Canon's Image Bridge Fostering Exchanges between Asian Youth

BEIJING, June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 31, 2013, Canon (China) announced the launch of their new "Image Bridge" project at the China Youth Development Foundation in Beijing. Aimed at delivering better support to the children at HOPE Schools, it was called "Canon Image · Light of Hope" in previous years. In hopes of transcending language barriers, Canon (China) invites Chinese HOPE School students to participate in communication with children from other Asian regions by exchanging photos, which tell stories of their lives and cultures. Here, photos serve as a bridge through which misunderstanding is prevented, experience is shared and friendship is fostered.

(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2013/06/04/20130604130548188774.html )

The highlight of this activity is to foster children's own initiative rather than to help them as the vulnerable group as well as to let them identify themselves as ambassadors of their own culture. In 2013, Canon's Image Bridge project focuses on children in the Chinese mainland and then gradually involves other Asian regions such as India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Not only do Canon (China) employees actively volunteer to promote the interchanges, but many foreign students and media volunteers are drawn to interact with the children to help develop their photography skills and express themselves through cross-cultural communication.

"Image · Light of Hope" is a public welfare project that focuses on education enlightenment, and is an integral part of Canon's "CSR through imaging technology" strategy. After making years of effort, Canon's donations have grown from providing basic infrastructure support to educational resources. Besides teaching students to record their lives by taking photos, Canon also encourages them to share them with children living in foreign countries to enhance mutual understanding. Based on previous experiences, children from other Asian countries have expressed a strong interest in knowing more about the culture and living environments of their Chinese peers. Hence the communication mode Canon adopted this time is the earliest stage of the "Canon Image Bridge" project. Canon (China)'s vision is to build many more bridges in the future in any part of the world.

This year, Canon Image Bridge is continuing its cooperation with the China Youth Development Foundation to hold photography lessons and photo exchanges activities. Photographs taken by Chinese students will be selected and send to other Asian countries during photography lessons whereas photographs taken by Asian children will be brought to Chinese Mainland and explain the cultural background, social customs by our volunteers during photo exchange activities.

Yang Xiaoyu, deputy secretary-general of the China Youth Development Foundation has always paid close attention and supported several educational public welfare activities sponsored by the corporation. When asked about Canon's projects, he stated, "People tend to consider children of HOPE schools as vulnerable and try to 'give;' whereas what they really need is equal treatment and let them contribute to the community. As the ambassadors, they feel confident and with a strong sense of commitment, which is the expected result of education. Moreover, Project Hope expects more enterprises with social responsibility such as Canon to participate more, so as to broaden the children's vision and improve their self-confidence."

Meanwhile a sum of RMB 64,682.80 was donated to the Luyang HOPE School of Lushan County by employees of Canon (China) and partners. It is on top of the RMB 3 million donation that Canon contributed for earthquake relief. The affected area has hosted Canon (China)'s "Image · Light of Hope" project for three consecutive years, and the safety of the students and teachers of the HOPE School there immediately concerned Canon when the earthquake hit.

President and CEO of Canon (China), Ozawa Hideki, remarked, "In the future, Canon intends to popularize 'Image Bridge' to the US, Europe and other places in the world, in hopes of continuing to contribute to world peace, while at the same time living up to our 'Kyosei' philosophy."

Canon Image Bridge gathers good will and actions from home and abroad to share beauty and delight, bringing peace and love in Asia.

About Canon Group

Since its foundation in 1937, Canon has always been striving to create and deliver world-class products; and become a top global corporation by diversifying into new business fields throughout the world with its adherence to "Kyosei," the corporate philosophy. Focusing on optical technologies, Canon produces office equipments, imaging devices, industrial systems and other products. Through the close connection between its global headquarter in Tokyo and regional headquarters in America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, Canon combines its global and local operations organically. In 1996, Canon launched its Excellent Global Corporation Plan, to actively institute mindset and development transformation under the theme of "total optimization" and "focus on profit," with the goal of serving the society with advanced technologies and becoming the trustworthy and respectable company in the world. Currently it is in the fourth phase of the plan, with a yearly revenue of $39.998 billion in 2012 and a strong global presence with 275 subsidiaries all over the world, supported by 196,968 employees. (As of January 30, 2013)

About Canon Asia Marketing Group

Canon Asia Marketing Group is one of Canon's five marketing groups, which include 9 companies throughout Asia: China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, employing more than 6,000 people. Guided by the "Delighting You Always" slogan, Canon Asia Marketing Group plays a tremendous role in various business areas, such as office equipments, imaging systems, and industrial machineries. It is committed to offer outstanding products and quality service to the customers, and actively promote diversification and globalization of businesses. Its headquarter, Canon (China) Co., Ltd. is based in Beijing, leading the group to enhance its multi-business strategy, and is now playing an increasingly important role in the global markets. (As of January 30, 2013)

About Canon (China) Co., Ltd.

Canon embarked on its adventure in China in the late 1970s, left a track of operational strategy development, from technical cooperation with local parties to sole-proprietary plants, followed by the establishment of sales company. In March 1997, Canon (China) Co., Ltd. was founded as a local corporation responsible for all of Canon's sales & marketing operations in China. After years of endeavor, now the company operates in three mainly areas of business: imaging systems, office equipments and industrial and others devices, with a national sales & service network consisting of 16 branch, 15 satellite offices, 13 Quick Repair Centers, and 9 Quick Service Stations. Canon is set to take a deep root in China and strives to become a company that is trusted and honored by the Chinese people. (As of January 30, 2013)

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SOURCE Canon