Support for local community revitalization
Strengthening the Foundation for Social Activities in Communities
Through the provision of capital and human resources, the SMM Group supports initiatives contributing to strengthening the foundation for social activities in local communities where our businesses are located (such as initiatives creating added value related to our businesses, including revitalization of local economies; inheritance of traditions; training the next generation; and conservation of biodiversity, water, and forests). We strive to realize co-existence and mutual prosperity with local communities, one of our management philosophies.
We support the further growth of local communities by providing training programs via leadership development for those communities, and the provision of capital and human resources, to regions in which we develop our businesses. We implemented 12 such projects in FY2024.
Specifically, at the Ome District Division, we cooperated with the local Social Welfare Council, local companies, and the Tama University Research Institute to launch the Ome-Hamura Corporate Social Contribution (OHSC) Project, which reconciles awareness of social issues based on dialogue with the local community and brings various organizations together to mobilize toward solutions. This project held study sessions (6 sessions, approximately 60 participants in total) involving the Regional Social Welfare Council, local government, and local businesses, deepening mutual understanding between public and private sectors regarding initiatives that could create value for the community. As an initial outcome, a corporate joint purchase initiative for bread and confectionery produced at a facility supporting employment for people with disabilities was realized, contributing to improved employee job satisfaction and wage increases. In addition, we began an initiative to support activities assisting inquiry-based learning at high schools in the Tama area. In the future, we will support the expansion of networks that promote further value creation in the local community. In November 2024, we spoke at a business research class for first-year students at Tokyo Metropolitan Akirudai High School, and in February 2025, we participated in a presentation at the school. Furthermore, in February 2025, we sponsored the Tama Area Inquiry-Based Learning Research Seminar (52 participants) hosted by Tama University to support collaboration between teachers in the Tama area.
■ Example of Leadership Development and Training Programs
| Program | Overview | Beneficiaries (stakeholders) |
Contribution amount (in local currency) |
Number of participants/ subjects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ome-Hamura Corporate Social Contribution (OHSC) Project | Study session with Social Welfare Councils, local government, and businesses (Ome/Hamura) | Users of local employment support facilities for people with disabilities | — | — |
| Construction and improvement of public school facilities and child development facilities (Philippines) |
Construction and improvement of public school facilities and child development facilities | Public schools' students and teachers Child development learners and workers |
9,598,431 (PHP) |
— |
| Support for ALS/NFLS para-teacher (Philippines) |
Support the gap of student-teacher ratio in public schools and other learning centers in our partner community | Qualified para-teachers, CDWs and instructors | 4,007,394 (PHP) |
107 |
| Taganito Barangay Development Council (BDC) capacity building (Philippines) |
Provide capacity development programs to the members of the Taganito BDC. | Barangay Taganito Community | 1,000,000 (PHP) |
25 |
| Indigenous peoples skills training program (Philippines) |
Provide business management training to organizations formed by indigenous peoples. | Indigenous Communities in the barangay Urbiztondo | — | 24 |
Supporting Training the Next Generation in Local Communities
The SMM Group holds next-generation training programs in local communities where our businesses are located to strive to realize co-existence and mutual prosperity with local communities, one of our management philosophies. We implemented 35 such projects in FY2024.
As one support plan for training the next generation, we established the JEES・Sumitomo Metal Mining Scholarship for the Region’s Sustainable Development as part of Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) in FY2023 based on our donations. The intention was to assist students who are willing to contribute to sustainable development in local communities where our businesses are located and in need of economic aid.
The scholarship system provides a monthly sum of ¥100,000 until graduation, with no need of repayment, and offers programs to study how to support local communities. The scholarship was granted to 39 students (21 male and 18 female) in FY2024.
This scholarship support program implemented a three-stage training program starting in March 2024 for the first cohort of scholarship recipients, aimed at gaining the perspectives necessary for regional contribution. Specifically, in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, where our Besshi Copper Mine is located, participants engaged in: ① The “Discovery” stage, experiencing the region's history and characteristics firsthand and building empathy with its active members; ② The “Deep Dive” stage, establishing their core purpose for regional contribution; ③ The “Engagement” stage, actively undertaking regional contribution activities. After these activities, we held the Results Presentation for the First Class of Scholarship Recipients at our Head Office in August 2025 (with nine of the 18 recipients in the first class participating). The scholarship students presented information including what they learned in each activity and program, and prospects for future initiatives, concluding the programs to support scholarship students for them. We plan to continue the scholarship system going forward to support students working to contribute to local communities.
■ Examples of Next-Generation Development Programs
| Program | Overview | Beneficiaries (stakeholders) |
Contribution amount (in local currency) |
Number of participants/ subjects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEES・Sumitomo Metal Mining Scholarship (Japan) | Scholarships for financially disadvantaged students committed to contributing to four domestic business site regions; program supports community activities by recipients | Financially disadvantaged students committed to contributing to four domestic business site regions | 115,400,000 (JPY) | 39 |
| Inquiry learning support (Tokyo, Japan) | Supporting first-year students in inquiry-based learning through creating corporate PR materials | Tokyo Metropolitan Akirudai High School first-year students | — | 230 |
| Outreach lessons (Ehime, Japan) | Introducing the history of Sumitomo, which has developed together with the local community | All fourth-grade elementary school students in Niihama City | — | 903 |
| Scholarship program (Philippines) |
Provide scholarships to university, high school, and elementary school students in need of financial assistance. | University, high school, and elementary school students in the Bataraza Barangay | 43,961,200 (PHP) | 1,459 (Indigenous people: 68%) |
| Provision of school supplies and materials (Philippines) |
School supplies for elementary pupils and Child Development Centers (CDCs) | Identified IP learners, public schools and CDCs | 1,932,274 (PHP) | 764 |
| Scholarship program (Philippines) |
Scholarships for indigenous students, and for students aiming to become police officers or teachers, or majoring in chemistry or mechanical engineering | Students from nearby communities, students in the Municipality of Clave, and students from other municipalities | 13,515,000 (PHP) | 1,389 (Indigenous people: 1.2%) |
| Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania supported Scholarships (Australia) | Scholarships for university students under 30, with recipients offered work experience opportunities at Northparkes Mine. | University students under the age of 30 in Central West NSW | 9,000 (AUD) | 3 |
| Scholarship Univ. Atacama (Chile) | A scholarship program for female science students at the University of Atacama | Female science students at the University of Atacama | 4,000,000 (CLP) | 8 |
| Social Responsibility Committee in Thang Long Industrial Park Ⅱ (Vietnam) |
Provide scholarships to elementary and junior high school students in the area where the business is located | Elementary and junior high school students in the area where the business is located | 6,000,000 (VND) | 9 |
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