EDUCATION

The MOL Charitable Trust (Note 1) on January 31, 2024, announced the selection of 15 projects proposed by NGOs and educational institutions for funding in the third call for applications (Note 2). This third round of grants centers on projects in line with the priority areas of the MOL Group's policy of corporate citizenship activities: "marine environment," "biodiversity," and "human resources development" (Note 3).The 15 newly selected projects will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society and the achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In December 2023, the "Mission Verte," a local NGO funded by the MOL Charitable Trust(Note 1), released a video on the use of composting in the home and its impact on the environment.

On Wednesday, November 8 and Thursday 9, Reef Conservation(Note 1) and the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME)(Note 2), which receives grant support from the authorized public trust MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability (the "Fund")(Note 3) and the MOL Charitable Trust (the "Trust")(Note 4), held a workshop called "SOS Mangroves: Strategies for Restoration and Conservation" as part of their environmental conservation activities. The two-day workshop was an important first step toward strengthening the relationship between Mauritius and Japan for mangrove conservation.

The Authorized Public Trust 'MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability' ("the Trust in Japan") (Note 1), established in November 2021, has opened a call for project applications for FY2024, with the application period running from October 30 to December 22, 2023. The Trust in Japan was established to promote sustainable economic growth and culture in Mauritius by providing support for nature conservation activities and initiatives that contribute to local communities.

On Thursday, July 20, the MOL Charitable Trust (the "Trust") (Note) held a roundtable meeting of local education-related NGOs. It was the second roundtable meeting, following last year’s event, with the objective of sharing knowledge and boosting cooperation among local NGOs. The theme of this year's roundtable was "The Role of Parents in Education and Effective Involvement," and participants included representatives of 14 local organizations working in the field of education and members of the Trust's Committee of Enforcers.

MOL Charitable Trust (the "Trust") (note), established in Mauritius in June 2021, has newly launched the second edition / 2023 of its Newsletter with a focus on the projects supported under the Call for Proposal 2 towards Arts, social and education strands. It is also the opportunity to offer a glimpse on the activities conducted under second and third quarter by the Trust in Mauritius.

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, the authorized public trust MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability (the "Fund") (note 1) held an online project outcome session in Japan and the Republic of Mauritius.During the session, seven of the 11 NGOs selected for 2022 grant recipient projects reported on the results of their activities over the past year. An event room was organized in Mauritius, where local NGO groups attended in person and their presentations were broadcasted in real time to Japan, inspiring a lively exchange of opinions.

The MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note 1), established in Mauritius in June 2021, has made its third call for proposals for the period from Monday, September 3 to Friday, September 29, 2023. The Trust was established with the goal of supporting social and environmental projects in line with the intent of the Trust, focusing on activities in the southeast of Mauritius.

Reef Conservation (Note 1), a local NGO subsidized by the Authorized Public Trust "MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability" (the Fund) (Note 2), has developed a new mangrove conservation awareness mobile app called "Mangrove Matter" (Note 3), and introduced it to the public in Mauritius.

The MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability in Japan (Note 1) will hold its 1st year Project Outcome Reporting Session 2023 on Wednesday, July 12, with organizations which received grant for the first year. This is the first debriefing since the establishment of the fund in November 2021. The objective is to introduce the audience to a wide range of activities and results of the funded projects to promote environmental restoration and conservation in Mauritius and contribute to local communities.

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, "Mission Verte" (Note 1), a local NGO funded by the MOL Charitable Trust (the Trust) (Note 2), released two videos on environmental pollution issues in Mauritius and ways to address those issues.

On Friday, April 14, and Tuesday, April 25, 2023, "Caritas Mauritius" (hereinafter called Caritas)(Note 1), a local NGO funded by MOL Charitable Trust (the Trust) (Note 2), held ceremonies to celebrate the completion of a program aimed at helping residents gain essential life skills and prepare for employment. Mr. Kazuhiko Sugano, Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd., who also serves as Chairperson of the Trust's Enforcers Committee, was on hand for the events.

