
Myanmar startup looks to bring 'affordable housing' to Bhutan, India
TOKYO -- A Myanmar-based startup that builds affordable housing made from bamboo for displaced people in the country hopes to bring its business model to South Asian nations such as Bhutan and India, according to its co-founder.
Housing Now won the Nikkei Asia Award for the enterprise's social and economic contributions to Myanmar, a country in the throes of a civil war that has displaced 3.5 million people as of May, according to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Its prefabricated bamboo houses cost roughly $1,000 apiece, while their modular design allows them to be upgraded or expanded easily.
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The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Japan brokerages donating shareholder perks to help kids in poverty
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese securities firms are donating the food and beverage gifts they receive as shareholder perks through their trading activities to nonprofit organizations to support children living in poverty amid inflation. The Japan Securities Dealers Association started the program in 2020, and around 2,300 donations had been made by March this year. Under the program, a list of shareholder perks is presented to registered organizations channeling the goods to recipients each week and the organizations then convey their requests to the securities firms. As of April, 61 companies and 48 organizations had registered with the program. Around 11 tons of rice and 8,600 liters of beverages have been donated, with rice and ready-made foods such as curry among the popular products. IwaiCosmo Securities Co. previously distributed shareholder perks to younger employees via a lottery as part of its welfare program, but now donates rice and canned goods to organizations. The Osaka-based brokerage has received feedback that its donations were delivered to single-mother households and served at a gathering of children. "We feel it is significant that goods are being used by people who really need them," a company official said. Monex Inc. has been donating shareholder perks to various organizations across the country since 2024, with an official saying it intends to continue using the program as it is difficult to find recipients on its own. NPO Bridge for Smile, which supports children and young people who cannot rely on their parents, receives donations of food and disaster stockpiles on a regular basis through the program. "As there are some people who only have one meal a day due to soaring rice prices, we are grateful that it helps them survive," said Ryuta Suzuki, a member of the group.


Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Japan brokerages donating shareholder perks to help kids in poverty
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 09:55 | All, Japan Japanese securities firms are donating the food and beverage gifts they receive as shareholder perks through their trading activities to nonprofit organizations to support children living in poverty amid inflation. The Japan Securities Dealers Association started the program in 2020, and around 2,300 donations had been made by March this year. Under the program, a list of shareholder perks is presented to registered organizations channeling the goods to recipients each week and the organizations then convey their requests to the securities firms. As of April, 61 companies and 48 organizations had registered with the program. Around 11 tons of rice and 8,600 liters of beverages have been donated, with rice and ready-made foods such as curry among the popular products. IwaiCosmo Securities Co. previously distributed shareholder perks to younger employees via a lottery as part of its welfare program, but now donates rice and canned goods to organizations. The Osaka-based brokerage has received feedback that its donations were delivered to single-mother households and served at a gathering of children. "We feel it is significant that goods are being used by people who really need them," a company official said. Monex Inc. has been donating shareholder perks to various organizations across the country since 2024, with an official saying it intends to continue using the program as it is difficult to find recipients on its own. NPO Bridge for Smile, which supports children and young people who cannot rely on their parents, receives donations of food and disaster stockpiles on a regular basis through the program. "As there are some people who only have one meal a day due to soaring rice prices, we are grateful that it helps them survive," said Ryuta Suzuki, a member of the group. Related coverage: FEATURE: Japan's childless elderly turning wealth into goodwill Entrepreneur launches support service for int'l school kids in Japan


Kyodo News
3 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Japan brokerages donating shareholder perks to help kids in poverty
KYODO NEWS - 18 minutes ago - 09:55 | All, Japan Japanese securities firms are donating the food and beverage gifts they receive as shareholder perks through their trading activities to nonprofit organizations to support children living in poverty amid inflation. The Japan Securities Dealers Association started the program in 2020, and around 2,300 donations had been made by March this year. Under the program, a list of shareholder perks is presented to registered organizations channeling the goods to recipients each week and the organizations then convey their requests to the securities firms. As of April, 61 companies and 48 organizations had registered with the program. Around 11 tons of rice and 8,600 liters of beverages have been donated, with rice and ready-made foods such as curry among the popular products. IwaiCosmo Securities Co. previously distributed shareholder perks to younger employees via a lottery as part of its welfare program, but now donates rice and canned goods to organizations. The Osaka-based brokerage has received feedback that its donations were delivered to single-mother households and served at a gathering of children. "We feel it is significant that goods are being used by people who really need them," a company official said. Monex Inc. has been donating shareholder perks to various organizations across the country since 2024, with an official saying it intends to continue using the program as it is difficult to find recipients on its own. NPO Bridge for Smile, which supports children and young people who cannot rely on their parents, receives donations of food and disaster stockpiles on a regular basis through the program. "As there are some people who only have one meal a day due to soaring rice prices, we are grateful that it helps them survive," said Ryuta Suzuki, a member of the group. Related coverage: FEATURE: Japan's childless elderly turning wealth into goodwill Entrepreneur launches support service for int'l school kids in Japan