47 Alps Electric employees and family members participated as volunteers on November 16 at the 39th World Skills Competition which was held in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture (Japan) over the November 15 to 18 period.
This Competition is held every second year, and aims to promote participating country trades and skills by providing an international skills competition for young tradespeople. The Competition this year was the largest in history, with more than 2,800 participants and young competitors from 46 countries and regions competing with the world’s best in more than 40 trades such as industrial electronics, mechatronics, welding, carpentry, landscape gardening and cooking.
Individuals and groups from schools and companies volunteered their time to play important roles in Competition operations such as manning information booths and providing guidance for visitors and competitors. Alps Electric provided personnel by calling on its plants and bases for volunteers, many of whom used the company’s special leave program. *¹
Reiko Takaramori, an employee from the Mechatronic Devices Division (Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture) was one of the Alps volunteers and enjoys meeting people through such activities. She had also previously volunteered assistance to locals after the Niigata Prefecture earthquake in 2004, recalling “I was very glad to be able to help even just a little.”
Regarding the World Skills Competiton, Ms. Takaramori expressed, “I couldn’t speak with all the visitors from overseas because of our language differences, but when I smiled and gave directions through gestures, they also replied back to me with smiles, which made me very happy. I’m glad I took part, because I know I was able to provide visitors with some kind of assistance.”
Other Alps volunteers also voiced remarks after the Competition, such as, “I was glad I could provide support for Competition operations,” and “I’d like to take part in further volunteer activity given the chance.”
Alps Electric will continue to provide opportunities for volunteer activity as it holds precious the small and ongoing contributions to society made by its employees.
