Education

Since 2007, Toyota Tsusho has taken part in the "Campaign to Deliver Picture Books" planned by the Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA). The campaign aims to improve the literacy rate among children by delivering Japanese picture books to children in Asian countries that come with stickers with translations printed in local languages. In fiscal 2010, 190 employees from Tokyo, Nagoya and Hiroshima took part in the campaign and donated 271 picture books to children in Cambodia and Afghanistan. The program was very popular with employees, who had fun along with the children. Many commented that the volunteer experience was "enjoyable" and "heart-warming."

The Fighting Eagles, Toyota Tsusho's basketball team (member of Japan Basketball League 2), holds basketball clinics for elementary and junior high school students. In fiscal 2010, they coached a total of 1,030 children on 19 occasions. While contributing to regional exchange, our volunteers are helping improve children's basketball skills. Toyota Tsusho is also actively contributing to the local community by holding the "Toyota Tsusho Cup" competition (four times to date) that invites teams from the Tokai Region of Japan and collaborating in the annual "Nagoya, My Sports Festival."

Toyota Tsusho's Almaty Representative Office aims to promote the Japanese way of life to the people of Kazakhstan by visiting schools and fostering dialogue with young people (from junior high school to university students, etc.), who support the future of the country, and various academic professors.

The idea of exchange extends beyond the people of Kazakhstan to include people from other parts of the world working there and their families with the aim of promoting Japanese culture. Japanese tend to socialize with each other, but since there are few in Almaty, it is a good opportunity to promote Japanese life and customs to people from different countries in addition to Kazakhstan, and for adults and children alike to gain an insight into the culture of Kazakhstan and other countries.