CITIZENSHIP
Fostering a Community that Supports
the Safety of Children on Their Way to School
Watching Over Children’s Safety on the School Commute Route in Front of Headquarters
The road adjacent to the NAMICS headquarters is part of the school commute route used by local elementary school students.
During the morning hours, when the children’s commute time overlaps with employees’ arrival time, NAMICS employees continuously carry out safety patrols to ensure the children can get to school safely.
It Started with the Construction of the New Headquarters Building
The School Safety Patrol initiative (directing children’s traffic in front of the headquarters’ main gate) began with the construction of the new headquarters building.
During the construction period, employees from the construction company took care to ensure the safety of the children walking past the headquarters to get to school and provided supervision during school commute hours. Upon witnessing this, NAMICS, led by the president and the project team responsible for the new headquarters building, decided to continue this initiative even after the new building was completed.
The purpose of this initiative is to ensure the traffic safety of children whose route to school passes by the main gate of our headquarters. During the morning hours, when the children’s commute overlaps with employees’ arrival times, our employees keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area to enhance vigilance and prevent traffic accidents.
Thus, an initiative that began as a safety measure during the construction of the new headquarters has evolved into an effort to be an integral part of the local community and support children on their way to school.
Traffic Flow Patterns for the Community, Revised in Connection with the Construction of the New Headquarters Building
Prior to the construction of our new headquarters building, there was no sidewalk in front of the main entrance like the one we have today. The concrete-block wall surrounding the property was too close to the roadway, posing safety concerns for pedestrians.
Since the area around our headquarters is also a designated elementary school student commute route, ensuring pedestrian safety—in addition to constructing the building and developing the site—was a key priority during the construction of the new headquarters.
Therefore, in conjunction with the construction of the new headquarters, NAMICS donated a portion of its land to Kita Ward, Niigata City, to build a sidewalk. This ensured a safe walking space for residents, including children attending Nigorikawa Elementary School.
Our School Safety Patrol initiative is closely linked to these environmental improvements. In addition to the physical infrastructure of the sidewalk, employees keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area during school commute times to help ensure that children can travel to school more safely.
A System that Can be Sustained by More than the Goodwill of Employees
The School Safety Patrol initiative is conducted by a team of two employees every morning from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. Participating employees wear vests and carry traffic control wands to ensure the safety of children passing by the main gate of our headquarters. Rules for conducting the initiative safely have been shared, ensuring the safety not only of the children but also of the employees participating in the activity.
When the program first began, it was primarily managed by members of the General Affairs Group, but after receiving feedback from other employees, we began recruiting additional participants. Currently, approximately 20 employees are involved. As participation has expanded across divisions, the initiative has gradually become a regular part of the morning scene at NAMICS Headquarters.
The General Affairs Group creates the shift schedule, but we have a system in place that allows employees to swap shifts if their schedules conflict. Some employees participate every other week, while others take on the duty about once a week. Additionally, employees participating in the “School Safety Patrol” initiative arrive at work 30 minutes earlier than usual, but in return, they are allowed to leave 30 minutes early.
While this initiative relies on the cooperation of each individual employee, a key feature of this program is that the company does not rely solely on personal goodwill or burden; instead, it has officially designated the “School Safety Patrol” initiative as part of the company’s regular operations.
Comments from Organizers and Participants
Coordinator: Y
Sharing the Importance of These Activities from a Parent’s Perspective
As I participate in guiding children along their school routes, I sense the company’s positive attitude in the fact that this activity is recognized as an integral part of our work. I feel reassured by the system that allows us to take turns as needed while prioritizing our regular duties, as well as by the accommodations designed to ensure we can continue this work without undue strain—such as the option to arrive at work 30 minutes early and finish 30 minutes early.
Furthermore, I find a sense of fulfillment and responsibility in playing a role in ensuring children’s safe commute to school, which gives me a real sense of contributing as a member of the community. Moreover, as a parent myself, I deeply understand the importance of this activity from a parent’s perspective. I feel a strong sense of purpose in contributing to the creation of an environment where parents can send their children off to school with peace of mind.
Participant: H
Joined the initiative with the desire to “do what I can for the community”
During my many years at NAMICS, I have witnessed the company’s ongoing commitment to social contribution activities, such as supporting children who have lost parents in traffic accidents and making donations to various organizations. Driven by my own desire to do something for the community, I have joined the School Safety Patrol initiative. With the company’s support, I’m able to continue this effort at a manageable pace by using the time before work, and I see it as a valuable opportunity to contribute to society by helping to ensure the safety of children in our community.
Participant: M
Meaningful Community Service That’s Easy to Participate in
I’ve been participating since last year because I believe in the importance of keeping our community safe, and because the early start and early finish times, along with the shift system, allow me to balance this with my job without feeling overwhelmed. When the children cheerfully greet me back, I truly feel that my actions are helping to keep the community safe. I find it rewarding to be in an environment where I can contribute not only to my work but also to the community, and I think this is a wonderful initiative that gives me energy every morning from the children.
Our Daily Efforts Contribute to a Sense of Security in the Community
Our School Safety Patrol initiative has been warmly received by school staff, parents, and community members as something that helps ensure children’s safety. As the program gains recognition for contributing to the safety and peace of mind of the community, we’ve received comments such as “Thank you for everything you do” and “My child feels safe on the way to school,” which serve as a source of encouragement for the employees involved in the program.
Furthermore, seeing children who seemed shy at first gradually begin to greet us with smiles, or hearing them call out to us during company tours—each of these moments serves as an opportunity to feel our connection with the community.
While there aren’t major changes every day, that is precisely why it is important to stand in the same spot every day and continue watching over them. To maintain an environment where local children can commute to school with peace of mind, NAMICS will continue its School Safety Patrol initiative, day after day.