On Saturday, December 31, 2022, the local NGO "RESPECT" (Note 1), funded by the MOL Charitable Trust (the Trust) (Note 2), opened an agricultural training center in Mare Tabac and started operation on the same day. RESPECT is an organization which provides trainings and supports to young farmers by providing theoretical education and hands-on training on efficient agricultural techniques. RESPECT was committed to the construction of a greenhouse, which will serve as the training hub of the project on the long term.

The "MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability" (the Fund) (Note 1), an authorized public trust, completed the selection of new projects to be funded at the steering committee meeting in March 2023, and at the end of the same month, it started the disbursement of grants.

On Thursday, December 8, 2022, Shizuoka University, which received a grant from the Authorized Public Trust "MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability" (the Fund)(Note 1), in collaboration with the University of Mauritius(UoM) which is a partner in the same research project, held a workshop on latest research topics on "Coral Reef in a Warming Ocean" at UoM.

The MOL Charitable Trust, which was established in June, 2021 in Mauritius ("the Trust") (Note), issues a report on activities in the projects funded during its first year. Of the total of 26 projects selected for funding in the first year, 22 were accomplished as planned. The Yearly Report details activities of each project and the Trust for the year.

The MOL Charitable Trust (the "Trust") (Note 1) held a ceremony in Mahebourg on Sunday, January 15, 2023, to announce the 20 projects selected for support from the Fund among those submitted in the second call for applications. The Fund also exchanged Memorandums of Understanding with each organization (Note 2). Among those in attendance were Mr. Shuichiro Kawaguchi, the Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius and Mr. Junichiro Ikeda, the Chairman of the Board of MOL who expressed his hopes for the success of each project and his gratitude to everyone involved.

On Monday, November 21, 2022, the MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note 1) signed a sponsorship agreement for the Indian Ocean Sports and Youth Commission Game, "Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien" (CJSOI2022) (Note 2) to be held in Mauritius from Sunday, December 4 to Sunday, December 11, 2022. Of the 11 events in CJSOI 2022, Beach Handball and Sailing will be held in Blue Bay, Pointe-Jérôme, in southeastern Mauritius.

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, "La Chaux Mahebourg Academy Football Club (LCMA)" (Note 1), a local NGO funded by the MOL Charitable Trust (Note 2), held a ceremony to donate football equipment to local children. Mr. Goro Yamashita, Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd., who also serves as Chairman of the Trust's Enforcers Committee, was on hand for the event.

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, the local NGO "Mouvement Bien-Etre de la Cite la Chaux" (MBECC) (Note 1), a recipient of a grant from the MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note 2), held a launching ceremony for its fishing boat, The MOL Vansouet. MOL (Mauritius) Ltd. Managing Director Goro Yamashita, who serves Chairperson of the Trust's Enforcers Committee, was on hand for the event.

The Authorized Public Trust 'MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability' ("the Trust in Japan") (Note 1), established in November 2021, has opened a call for applications for projects to be funded in fiscal 2022, with the application period running from October 31 to December 28, 2022. The Trust in Japan was established to promote sustainable economic growth and culture in Mauritius by providing support for nature conservation activities and initiatives that contribute to local communities.

On Thursday, September 8, 2022, a ceremony was held to inaugurate a project by the local NGO, F.A.L.C.O.N (Farmers in Agriculture, Livestock, Cooperative, Organic Network) Association (Note 1), subsidized by the Authorized public trust "MOL Mauritius International Fund for Natural Environment Recovery and Sustainability" (the Fund) (Note 2). Mr. Goro Yamashita, Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd., was on hand for the event as a representative of the Fund.

On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, the MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust in Mauritius") (Note 1) held a roundtable meeting with concerned local NGOs and experts under the theme of the mangrove conservation.

On Friday, August 29, 2022, a ceremony was held to mark the completion of an environmental experience program led by the local NGO "Marine Megafauna Conservation Organisation Mauritius" (MMCO) (Note 1), a recipient of a grant from the MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note 2), and Mr. Goro Yamashita, Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd., who also serves as Chairman of the Trust's Enforcers Committee, was on hand for the event.

MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note 1), established in Mauritius in June 2021, has made its second call for proposals for the period from September 2 to Septemeber 26, 2022. The Trust was established with the goal of supporting social and environmental projects in line with the intent of the Trust, focusing on activities in southeast Mauritius.

