Companies Cleaning Up, Corporations Getting Environmentally Involved

Two weeks ago, I posted the article, "Protecting the Beach and Environment in Enoshima" to promote the Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project coming up in April. April 24, to be exact: http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4325

In this article, which is actually a repost by the organization that I represent, the SEGO Initiative, an NPO dedicated to offering small companies and corporations to help the environment while also helping their employees, we'll hear from one of the organization's leaders, Alana Bonzi, about why more corporations should get in on the act, as well as the benefits they receive when they do.

"Corporate Beach Cleaners Revisited"

We first started the our beach cleaning project in 2009. Now seven years later, the central idea remains unchanged. Thanks to supporters, the project has grown to include cleaning Kugenuma beach, Enoshima shrine, and soon, the waters just off the coast. It continues to be quite the journey. This year, the cleanup dates are April 24th (Earth Day Cleanup) and September 25th (International Coastal Cleanup Campaign). As always, we are ready to welcome even more corporate beach cleaners. Please feel to reach out.

Corporate Beach Cleaners! ˜Engageable moments” make great volunteers.

“In good times, employee engagement is the difference between being good and being great, and in bad times it’s the difference between surviving and not. In good times and bad, low engagement reduces performance and profit. And under the current circumstances, many companies can’t afford to let those drop."

-James K. Harter, Ph.D., Gallup’s chief scientist of workplace management and wellbeing.

Corporate volunteering to create engageable moments is a cost-effective way to strengthen employee-management links to attract and retain talent, experts agree.
According to Points of Light Foundation, a Washington-based NPO, the best ways to get staff to volunteer is to offer several options; garner top management support; make participation voluntary; and give high visibility (recognize volunteers).

Another way is to harness employees’ intrinsic motivation. Although volunteering implies doing for others, volunteers also want a personal experience, where they come out having learned, shared and done something useful.

Further, the need to strengthen and boost staff morale with activities that are meaningful on human, economic and environmental levels is stronger than ever.
Participants highly praise volunteer projects that also involve their families, which improves work-life balance and preserves quality time together.

The business benefits include team building, heightened employee commitment, and enhanced corporate image, while community and social benefits include improving the local environment and helping local organizations.

Corporate volunteer activities in Japan are often in the Kanto area, primarily Tokyo, but the potential in neighboring suburban areas is under exploited. Opportunities, however, to engage with employees, their families, and communities an hour or so from Tokyo do exist.

The Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project connects the expat and local communities and involves cleaning Kugenuma Beach, one of the most accessible seaside spots near Tokyo.

Inspired by Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Campaign, along with NPOs the Japan Environment Action Network and Kanagawa Coastal Environment Foundation, debris is recorded for a national survey on the state of Japan’s beaches and an international report on the state of the world’s beaches.
After the hard work, expats and locals get to know each other at a sociable buffet.

SEGO Initiative-Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project
http://www.segoinitiative.org
http://www.fujisawabeachclean.org

Whether you're an individual or a company looking to help make the world a better place, those interested in volunteering should contact: lee#jarman-international.com

(replace the # with an @ of course)

The next beach cleaning event will be held April 24, 2016. There's also one later in the year on September 25.

For more information about the Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project, visit one of the following links:

Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project
http://www.fujisawabeachclean.org

SEGO Initiative
http://segoinitiative.org/