Connecting School Education with Social Challenges - "AKARI" Action Project for Schools
Recyclable items collected by students are converted into Panasonic solar lanterns and donated to children in Kenya.
From April to October 2025, Panasonic Holdings Corporation opened participation in the "AKARI" Action Project--a special school-focused initiative--to schools nationwide across Japan. A total of 13 schools took part in this initiative.
This initiative was newly launched in FY2025 in response to feedback from schools.
It builds on the long-standing "AKARI" Action Project, which delivers solar lanterns to off-grid areas using funds generated from donated recyclable items,and further develops the project for use in school education.
Through this initiative, students learn about the realities and challenges faced by communities without electricity. By taking action to address these issues, they come to see social challenges as their own and develop a sense of personal responsibility.
School Activities
At each participating school, students took the lead in collecting recyclable items such as books, CDs,and DVDs to raise funds for delivering solar lanterns to off-grid areas. In addition to encouraging participation within their schools, students advanced the activities with ingenuity, for example by setting up collection boxes in their local communities.
Student Awareness and Educational Impact
One of the key features of the special school initiative is the opportunity for students to exchange letters with children in Kenya, the recipients of the donations. After receiving letters from Kenya, students shared reflections such as, "I used to think that off-grid areas in Asia or Africa were distant and unrelated to me, but I realized there are things even students like us can do, and I feel proud of that."
Messages from students in Japan to children in Kenya
Children in Kenya reading messages from Japan with great interest
Additionally, the principal of Yokohama City Utsukushigaoka Junior High School commented that this initiative aligns well with "learning that is open to society" and "student-driven learning," providing valuable opportunities for students to think independently, collaborate with others, and take action together.
＜Related Link＞"AKARI" Action Project Site
