Our Relationships with Society
While serving our customers, we contribute to social progress and welfare and help safeguard the environment. We respect all cultures and customs and comply strictly with laws wherever we operate.
Our Basic Principles on Social Action
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Our Activities
Five principles guide our contributions to society in the following fields: international cooperation, conservation, health, medicine, welfare, regional social and economic promotion, children’s health and education, science, culture, the arts, sports, and social education.
Social Action Principles
- Sustainability
- We commit over the long term
- Efficiency
- We act cost effectively to ensure continuity
- Due diligence
- We carefully consider whether prospective donations would truly benefit society
- World view
- We contribute not only in Japan but also to the international community
- Skills
- We make our information and communication services and employee talents useful for communities
Serving the International Community
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Matching Gift Program to Support Social Contributions of Employees
NTT America charity walk participants
NTT America, Inc., maintains a matching gift program of up to $1,000 annually per employee. The guiding principle of this program is that it should be entirely up to employees to decide whether and how to contribute to society. In the efforts that NTT America employees make in raising contributions for a cause of their own choice, all the contributions can be matched by the company. This means the more donations collected from colleagues, the higher the matching amounts, making total contributions greater. So, communications among employees regarding such charities they are voluntarily involved in are very common and active.
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Helping Establish and Manage Toll-Free Hotline for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Japan Association for Refugees staffer answering call
The issue of refugees requires urgent concerted action from the international community. Data from the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice shows that the number of asylum seekers in this country has soared. There were 954 applications for asylum in 2006; the government recognized 34 as refugees.
The Japan Association for Refugees was established in 1999. It concluded an agreement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representation in Japan in 2000 to provide local refugees and asylum seekers with legal and social assistance. The association has received telephone inquiries about its services.
We decided to help asylum seekers and refugees by launching and managing a toll-free telephone hotline in April 2006. The number is 0120-477-472. This service has helped many who had no money upon arriving in Japan or who otherwise could not afford the telephone bills. As a result of this hotline, the Japan Association for Refugees had received 5,118 telephone calls by June 30, 2007. The hotline has made it far easier for the association to support and inform needy asylum seekers.
NTT Communications will continue to harness its main business to contribute to society.
■Usage of Toll-Free Hotline for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Serving Communities
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Running Classes to Familiarize Communities with the Internet
An Internet class
Our employees participate in the Easy Internet program, which familiarizes communities with this communication tool. For the sixth class, a group of 22 of our volunteers joined hands with the Japan Association for Refugees to instruct 16 refugees from Myanmar.
Preparations included providing Japanese readings for Chinese characters to assist understanding. All participants said that they enjoyed the event, with 85% saying that they found it useful. The class greatly benefited a group of people who tend to feel isolated because of language and other barriers.
We held the seventhclass on separate datesin Tokyo and Osaka for 27 attendees on the basics of using OCN to create a nonprofit organization blog.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://www.ntt.com/community/
Main Easy Internet classes Fiscal 2005
(81 participants)2nd: On creating blogs June 5, 2005 3rd: On using the Internet to make New Year’s cards November 19, 2005 4th: On making make blogs February 4, 2006 Fiscal 2006
(64 participants)5th: Learning about the world through the Internet June 24, 2006 6th: Learning about the world through the Internet October 8, 2006 7th: The basics of creating a nonprofit organization blog January 27 and February 17, 2007 Comments of Employee Contributor to the 6th Class
Kaori Mori
Global Business DivisionI found the experience valuable because it was a true cultural exchange and not just about volunteering my time.
The participants taught us about Myanmar-style home cooking. We explained how e-mail works and showed how to send e-mails. The great thing about our social contribution activities is that it is easy to participate. You don’t feel like volunteerism is hardcore work.
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Supporting the NPO Hiroba Database
Organizations Registered on NPO Hiroba as of June 30, 2007 Fiscal 2005 Fiscal 2006 26,363 29,914 Citizens increasingly want to know more about the activities of nonprofit organizations. Some might want information about all the organizations around Japan that provide social services and otherwise improve their communities. Others may be seeking organizations in specific regions that support the arts. People asked to donate to a conservation organization may wish to compare its performance with those of similar bodies.
The Japan NPO Center* established the NPO Hiroba (see note below) website in April 2001 to enable dialog between the community, nonprofit organizations, and private enterprises. The site features a searchable database of nationally accredited nonprofit organizations in Japan. NTT Communications launched the site. We provide ongoing operational backup using SecureSmartAccess, our online service. NPO Hiroba provides ready information about nonprofit and other community organizations. This unique resource enables interested citizens or enterprises to learn about and participate in a nonprofit organization, contributing to the development of their activities across Japan.
* The Japan NPO Center is a strong base for the activities of nonprofit organizations that transcends categories and regions. The center supports efforts to build a better society and establish partnerships between businesses, governments, and regional public bodies.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://www.npo-hiroba.or.jp/
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Nonprofit Organization Accessibility Support Program
Web accessibility seminar
NTTPC Communications works with e-elder, a nonprofit organization, to help eliminate the digital divide. The Internet is integral to the lives of many people around the world, but not everyone can access it. The Nonprofit Organization Accessibility Support Program provides financial and technological support to enable the elderly, the disabled, and others to access the Internet.
The program provides free servers and organizes a contest. The Information and Communications Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Internal A f f a i r s a n d Commu n i c a t i o n s endorsed the program in 2006 as a mo d e l CSR i n i t i a t i v e . NT TPC Communications will continue its program in keeping with growing interest in bridging the digital divide.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://web.access-sp.jp/
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Contributing to Society through the Web
OCN is harnessing websites and telephone lines to contribute to society. For a campaign to save World Heritage sites, OCN created a website that uses images and other materials featuring Japanese and international World Heritage sites to explain the need for such protection and show how World Heritage initiatives can contribute to global peace.
The JOLLY'S magazine website presents a documentary and a wealth of other information about training guide dogs.
Through an OCN program, NTT Communications donates 10 yen for each call by an IP phone to a designated organization.
NTT Resonant’s Pink Ribbon Campaign 2006 through the goo portal helps prevent breast cancer by providing basic information and highlighting the importance of testing.
See the following Japanese-language website for details of social contributions at OCN: http://www.ocn.ne.jp/ecoplus/
See the following Japanese-language website for details of goo Pink Ribbon Campaign:http://pinkribbon.goo.ne.jp/
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Company Kiosk Sales of Confect ionery at Workshops for Persons with Disabilities
In-house confectionery stand
Confectionery on sale
Kiosks within NTT Communications sell confectionery produced at joint workshops for persons with disabilities. Sales began in 2004 during runups to Christmas, St. Valentine's Day and other occasions. By making purchases, employees can make small contributions to the self-help activities of persons with disabilities and enjoy the delicious handmade confectioneries. We plan to expand in-house sales opportunities for these products.
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Chocom Service for Online Donations
Chocom is a form of electronic money for even the smallest online payments. We accept donations for disaster assistance and other causes through Chocom and transfer the funds to the Mainichi Social Welfare Foundation for distribution to victims.
Disaster Assistance Donations Received through Chocom in Fiscal 2006 Period Cause Amount May to July 2006 Mid Java E arthquake 586,366 yen December 2006 Year-end giving 50,825 yen March to May 2007 Noto Peninsula Earthquake relief 204,400 yen See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://www.chocom.jp/
