenomenon known as coral bleaching. Specifically, tasks involved collecting coral samples from the sea and taking them to the laboratory to analyse the symbiotic relationship which they have with various types of bacteria. It is hoped that the research conducted during these expeditions will help unveil the exact causes of coral bleaching, and eventually lead to the development of recovery methods.