On Sunday, July 31 and Sunday, August 14, 2022, local NGOs supported by the MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note 1) and other groups spent cleaning up local beaches and forests, Mr. Goro Yamashita, Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd., who also serves as Chairman of the Trust's Enforcers Committee, on hand for both events.

On Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17, 2022, a review meeting was held to discuss the project by the local NGO "Caritas Mauritius," a recipient of a grant from the MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note), with Mr. Goro Yamashita, Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd., who also serves as Chairman of the Trust's Enforcers Committee, in attendance.

On Friday, June 3, 2022, the MOL Charitable Trust ("the Trust") (Note) held a roundtable meeting of local education-related NGOs.

On Thursday, March 17, 2022, a presentation ceremony for the picture book "WAKASHIO-OIL SPILL IN PARADISE- (Note 1)" about the Wakashio grounding and oil spill incident, was held at the headquarters of NGO Ti Rayons Soleil (Note 2) in Vacoas-Phoenix, a town in inland Mauritius, with the attendance of Mr. Goro Yamashita, the Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd.

At a ceremony held in Mahebourg, Mauritius on Friday, December 10, 2021, the MOL Charitable Trust (the Fund), which was established in Mauritius in June 2021, announced its intent to fund 26 projects(*) led by NGOs and other local organizations, selected among applicants for the first call for grant applications. The Fund also exchanged Memorandums of Understanding with each organization.

On Tuesday, August 31, 2021, a social event was held with local children at Mahébourg Espoir Education Centre (MEEC), located in Cité La Chaux, an area of Mahébourg, which was hit by the oil spill incident, and many of local residents work in the fishing industry. Among those in attendance at the event were His Excellency Mr. Shuichiro Kawaguchi, the Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius, Mr. Francis de La Haye, the President of Mahébourg Espoir, and Mr. Goro Yamashita, the Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd.

On August 10, 2021, a launch ceremony for the English-language edition of Wakashio the Book, a children's book by Ms. Anita Bacha, an author living in Mauritius, was held at the office of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd. Ms. Bacha, His Excellency Mr. Shuichiro Kawaguchi, the Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius, and Mr. Goro Yamashita, the Managing Director of MOL (Mauritius) Ltd. were on hand for the event.

On Saturday, July 10, 2021, Goro Yamashita, representative of our subsidiary MOL (Mauritius) Ltd., took the stage at an online seminar in Kobe College, and delivered a lecture about corporate social contribution activities. Also on hand for the event were Noriaki Sakaguchi, a specialist with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Yoko Nagai, a writer and business facilitator in Mauritius, who made presentations on the status of the coastal area ecosystem and citizen volunteer activities, respectively.

Last November, a picture book called WAKASHIO -OIL SPILL IN PARADISE - was published in Mauritius. The books are on display in hotels and schools, and some of the sales proceeds will be donated to support people affected by the incident, through a local NGO.

On December 23, the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries & Shipping, the Japanese Embassy and MOL jointly hosted a Christmas Party for some 250 primary school students within the nearby villages affected by the oil spill incident as well as their parents at Bamboo Virieux located near Mahebourg in collaboration with CELERO Group, the local partner of MOL.

On Thursday, December 10, MOL dispatched team met with Mahebourg Espoir, a local NGO actively involved in helping poor communities in Mahebourg, which is one of the closest towns within the oil polluted area where many local residents derive their living solely on the sea for fishing. The NGO operates the Mahebourg Espoir Education Centre (MEEC) for children coming from vulnerable families who have been dropped out of school.

On Friday, October 9, the MOL-dispatched team visited a public school in Bois Des Amourettes, which had been forced to close for four days due to the offensive odor caused by the oil spill. The team presented all students with sets of stationery, origami cranes and shuriken throwing stars, with our sincere hopes that they will find our gifts useful in their studies.

On Tuesday, October 6, members of the MOL-dispatched team visited two local schools. At the Special Education Needs (SEN) School they visited in the morning, they created paper airplanes with the children and then went outdoors to see them fly. We also presented other origami works made by the team leader that the students could play with, such as cranes and shuriken throwing stars.