ARUN Newsletter 2025 – Issue 2

Thank you very much for your continued support of ARUN.
We are pleased to share with you  ARUN  Newsletter 2025 – Issue 2, sharing updates from our activities and initiatives.

 Contents
1. Report on Participation in the “ARUN DOJO” Learning Journey
2. We Spoke with Members Who Participated in the CSI Challenge 6 Second-Round Screening!
3. Saturday Coffee: Connecting Across Generations and Borders
4. Recruiting Project Members for CSI Challenge 7!

1. Report on Participation in the “ARUN DOJO” Learning Journey

We received a report from Ms. Akiko Sato, who took part in the “ARUN DOJO” Learning Journey featured in our September issue, and we are delighted to share it here.

From August 24th to 28th, I visited India as part of the Toyota Foundation–funded project “ARUN DOJO,” specifically for its “Learning Journey” program.

This time, we visited Realeleco (formerly Real Elephant Collective) in Gudalur, about six hours by car from Bangalore. The trip provided an opportunity to learn about the business models rooted in the community, as well as the history and aspirations of the people behind them.

Participants gathered from various countries—including India, Japan, and Thailand (myself)—and the conversation was lively from the moment we departed Bangalore in our minivan. Before we knew it, we had arrived at our lodging.

On the first morning, after enjoying the fresh air and delicious curry, we climbed a small hill overlooking the community and experienced daily life sustained in harmony with nature.

After that, we visited Realeleco’s office, where most participants were amazed by the life-sized elephant sculptures—something many of us were seeing for the first time. These works are one of the community’s creative responses to a pressing issue: the invasion of forests by the non-native lantana plant, which disrupts the ecosystem and causes elephants to wander into human settlements.

The following day, we visited a local school and hospital within the community. There, we learned about how the indigenous people—whose traditional ways of life were stripped away by the government’s unilateral forest conservation policies—have been working to reclaim and rebuild their livelihoods.

Realeleco, at its core, remains a community-centered initiative—business serves merely as a means for empowerment. Thus, rather than focusing on short-term metrics such as sales growth, the project’s central mission is to ensure that those involved can live each day with autonomy and dignity—a truly long-term perspective.

By creating employment opportunities, the organization has enabled local women—who previously worked on plantations—to find flexible jobs close to home. While this has brought many positive impacts, it has also introduced new challenges, such as emerging economic disparities within the community.

Even so, I was deeply moved by the sense of identity rooted in living alongside nature. For example, doctors from urban areas volunteer at the community hospital, and many young people prefer to work within their community rather than in the city.

Having the opportunity to visit a field site where “social impact” is being realized firsthand, and engaging in thoughtful discussions with other participants, gave me valuable time to reflect once again on what true “impact” on society means.
 
(ARUN DOJO Operations Team – Akiko Sato)
ARUN DOJO is carried out with support from the Toyota Foundation.

2. We Spoke with Members Who Participated in the CSI Challenge 6 Second-Round Screening!

Hello! I’m Hana Suzuki, an intern at ARUN.

At ARUN, we organize a business competition called the CSI Challenge, through which we provide social investment and ongoing support to selected enterprises.

For the 6th CSI Challenge (CSI Challenge 6), we held a roundtable discussion with three ARUN pro bono members—Mr. Fukuda, Mr. Takeda, and Mr. Kiho—who participated in the second-round screening.

They shared their impressions of standout companies, memorable moments, and unexpected happenings during the challenge. The conversation offered a glimpse into the exciting world of social business competitions, which we’re delighted to share below.

【Memorable Companies】
A total of five companies were mentioned as being particularly memorable—three from Africa, one from India, and one from Indonesia.

1. SKIN GOURMET (Ghana) – A company producing edible cosmetics. Participants were impressed by the inspiring founder leading the initiative.

2. Zuhura Solutions (Kenya) – A company that runs food stalls and made it to the final round. Their mission to “improve communities” through job creation left a strong impression.

3. Pareina Company Limited (Kenya) – A business producing food and decorative items made from cactus.

4. Azura IDN (Indonesia) – One of the finalists, this company manufactures and sells electric engines for small boats. The founder, a highly articulate and intelligent woman, left a memorable impression through her thoughtful discussion.

5. Acres of Ice (India) – Located in the Himalayan region, this company developed a fascinating method of freezing rainwater during winter and melting it later for agricultural and drinking use. The “ice stupa” created for storage was particularly intriguing.

【Reflections from CSI Challenge 6】
The 6th CSI Challenge drew over 100 applications from regions including Asia, Africa, and Europe—showcasing the growing global recognition of ARUN. While the large number of documents and interviews posed challenges, participants also expressed a strong sense of fulfillment and purpose.

