SEOUL, KOREA – Global companies today are embracing a more sustainable approach to business – contributing to harmonious development of society through their business activities. Hyundai Motor Company has been making social contribution in many different ways worldwide under its slogan, “Gaining respect from the society and earning trust from customers fulfilling social responsibility”. Their social contribution activities help them live up to their responsibility as global citizens and local neighbors.
Green Move
Hyundai Motor Company is pursuing ‘Hyundai Green Zone’ project as part of global environment protection. For the initial attempt, the company carried out a five-year ‘Hyundai Greenzone China’ project to combat desertification in China in 2008. Up until 2011, they succeeded in shifting 38 million square meters from desert to natural grassland in Kunshan areas of Inner Mongolia. Besides, Hyundai Motor America(HMA) is doing a large-scale forestry plantations project together with launching Genesis. This ‘Genesis Forestry Project’ is to protect tropical rain forest of 3,000 acres in Tocantins, Brazil. The 40-year environment project can reduce around 90,000 tons of CO2.
Mobile Clinics
Hyundai Motor Group has been running a ‘Mobile Clinic’ project, health and medical treatment for the disadvantaged in less developed countries in collaboration with local NGOs and medical organizations since 2009. They developed vehicles for x-ray treatment and general medicine, which are customized for treatment in remote areas. Both of them, 5-ton and four-wheel-drive trucks, have an engine with a capacity of 6,600 ccs in order to increase electric power and mobility. The Mobile Clinic has so far provided services for seven countries including Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Nigeria, Ghana and Rwanda.
Hope on Wheels
A campaign to help children with cancer in the U.S., ‘Hope on Wheels’ has raised a total of 45 million dollars from 800 dealers who have donated USD 14 per car sales since 1998 and also from some donations of a branch in the U.S. Hyundai Motors was the first private company which was invited to Child Cancer Caucus comprised of 77 MPs in the U.S. At the event in December 2011, Child Cancer Caucus introduced the Hyundai’s supporting programs for children with cancer and expressed their gratitude.
Hyundai-Koica Dream Center
In January, 2012, the first training center for auto mechanic skills was set up in Ghana, and it is expected to be expanded into more developing countries in Asia and Africa. The dream center due to open in January next year is a three-year technical high school and is scheduled to accommodate a total of 300 students, 100 per grade. Hyundai Motor plans to help graduates find a job at auto mechanic through its job-seeking support program, and also to provide mentoring programs for students preparing for start-ups. Top students among graduates will be given an opportunity to work for Hyundai auto mechanic.
Green Light Project
Kia Motors launched ‘Green Light Project’ in October 2012 in Tanzania. This project intends to cast green light for the people who have limitations in mobility, and thus give an opportunity to overcome challenges coming from psychic and physical distance. To this end, they set up KIA Green Light Maendeleo Secondary School as well as Green Light Program(GLP) center at Nagashanqui, Tanzania. Then, four trucks remodeled for school bus, village bus, and heath care bus were provided. The school completed in October this year is comprised of four classrooms and two laboratories, and the annex building, GLP center, serves as a venue where social development programs for improving school awareness is run. This program has helped to provide quality education and sustainable education environment for local students.
Kia-Mali Project
Kia Motors has been supporting cultivation of Jatropha in Mali since 2007 in order to combat desertification and support financial independence of local people. Jatropha, nonedible crop, can also give them economic benefits through the production of biodiesel fuel. Kia helped to generate 100 dollars per farmer annually by planting 3.5 million Jatropha for the last five years.
