In 2009, Sony celebrates the 50th anniversary of its social contribution program, which began in 1959 based on the vision of one of the company's founders for the need to support the next generation through science education. In commemoration, Sony launched the Sony Science Program, a series of workshops for children that brings together Sony's science educaton initiatives from the past half century.
Sony continues to undertake a wide variety of social contribution activities based on the Sony Group's social contribution policy,"To undertake activities in fields where Sony is best able to do so, to help address the needs of communities in which Sony operates."Sony strives to have a positive impact through these activities by making effective use of its resources, namely, its technologies, products, business activities and personnel.
In Sony's Founding Prospectus, one of Sony's founders, Masaru Ibuka, set as a primary goal "the promotion of education in science among the general public". He was convinced that enhancing scientific literacy would be critical for the recovery of post-war Japan and that science education for children was the key. In 1959, thirteen years after Sony's establishment, he set up the Sony Fund for the Promotion of Science Education to support elementary schools in the pursuit of science education excellence.
In 2009, Sony celebrated the 50th anniversary of its efforts to contribute to society by providing support for scientific education. In commemoration, Sony launched the Sony Science Program, comprising a series of workshops for children that brings together the Company's science education initiatives from the past half-century and adds new workshops developed by Sony employees. The employees themselves support the workshops as the lecturers, and help children to experience the joy and wonder of the science. Starting from Sony ExploraScience in Tokyo, looking ahead, Sony plans to expand this program to Sony sites around the world, the Sony Building in Tokyo's Ginza district, Sony ExploraScience in Beijing, and Sony Wonder Technology Lab in New York, for many children in various regions to join.
With support of Sony's Social Contribution Committee, based at Sony's headquarters in Tokyo, Sony Group companies worldwide, as well as six Sony foundations promote initiatives tailored to local needs in accordance with the Sony Group's social contribution policy, and encourage employees to play an active role in their communities.
Main scope of its activities
In addition to the science education started by Masaru Ibuka, Sony has broadened the scope of its activities to include arts education in line with the Company's evolution. Through these activities, Sony aims to encourage children to take an interest in science and the arts, and to enhance their capacity for logical thinking and creativity. Sony also strives to fulfill its responsibilities as a global corporate citizen by working to address issues ranging from global warming to poverty, by leveraging its vast technological and human resources and by working together with international agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and others who share its philanthropic goals and priorities.
*The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) form a blueprint to respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.
Sony has a global in-house volunteer program known as "SomeOne Needs You" (SONY), the aim of which is to encourage employee involvement in efforts to help local communities. Under this program, Sony Group companies create volunteer programs tailored to local needs and encourage continued employee participation in the community. In fiscal year 2008, approximately 90,000 Sony Group employees participated in volunteer initiatives through Sony.
To support employee volunteer initiatives, Sony Corporation revised its employee volunteer support system in April 2007, making it easier for employees to volunteer by allowing them to use accumulate holidays for initiatives requiring extended leaves of absence.
Many Sony Group companies have "matching gift programs," whereby Sony matches charitable donations made by employees up to established limits to encourage employees' fund-raising efforts.
The number of organizations recognized by Sony Group companies in Japan as being valid donees has been broadened to include legal entities for social interest authorized by Japanese Ministry of finance, foundations, aggregate corporations, authorized NGOs and social welfare corporations.
Regarding emergency humanitarian support, besides the "matching gift programs," several methods for donation have been implemented to make it easier for employees to participate in fund-raising efforts. Donation by bank transfer and credit card became available with the cooperation of Sony Group financial services companies, Sony Bank Inc. and Sony Finance International, Inc., and donation by Edy--a prepaid electronic money service incorporating FeliCa, Sony's contactless IC card technology--is also possible.
As a global corporate citizen, Sony takes immediate action to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to victims of large-scale natural disasters and regional conflicts.
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During fiscal year 2008, the Sony Group spent approximately 5.4 billion yen on social contribution activities.*1 Sony's activities focused on education, particularly science education, as well as the arts, music and culture. The remainder was spent around the world in which Sony operates on social contribution activities that make good use of Sony's resources, such as technology and products.
*1 Expenditures for social contribution activities include: (a) monetary donations; (b) sponsorships; (c) program expenses (facility operation expenses, etc.); and (d) the market value of donated products.
*1 Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea
*2 Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa and Oceania
Since 1975, Sony's international cooperation activities have reflected the unwavering commitment of our founders to help build developing countries and provide training using our position as an electronics manufacturer. Through Japan's Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) program, Sony has transferred technology to around 80 countries by providing both equipment and technical training. Recipients of this aid include state-run broadcasting organizations, open universities and other educational facilities, health organizations, libraries, theaters and art museums.
In fiscal 2006, Sony supplied production studio equipment to the national broadcasting network Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise in the Republic of Senegal as part of an African aid project to establish information infrastructure. It has contributed to educational broadcasts that have increased opportunities for all citizens to develop skills in occupational training, education, and public health.
Sony has assisted with the transmission of information by providing a system that enables the speedy dubbing of programs into local languages. Established information infrastructure enables transmitting and sharing video images immediately in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophe.
In the field of technical training, Sony provides assistance through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which is responsible for the technical cooperation which forms a major pillar of Japan's ODA activities. Since 1975, 1,283 trainees, primarily broadcasting network technicians, from 84 countries have traveled to Japan to receive training. The training programs equip these trainees with skills in repair and maintenance, which they can take back to their home countries.
For more details of projects, please go to the Special Contents
Workshops for state-of-the-art digital and science technology with keywords, "Experience" and "Discovery"
Introduction of Sony group's social contribution activities worldwide.
