Toyota Mobility Foundation Selects Eight Teams as 2022 Finalists in the “Mobility for ALL” Category of its Idea Contest JCN Newswire

Toyota Mobility Foundation Selects Eight Teams as 2022 Finalists in the “Mobility for ALL” Category of its Idea Contest

December 16, 2022
TOKYO, Dec 16, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Aiming to realize an "even-better mobility society," the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) has been implementing the Make a Move PROJECT (https://mobility-contest.jp/) since June of this year. A contest, the project aims to implement ideas and solutions in society together with people who have a range of experience and know-how. With a focus on motorsports, in the "Mobility for ALL--Bring the Possibility of Mobility to Everyone" category, ideas for allowing anyone, regardless of the existence of a disability, etc., to enjoy watching motorsports were collected. In October, the 17 teams that passed the first screening round conducted trials to demonstrate the practical societal application of their ideas at locations in Okayama Prefecture, such as the Super Taikyu Race venue.We would like to announce the results of the trials conducted by these 17 teams in Okayama and the new initiatives planned for 2023. The following eight teams were selected based on sustainability and the perspectives of the parties concerned. Each of the eight teams will be awarded a maximum of 20 million yen (for a total of approximately 100 million yen) to work toward the societal implementation of their ideas, with verification tests planned for motorsports venues in 2023.Additionally, TMF will seek new ideas through open calls in 2023, aiming to expand the community of people who compete against and help each other.The "Mobility for ALL--Bring the Possibility of Mobility to Everyone" category for this contest opened for entry submissions in June of this year. To generate ideas that solve mobility issues within race circuit venues and moving to and from circuit venues so that everyone, regardless of disability, can enjoy motorsports, we released a video (https://youtu.be/BnZfkrw5DWY) of people with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities sharing their thoughts and feelings of the circuit venue.We received more than one hundred entries from Japan and abroad, and 17 teams passed our initial screening, which was based on the perspectives of the parties concerned, the innovativeness of the proposals, and the opinions of external experts. Each team was awarded a grant of up to 15 million yen to conduct demonstration trials at the Okayama International Circuit and other locations in October. During the demonstration trials, we received feedback from more than 100 participants.Since its founding, the Toyota Motor Corporation has conducted its business activities with the aim of creating a prosperous society through automobiles while respecting all stakeholders, including customers, business partners, employees, and the local communities in which it operates. Accordingly, TMF was established in August 2014 to conduct activities that benefit the public good.Aiming to realize a mobility society in which everyone can move about freely, TMF is working to solve mobility issues around the world through a diverse range of projects. Going forward, the Toyota Group, working in cooperation with various partners and utilizing the technologies and knowhow it has cultivated through its business activities, will continue to promote undertakings that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while contributing to the realization of a society where people can lead rich and fulfilling lives. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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Asia-Pacific housing stakeholders’ call to ‘build forward better’ continues at World Urban Forum, Poland ACN Newswire

Asia-Pacific housing stakeholders’ call to ‘build forward better’ continues at World Urban Forum, Poland

July 1, 2022
BANGKOK, Jul 1, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Key findings from the newly published Asia-Pacific Forum report will be brought to the global conversations on housing and shelter amid the impacts of climate change, and COVID-19 during the 11th World Urban Forum on June 26-30, 2022, at Katowice, Poland. "Building forward better through inclusive housing means that each one of us, especially the most vulnerable families we serve through housing solutions, has a voice in the process and a role to play in increasing access to a decent place to live," said Luis Noda, Habitat for Humanity's Asia-Pacific vice president and one of the speakers at the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. "This core belief guides Habitat for Humanity as we lend our voices on WUF11 discussions on building resilience to a broad range of shocks and threats through an innovative and inclusive approach, thus working toward a sustainable and green future for our global community."WUF11's overall theme will be focusing on overcoming the multiple urban crises while transforming our cities for a better urban future. In alignment with WUF11 thematic objectives, the participants from the Asia-Pacific forum also focused on the shared responsibility and individual roles of the government, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the donor community in achieving appropriate housing for everyone. Forming partnerships and encouraging social participation and innovation that allow for a sustainable response to the housing problem are critical in strengthening resilience against other factors that compound the housing challenges of the region--the effects of climate change, inadequate national housing policies and programs, limited access to technologies, and lack of empowered communities. As Asia-Pacific continues to feel the long-term impact of COVID-19--UN estimates that 200 million people might be forced into extreme poverty by 2030 and the region is one of the most highly affected areas--the housing sector remains critical to the region's economic, social, and environmental recovery. Other WUF11 themes resonate with other critical issues that surfaced during the APHF, such as effective responses to the housing challenge can also drive urban development and should be equally concerned with the environment. Greening the housing value chain can help reduce costs and impacts in the short and long term. Thus, it requires a shift to sustainable methods on material production, design/manufacturing, usage, recycling, among others; and should be supported by access to information and technologies, capacity building, and resources. More than 900 housing stakeholders, including the public, private, and civil society sectors, from 53 locations have participated at the eighth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum held last December 7-9, 2021. The discussions above are summarized in the final report available at the APHF website, www.aphousingforum.org. About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in U.S.A. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.Media contact: Maetavarin Maneekulpan+66-2260-5820mae@tqpr.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
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