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Post date: May 7, 2017 8:23:31 PM
I researched other activities for supporting and helping refugees. Not only students like M4R and organization like JAR but also some companies are conducting support activities. I researched two global companies, they are UNIQLO (Fast Retailing) and IKEA.
First, UNIQLO are conducting some activities for supporting refugees. Fasting Retailing, a parent company of UNIQLO, has worked in cooperation with UNHCR. Their main initiatives are ①Clothing Aid, ②Promoting Self-Reliance, ③Educational Support, ④Monetary Donations, ⑤Awareness-Raising. In particular, I researched about ② and ③.
②Promoting Self-Reliance
Fast Retailing does refugee internship program. This program offers them the opportunity to gain work experience at UNIQLO stores in Japan. This was started in 2011. In 2015, UNIQLO hired 13 people as internship. Mr. Yanagi, the CEO of UNIQLO, said that UNIQLO aimed to accept 100 people as internship in this site. He also said it was important that not only government or UN but also private enterprises or individuals should support refugees more.
➂Educational Support
UNIQLO also does educational support. UNIQLO employees visit many schools throughout Japan to give presentations as part of the company's "The Power of Clothing Project". And then, children conduct their own recycling drive to collect clothing from their communities, and they ship them to UNIQLO store once. After that, the items are sent to refugees and displaced people.
Second, IKEA also does campaign that we buy lighting products, 1euro is donated to UNCHR per one product. In addition, IKEA developed 'Better Shelter'', It a hut (simple house) for refugees.
I was surpried at Better Shelter. This would help many refugees now and future.
I would like to focus on activities for supporting refugees by M4R, UNIQLO and IKEA. My discussion issue is what is the best way to get people to know about refugee issues.
(300words, 60minutes.)
<References>
・Uniqlo to hire 100 refugees to help them achieve self-reliance -The Asahi Shimbun
・Global Partnership with UNHCR -UNIQLO HP
・届けよう、服のチカラ”プロジェクト -UNIQLO HP
・1万戸のBETTER SHELTERが難民キャンプへ UNHCRとIKEA Foundation の新たな取り組み -UNHCR HP
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