To contribute to the development of human resources in communities, making use of our diverse range of employees and the know-how of Mazda as a corporate educational facility
In response to requests from local governments and educational institutions, Mazda dispatches employees to hold lectures and seminars on the Company's environmental technologies, CSR initiatives and other topics. Mazda also assists Hiroshima Prefecture and various organizations in promoting activities to support the handing down of skilled techniques to the next generation.
Moreover, the Mazda Technical College conducts an open college program, offering opportunities to observe or attend practical training classes to teachers of technical high schools.
- Mazda employees delivered 68 lectures and seminars, primarily at junior high schools, high schools and universities in Hiroshima Prefecture.
- At the Hiroshima Technique Fair held in August and November, Mazda presented its exhibition booth, where competitors in the WorldSkills Competition*1 demonstrated automotive metalworking and sheet metal bending, the Karakuri Kaizen®*2 Mechanism Exhibition's awardwinning works were displayed, and a hands-on event was held to provide participants with opportunities to experience the hand-finished processing of key rings.
- The Mazda Technical College accepted 19 people to its open college program.
- *1The WorldSkills Competition is a competition for young people not over 22 years old (with a few exceptions) to demonstrate their excellence in skilled professions. Its objectives are to promote vocational training and to improve the standard of technical skills of the participating countries.
- *2Karakuri Kaizen® is a registered trademark of the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance.
To contribute to the promotion of sports, propagation of various sporting activities, and elevation of athletic ability
Mazda supports in–house sporting activities, including a track and field team (founded 1933), rugby squad (1963), and volleyball team (1980), which are collectively nicknamed the Blue Zoomers. In response to requests from local governments and athletic organizations, active Blue Zoomers athletes have been leading mobile sports–coaching classrooms for more than 10 years.
Rugby clinics (6 times) and volleyball lessons (5 times) were held. A total of 1,400 people, primarily elementary and junior high school students from Hiroshima Prefecture, received coaching from current Blue Zoomers members.
To boost children's interest in science and manufacturing
Mazda participates in Kids Engineer, an event designed for elementary school children held in August every year, hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan. The Company has taken part in the event since its inception in 2008, and carried out educational programs including various experiments.
Mazda participated in the Kids Engineer 2011 event, held at INTEX Osaka, and offered the educational program "Kids' Lab: Mechanism Designing." (A total of 160 children took part in eight sessions of the program.)
- Participating children learned about the Karakuri Kaizen® mechanism to reduce energy consumption at Mazda plants.
- Participating children created a device, "Gururinpa Kids*3."
- *3"Gururinpa Kids" is a vehicle-shaped, desktop cleaner, which can separate eraser shavings and staples.
To build regional solidarity and harmony
From June to July each year, present and former Mazda Group employees and their family members visit social-service facilities to work as volunteers. The volunteers work with people at the facilities to maintain farm fields and cut grass, and assist them in visiting the memorial cenotaph for A-bomb victims. Through these volunteer activities, Mazda has deepened interaction with people at the facilities since 1986 (employee-management cooperation program).
A total of more than 100 volunteers visited five facilities, including work facilities for people with special needs and nursing facilities for the elderly.
To resolve familiar community issues
The Mazda Technical College provides classes with the theme of enabling students to understand the meaning of corporate community contributions to help resolve familiar social and community issues. After having recognized community issues, students strive to find solutions in cooperation with local residents and others concerned.
Eight teams worked on eight issues, including bicycle–parking etiquette at Tenjingawa Station, and how to prevent traffic accidents involving pedestrians around Ohzu Park.
Poster to raise awareness of bicycle-parking etiquette
To contribute to community revitalization through active participation in community events
Each year, Mazda has taken part in the Hiroshima Flower Festival since its inception in 1977. The Festival, held on the consecutive holidays in May, is one of the largest events held in Hiroshima Prefecture. The Company hosts the Mazda Zoom–Zoom Plaza, where vehicles are exhibited and events that are fun for both children and their parents are organized.
- To support efforts for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the relief money raised through fund-raising activities and the annual charity bingo was donated to the Japan Red Cross Society through Chugoku Shimbun Social Welfare Services Corporation.
- The Mazda Kiyora concept car and the SKYACTIV-G engine model were on display.
- Marking the 20th anniversary of Mazda's victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (French: 24 Heures du Mans), the Company exhibited the Mazda 787B, the winning car in the race. In addition, a booth was set up where visitors enjoyed the experience of making a paper-craft of the 787B.
- Songs, dances, and kamishibai (a picture-story show) on the theme of vehicles and the environment were performed on stage.
To promote interaction with the community by opening plant grounds for public events
Since 1981, Mazda has hosted the Ekiden Road Relay Race using a route mapped out across the grounds of its plant, inviting wide participation from the general public. The route of 15.4km in a circuit around the plant grounds is broken down into six separate legs. Participants, including both children and adults, not only compete for the best times, but also enjoy coming up with original ways to make their teams stand out.
In addition to 169 teams in the In–house Category in which Mazda employees competed by division, 158 teams in the Community Category for local residents and suppliers from as far away as the Kyushu and Kanto regions participated. (A total of approximately 2,000 runnners from 327 teams)
To promote community sports through support for the local professional soccer team
As a shareholder in Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the Mazda Group works together as one to support this soccer team. In addition to serving as a uniform sponsor, Mazda supports a team's match at the Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium once a year, as a Mazda–sponsored game (management–employee cooperation program).
At the Mazda–sponsored game held in October, the first 9,000 arrivals were given original scarves bearing the logos of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Axela (Mazda3 overseas).
