There are many people in the world who require help. Even if one feels one would like to do something, it may be difficult to travel to an area in need and take part in volunteer activities there or donate a large sum of money by one's self. Collection activities are one type of volunteer effort that is familiar and which anyone can participate in.
*Collection of Incorrectly Addressed Cards, Etc.
The Canon Group began collection efforts in the mid-1990s, as an activity that employees could participate in readily. In addition to the collection of used stamps, prepaid cards and Incorrectly Addressed cards, Canon also carries out the Foreign Coin Collection to help the children of the world through having employees donate the foreign coins and currency they have left over from business trips and vacations abroad and the Eco-cap Campaign, which collects plastic (PET) bottle caps.
*Holding of the Charity Book Fair
Canon holds a bazaar called the Charity Book Fair once a year, by collecting unneeded books, CDs, DVDs, etc., from Canon employees and their family members. The proceeds from the bazaar and matching funds from the company are donated to organizations that assist children in Laos and Vietnam.
In Japan, the Incorrectly Addressed Card Campaign collects a lot of postcards at the beginning of the new year
Employees and their family members participate in Volunteer Day of the Charity Book Fair
In carrying out collection activities, what we consider important is the continuation of the efforts.
The circle of people contributing to these endeavors is growing gradually within the company, and sympathy and understanding for the continuation of these familiar activities are deepening every year.
Canon would like to continue these activities steadfastly hereafter as well.
- Access reports about the respective activities here:
- Collecting Ecocap Movement, Foreign Coins, and Used Stamps
- Collecting Incorrectly Addressed Postcards
- the Charity Book Fair
Used stamps, which have been collected since the beginning of the collection effort
Foreign coins and currency collected to help the children of the world
< Comments from Those Who Participated in the Collection Activities >
- *As there were collection boxes for stamps and prepaid cards placed at my workplace, I was able to participate easily starting with one item. I believe the most important thing is to continue these collection activities.
- *I am cooperating with the activities, because something so familiar will lead to assisting others. I hope these efforts will not be discontinued and I would like to continue supporting them. It would be great if eventually they become activities that all employees participate in.
- *Our workplace generates a lot of plastic bottle caps everyday. Putting to use something that becomes trash if left as is enables us to both reduce trash and contribute to society at the same time, and I feel that it is a very worthwhile endeavor.
- *As I am averse to throwing away books, I feel very fortunate that there is an endeavor like the Charity Book Fair. Putting to use things not being used at one's home without throwing them away is a sensible and serious endeavor, and I think it is also the form of social contribution that entails the least burden.
< Comments from Those Who Participated in the Charity Book Fair's Volunteer Day >
- *Hoping that even this little effort on our part would lead to assisting others, my family participated in Volunteer Day. It is also a precious opportunity for me to be able to show my family my workplace, and my children love books; therefore, I was able to carry out the work enjoyably.
- *I participated in Volunteer Day for the first time. Although I only donated a few books, I was surprised at the great number of books gathered when collected from many people. I hope this activity will continue hereafter as well.
It is also very important to know what kinds of achievements Canon's activities have led to and to communicate this to the people who cooperated in these endeavors. This is because Canon believes that being able to see concrete results will lead to greater support and participation. Canon holds dear the thoughts included in each stamp and each book donated by each person and will continue these activities with the children of the world in mind.
Incorrectly Addressed cards provide scholarships for children in Asia ···
Canon has carried out this activity since 1996.
Canon carries out the Incorrectly Addressed Card Collection Campaign within the company by using the Intranet and in-house notices to call for participation around the time New Year's postal cards are in use. The postal cards collected are exchanged for stamps, which are sent to Minsai Center and used by this foundation to fund the Darunee Scholarship Program.
Every year, Canon receives photos and messages of gratitude from the students receiving the scholarships. The activity participants can see the children looking so cheerful and their schools. This allows the participants to feel the joy and meaningfulness of having provided support and leads to the desire to continue to do so.
Two hundred eighty Incorrectly Addressed cards provide funds equivalent to one year's scholarship for one child. To date, Canon has been able to grant educational support for a total of 141 children in Thailand and Laos. (As of 2011)
Access reports about the Incorrectly Addressed Card activity here:
Children in Thailand studying at school
Scholarship recipients in Thailand. Their hand-crafted message conveys their feelings to us.
As a result of the Charity Book Fair and through Action with Lao Children (NPO), Canon has helped establish libraries in schools in Laos. To date, a total of nine libraries have been set up in elementary, middle and high schools, and many books have also been donated.
In addition, using the proceeds from the fair, it has been possible to publish the Laotian language illustrated book "Picking Fern Shoots." This is a story based on a Laotian folk tale that features a boy and a mysterious rock. To date, over 8,500 books have been distributed to the children of Laos. (As of 2011)
The children have expressed their impressions of the libraries by saying things such as that "I look forward to going to school on days when I can use the library" and "My grades at school have improved." For children with few opportunities to read books because there are no bookstores or libraries in their community, the school library is an important place where they can have access to books.
Laotian children holding the donated books
Children reading the illustrated book "Picking Fern Shoots"
Through the NPO Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ), the Charity Book Fair also leads to support for daily life and environmental improvement activities carried out by children in Vietnam.
In the cities of Ho Chi Min and Hue, children learn about local environmental problems, carry out activities to collect and sort trash, hold cooking classes that use locally produced vegetables and carry out a variety of other activities that involve the participation of grownups as well. As a result, they have been able to improve the environment locally through efforts such as maintaining local streets and roads and streetlights and creating a system for recycling kitchen garbage into fertilizer.
Many children have developed a positive attitude and gained confidence through this opportunity to make a difference, expressing such thoughts as that "(even if something happened that made me sad) I was able to overcome it thanks to the friends who participate in the environmental improvement activities with me." More children also now talks about the future and their dreams.
A well is set up in a field
Collecting the kitchen garbage of families living on the water
