At TOMOWEL Co., Ltd., during their in-house initiative Go! Innovation, themed “Thinking and Creating the Future,” NPO Seibo had the opportunity to give a lecture.
The seminar aimed to foster “a culture conducive to innovation.”
This time, the focus was on presenting the activities of NPO Seibo, which leverages corporate structures such as NPOs and general incorporated associations to engage in international support efforts in collaboration with supporting companies, including foreign firms. The discussion explored how Japanese companies can engage with SDGs and CSR initiatives.
TOMOWEL, with its mission of Printing the Future, aligns closely with Seibo’s vision of Feeding the Future. This alignment facilitated positive discussions, including during a networking session, about potential future collaborations. Through the lens of “product innovation,” there were also active discussions on creating socially impactful products through partnerships with NPOs. We hope that Seibo’s Malawian coffee can reach a broader audience in collaboration with various companies in the future.
Additionally, the concept of “organizational innovation” — envisioning new organizational structures — was highlighted as something achievable through the collaboration of multiple sectors, including companies and NPOs.
NPO Seibo engages in selling socially responsible products and expanding social business initiatives nationwide with students. By connecting younger generations within educational institutions to companies via NPOs, these efforts could lead to advancements in HR and talent development in the future.
For information on sustainable educational initiatives with schools, please visit this link.
The content and slides from the lecture can be viewed here.
For details on what NPO Seibo is doing with companies, please check this link.
[Summary of the Actual Lecture Content]
The Power of Innovation
The innovation we envision involves combining existing elements to create new value. This concept is particularly important in the world of nonprofits. Specifically, we are advancing our socially impactful activities under the principle of “Doing Charity by Doing Business.”
Why We Work
My career has been shaped by the question of “why” rather than simply “what” I do. By elevating this “why,” we can deeply understand the value of products and services. We place importance on social value in order to build a system that allows all individuals, including consumers and producers, to be happy.
Connection with Malawi
Specifically, school meals in Malawi are provided at approximately 15 yen per day, enabling a stable education for just 3,000 yen over 200 days of attendance. There is a historical connection with Japan as well, as mutual support has been established through disaster relief and the provision of goods. We believe that educational support in Africa will become increasingly important in the future.
Co-creation with Students
We are collaborating with about 40 schools to provide students with opportunities to experience businesses that hold social value. By engaging with the challenges in Africa based on their interests, we aim to spread the concept of a sympathy economy to the next generation.
Outlook for the Future
Moving forward, we hope to expand our activities through partnerships with companies and educational institutions, thereby contributing to social change. We are excited about the possibility that our initiatives will not only support children in Africa but also provide opportunities for growth for those who participate.
If you are interested in our vision and activities, why not join us? Together, let’s cultivate the power to change society.