Supporting Activities and Researches for Social Welfare ― Sompo Welfare Foundation
The Sompo Welfare Foundation, established in 1977, conducts various programs, including providing financial
assistance to civil society organizations in Japan, ASEAN countries, India and South Africa; holding academic conferences and
funding research on social welfare, social security, insurance, and gerontology; and awarding outstanding academic
papers. Aware of the rapid aging of society, it also promotes solutions to increasingly complex social issues,
including supporting families who provide home care to an elderly member with dementia or other conditions, and
providing scholarships for students studying to become certified care workers. Its programs are designed to meet
contemporary needs through both research and practice.
●Support for Purchase of Vehicles
Since 1999, the foundation has financially supported organizations that need to purchase vehicles for their welfare activities for people with disabilities. In fiscal year 2022 the foundation invited applications from western Japan and selected ten organizations. These vehicles allow organizations to expand the range and scale of their activities and to increase the income of people with disabilities and the number of users of their welfare services.
Proving to be very useful in safely transporting people
● Support for Organizational and Operational Reinforcement of Civil Society Groups
In 2004, the foundation started to provide financial support for organizational and operational reinforcement of civil society organizations that render welfare services to communities. In FY2022, financial support was provided to 41 organizations in total through programs to strengthen their organizational and operational activities, to help them acquire official status as approved specified non-profit corporations and to support local residents for their efforts in comprehensive local issues. The foundation supports the development of high-quality, sustainable nonprofit organizations that play key roles in their communities and help create a community-based society.
Very popular smartphone classes for the elderly taught by young people
● Support for Overseas Welfare Activities
The foundation has supported civil society organizations in the social welfare field in ASEAN countries, India, and South Africa since 2010. In FY2022, the foundation provided grants to four organizations in four countries, including a grant for wheelchairs needed for a social participation and empowerment program for people with disabilities (Indonesia), assistance for equipment and training materials needed to support vocational training and employment for poor youth (Malaysia), assistance for Braille book materials for visually impaired children (the Philippines), and assistance for a music appreciation event as part of an educational enrichment project for children who have lost their parents to COVID-19 (Vietnam).
Donation ceremony in Indonesia
Donation ceremony in Vietnam
● Sompo Welfare Foundation Award
The foundation has awarded outstanding academic literature in the field of social welfare since fiscal year 1999. In FY2021, Yu Nagata received the award for " Collaborative governance for integrated community care : implications for the changing roles of local government ". Kentaro Hayashi received the Encouragement Award for " The Establishment of the Law for Social Security in England : a historical analysis on the role of legal institutions shaping <Livelihood Maintenance Systems>". The presentation ceremony was held on the 43rd floor of Sompo Japan headquarters building in March 2023, and the commemorative lecture and symposium by Yu Nagata was held at the Grand Ark Hanzomon in July 2023.
Prof. Nagata, a recipient of the foundation's award, and President Nishizawa
FY2022 presentation ceremony
● Support for Networking and Learning of Family Caregivers for the Elderly
Since 1991, the foundation has provided support for networking events and learning programs intended to help reduce the stress of family caregivers caring at home for elderly dementia patients, and improve their care-giving skills.
Training for improving their care-giving skills
● Scholarships for Students Studying to Become Certified Care Workers
To boost the workforce of caregivers, the foundation offers scholarships for students in two-year vocational school programs and high school students in the welfare field. In 2022, the foundation gave scholarships to seven first-year vocational school students and five second-year high school students. After graduating from the school, many of them are playing an active role as care professionals.
Practicum for students to become certified care workers
● Financial Support for Gerontology Research
The foundation provides financial support for creative and innovative research in the field of social sciences
relating to gerontology. In addition, the foundation organizes study groups on the Insurance Business Act, the
health insurance and nursing care insurance systems, gerontology, and other topics. The foundation also publishes a
report series and distributes it widely to libraries and elsewhere to spread information about research
findings.
Study groups on the Insurance Business Act
