Under the theme "For the Next Generation", Sony focuses on providing children with various opportunities in areas such as science, music, film and photography, aiming to help children realize their dreams and unlock their fullest potential.
Sony Science Program" (SSP) is a collective term for the diversity of activities to support scientific education conducted by companies in the Sony Group worldwide. SSP provides children the opportunity for hands-on experience and help spark their motivations to acquire skills needed to make a better society by applying the power of science. Children learn about scientific principles and technology through workshops and other activities planned and organised by volunteer staff members from Sony companies in Asia Pacific including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Since 2008, Sony has been donating books in English and local languages to mobile libraries that visit primary/junior high schools in the Republic of South Africa. This project was launched through partnership with the South African Primary Education Initiative (SAPESI), a non-profit organisation, with the aim of improving the literacy levels of the children in South Africa.
Book donations are collected mainly by volunteer employees from Sony's group of companies around the world and the total number of books collected has since reached more than 190,000. In Asia Pacific, Sony companies in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia and Dubai have supported this CSR initiative.
The Sony Creative Science Award (SCSA) is Sony’s key CSR programme in Singapore and 2017 marks its 20th year of competition.
Initiated in 1998, SCSA provides a platform to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) among primary school students. It serves to encourage students to develop a love for all things science, and to experiment and think creatively. Co-organized with Science Centre Singapore and supported by the Ministry of Education, SCSA is Singapore’s longest running toy-making competition.
In early January 2017, the South of Thailand faced the heaviest rains in 30 years which caused flash floods and landslides that impacted 530,000 households and affected 1.62 million people in 12 provinces. Due to the massive flooding, many schools in the that area were negatively impacted. Sony Technology (Thailand) (STT) selected the three worst affected schools to improve their facilities by conducting repairs and renovations. STT members donated study equipment such as table, chairs, computers, books, writing equipment and provided scholarships worth a total of 726,000 THB (USD 20,000). STT staff also focused on the environment surrounding the schools by planting trees and vegetable gardens for the schools. Waste bins were also donated for the schools to conduct bio-fertilization. Furthermore, STT also engaged the local communities with games and equipped them with knowledge on environmental conservation.
In addition, STT together with all Sony staff donated 1,000,000 THB (USD 28,000) to The Prime Minister's Office in Thailand which held a fund raising activity on 15 January 2017 to seek urgent support for flood victims.
In collaboration with the Christina Noble Children Foundation, Sony Vietnam conducted a photography experience to motivate the children to develop various skills vital for their future and the ability to observe the world around them. The children also learnt to reflect on what is on the minds of people shooting photos, their subjects and to understand messages from Mother Nature.
Children were instructed on camera operation and how to capture life’s moments in photographs. The project provided a wonderful experience for children who had never used a camera before. They also learnt about team work and collaboration as they were divided into teams to discuss topics and subjects for their photography project. Each team was guided by enthusiast volunteers from Sony Vietnam. After a fruitful day of photography, the children expressed themselves through meaningful photographs that conveyed their thoughts and messages of love, nature, and their relationship with the environment.
Sony India Software Centre Pvt Ltd. (SISC) embarked on a three to five year education CSR acitivity with Agastya International Foundation. The project aims to increase access to practical, hands-on Science education for economically disadvantaged government school children.
To spark curiosity, creativity and build leadership among underprivileged children, the project supplements the government school system with experiential science learning activities. Teachers from government schools are trained in hands-on pedagogy and introduced to the peer to peer teaching/learning methodology.
In Australia, Sony Foundation Children's Holiday Camp Program provides respite camps for children with special needs. The camps are held on the campus' of the host schools across the country. Year 11 and 12 students are selected as 'companions' from the host camp schools to act as the full time carer of the a child 'camper' for the duration of the camp. The purpose of the program is to allow families in need to access free of charge respite. Many families are not in a position to access paid respite, and have never had the opportunity to have a break from caring for their special needs child and so the camps are provided free of charge. Each year, more than 600 children with special needs and approximately 1,100 student companions and school staff/ volunteers partake in the program annually.
Sony Korea conducted three Eco Science Schools in 2016 inviting students from low-income families in Seoul City, Anyang City and Pusan City with its CSR partner, ChildFund Korea to inspire the students in ways that only Sony can, and offer not only the opportunities of environment and science education, but also a music concert and gaming experiences.
The 11th Eco Science School at Seoul City provided 20 students photo education & photo taking. The 12th Eco Science School at Anyang city engaged 100 students with the Headphone Making Workshop of the Sony Science Program by Sony Korea, Rapper Outsider’s School Attack Concert by Sony Music Entertainment Korea and PlayStation®VR Experience Session by Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea. The 13th Eco Science School at Pusan City conducted videography workshops for 20 students.