They noted that every company emphasized not just “profit,” but also how they could contribute to society and improve their own communities. The passion, sincerity, and leadership displayed by the founders were inspiring and emblematic of strong entrepreneurship.

【Memorable Moments & Unexpected Happenings】
During the first-round screening, applications didn’t come in until right before the deadline. After extending the deadline twice, over 100 companies finally submitted proposals.

Some unique incidents occurred during interviews as well—for instance, one company canceled four meetings in a row, while another accidentally joined the wrong interview session and talked for ten minutes before realizing and leaving in a flurry! These moments, participants said, reflected the energy and boldness typical of overseas startups.

Other challenges included technical issues during Zoom interviews, distracting backgrounds, and moments when communication in non-native English proved tricky. Yet, participants found these situations rewarding, as they deepened mutual understanding through collaboration.

【Final Thoughts】
Mr. Kiho: Talking and interviewing entrepreneurs is such a valuable experience—I encourage everyone to get involved! It’s also important to continue relationships with your favorite companies beyond the challenge itself.

Mr. Fukuda: The CSI Challenge embodies ARUN’s spirit and is very approachable for participants. By exchanging ideas, we can generate better questions and more meaningful discussions, so I hope more people will join.

Mr. Takeda: CSI Challenge is a core project for ARUN. I’d especially recommend it to new members, as it’s a great way to understand the organization’s mission and roots while getting directly involved.

3. Saturday Coffee: Connecting Across Generations and Borders
By Mayuko Kawase

When I spoke with Mihoko Saito, the founder of Saturday Coffee, her warmth and passion for connection were immediately clear. “ARUN is all about people,” she told me. “Our members are incredibly diverse—from high school students to seasoned business professionals. I wanted a friendly space where we could meet, talk, and truly connect.”

That vision became Saturday Coffee, a casual online gathering held once a month where ARUN members and friends come together over their favorite drinks. There’s no pressure, no formal agenda—just a shared purpose to connect and reflect. “The idea,” Mihoko explained, “was to recreate the feeling of chatting at a café on a Saturday morning, where conversation flows naturally and new ideas spark.”

1. A Space to Connect and Learn
Each month’s session brings something new. Sometimes there’s a theme—social entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, or sustainability—but often, the beauty lies in simply getting to know one another. Attendees join from around Japan and across the world, their screens lighting up with laughter, curiosity, and empathy.

“It’s amazing how quickly people open up,” Mihoko shared. “Even though it’s online, there’s a real sense of warmth. People share their stories, talk about their work, and find common ground.”

2. Sharing ARUN’s Mission
Beyond friendly conversation, Saturday Coffee also serves as a platform to share ARUN’s work. Past sessions have featured updates from ARUN DOJO, results from CSI Challenge 6, and inspiring discussions about how social investment can empower local communities. For many members, it’s an opportunity to learn what’s happening across ARUN and feel part of something larger than themselves.

3. Small Conversations, Big Impact
As Mihoko reflected on how Saturday Coffee has evolved, her hope was simple yet profound: “I want it to become a place where people feel comfortable speaking openly. Each of us joined ARUN because we believe in making the world a little better through social investment. Even though we come from different backgrounds, that shared mission connects us.”

To Mihoko, the small online café is more than a monthly meeting—it’s a space where seeds are planted. “I hope these conversations grow into future collaborations and actions that move us closer to a more compassionate, connected world.”

Whether you’re a long-time member or someone curious about social impact, Saturday Coffee offers a warm invitation: come as you are, bring your favorite drink, and join a conversation that just might change the way you see the world.

4.  Recruiting Project Members for CSI Challenge 7!

In this newsletter, we shared the voices of members who participated in CSI Challenge 6. From their interviews, you may have sensed the fulfillment, excitement, and camaraderie that come from working together on this project.

The next project promises even more diverse themes and new challenges.
 Would you like to join as a project member for ARUN’s 7th Business Competition — CSI Challenge 7?

The CSI (Cloud Social Investment)Challenge is a platform that combines a “business competition,” which invites social entrepreneurs to propose solutions to specific social issues, with “crowdfunding,” which raises investment funds through donations. Together, these elements aim to discover and support social entrepreneurs who address societal challenges through innovative business models.

The CSI Challenge 7 Project is a deeply engaging initiative where members collaborate to build the competition from the ground up.

If you’re interested, please reach out to the ARUN Secretariat. We look forward to your participation!

【Contact Information】
 Email: info@arunseed.jp
 Website: https://www.arunseed.jp

【Project Details】
Main Activities: Planning and managing the business competition, overseeing crowdfunding operations and public relations, and sharing updates through social media and newsletters. (There are many ways to get involved!)

Participation Frequency: Attendance at team meetings (In CSI Challenge 6, meetings were held about once a week for roughly one hour.)

Project Duration: Until around June 2026 (subject to slight adjustments).