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Awards Entry

2016 Asia-pacific Conference
Political Awareness for Voter Empowerment
JCI JAPAN
Best Local Community Empowerment Program

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Entry Information
Award Program: 2016 Asia-Pacific Conference
Category: Best Local Community Empowerment Program
NOM Information
National Organization: JCI JAPAN
Shigenari Yamamoto
E-mail: japan@jci.cc

National President:

LOM Information
Local Organization: JCI Osaka
President: sentaro shirosaka
President Email: s-shirosaka@shoei-group.com

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Basic Information
Duration : March 14 - May 17, 2015
Staff : 54
Sponsors : 13 Private and public entities
Budget : $20,872.40 USD
Profit / Loss : 0
In which UN MDG bestfit (if apply): ?:Who is benefited ?: The 2.69 million people that live in the Osaka city
Objective : To inspire the approximately 2.7 million people in Osaka to participate in
the political process.
Overview : Street surveys and the distribution of voter information booklets wereundertaken by a wide swath of participating organizations to better informthe people of Osaka about the political mechanisms that influence theirfutures.
The questions asked to civilians created a mindset to consider the current
political landscape, and the democratic powers that they hold as voters toenact change.
Results : On-site survey results showed initial apathy for the political process, with
80% of the population responding that they thought little about thepolitical future of Osaka and 19% Not interested at all . Voter turnout
results showed a correlation with the program in voter sentiment andturnout.
Informational voter booklets were distributed in great numbers. In all,96,089 booklets were handed out in 117 locations in the heart of Osaka.
Voter turnout for 2015 referendums rose to 68.83%, the highest on
recorded since 1971, when turnout was 61.56%.
Actions Taken :• 22 universities• 5 political parties• 2 private enterprises• 2 media companies
all provided outlets for voter information booklets. 10,400 civilians
were surveyed for their opinions on participating in the politicalprocess.
The surveys were conducted in major centers for foot traffic, withexposure to 57% of the Osaka population.
Recommendations : This project can be conducted in any area of the world where civilians
can utilize the democratic process to create positive change in theirsociety. By being better aware of the political process and the issues thatare going to be up for a vote, they can become both more educated andmore likely to vote. Through strategic coordination and distributed media,
the results of this project can be repeated, and lead to many benefits tothe local political process.

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Objectives, Planning, Finance and Execution

What were the The objective of this program was to inspire theobjectives of this approximately 2.7 million people in Osaka toprogram?

participate in the political process through information,
surveys, and media campaigning. A more energized,educated voter-base can lead to greater number ofactive citizens to create a sustained positive impact onsociety.

How does this This program was created to motivate the people to be
program align to aware of the mechanics of the political system andthe JCI Plan ofparticipate in the process. With higher participation, itAction?

can have a positive impact in better reflecting the willof the people in accepting popular referendums andrejecting those that the local community does not agree
with.
The program required the collaboration of people on all
points of the political spectrum, with five different
political parties contributing to the cause.

Was the budget an The budget was a very effective guide for the financial
effective guide for management of this project. The plan was to use 75%
the financialof the budget for published promotional materials, andmanagement ofthe project? 25 for information gathering systems. In the end, 77%of the budget was used to pay for voter education in theform of promotional materials for the campaign. That
includes publishing for printed media, internet, and thevoter information booklets. The final 23% of the budget
was used for information systems in the form of tablet
computers for voter surveys.

How does this This project advances the JCI mission by empowering
project advance young active citizens through educating and motivating
the JCI Mission
them about the political process. It also emphasizes theand Vision?

point that government should be of laws rather than thatof men. When more people participate in the politicalprocess by voting on the referendums that may
eventually become laws, that central philosophicalpoint is strengthened.

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Page 42Award Category criteria
Membership Participation

By number, howmany members
were involved inthis program? 512 members
By percentage,
how manymembers of theLocal Organization
were involved inthis program? 46%
Describe the main There were many roles that were undertaken by theroles of the participating members. Planning and strategy wasparticipating
worked on in collaboration with 22 schools, 5 politicalmembers in thisprogram. parties, 3 organizations, 2 enterprises, and 2 media

conglomerates. Members specifically coordinated with
one of the organizations, the Waseda University
Manifesto Research Institute, which carried out a thirdparty questionnaire content study of the survey usedduring the program.
Coordination with a third-party committee was also
required for the information contained in the booklet
distributed by members. Once the groundwork for thelogistics, information, and strategy were solidified,members surveyed the citizens of Osaka, gave theminformational booklets outlining the political process,and simultaneously leveraged partners in mass media tospread awareness of the campaign.
Most importantly, the participating members of theproject existed on various points of the politicalspectrum. This project was not used to exemplify any
specific political ideology, but to encourage citizen
participation in the political process.
After completion of the program, a project evaluation
was conducted by a group of participating members.

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Award Category criteria
Community Impact

How did the Local The local organization measured the community impact
Organization from a number of sources. The number of collaborators
measurein the creation, content study, and answer tabulation
community impact
for this program? were taken into account. Also given consideration werethe vast number of third-party collaborators, which
included: Enterprises, retail locations, organizations andemployees, and a member of the senate.

Describe the actual Actual community impact from this program was based
community impact on voter turnout from the referendum that occurred
produced by thisafter the informational phase of the program concluded.
project.

During that referendum, 66.83% of the Osaka
population showed up to vote, the highest turnout in the44 years since 1971, when turnout was 61.56%.

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Impact on Local Organization

How did the Local The Local Organization benefited greatly from running
Organization this project. Members received more experience in thebenefit fromvalues of partnerships with various organizations,running thisproject? including the Osaka City Election Commission. They

also gained greater awareness of the current feelings
that civilians share about the political process throughsurveys and booklet distribution. Participants realizedthat by encouraging people to take part in the politicalprocess, they could make a tangible difference in theform of voter turnout.

How did the This program motivated the civilians to be more aware
program advance of the mechanics of their political system. Through that
the JCI Mission?

awareness, they realized that voting could make a real
impact in the laws and people that best represent theirpolitical leanings, thereby greatly empowering themand their political beliefs. It showed civilians andparticipating members that participating in the politicalprocess is one of the most powerful actions one cantake in order to create tangible change in society. When
more people vote in their best interests, the better thatsociety can be ruled by laws rather than men. A
government for the people, rather than the few.

How did the project The program advanced the JCI vision by emphasizing
advance the JCI the importance of networking in undertaking theVision?

project. The program utilized the collaboration ofpeople from all points of the political spectrum,cooperating with five different political parties withseparate political ideologies. The program’s successcould also be attributed to the use of groundwork, mass
media, volunteerism, and research. After the success ofthe project, every participating member felt the pride
resulting from being part of the leading global networkof young active citizens.

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Award Category criteria
Long-term Impact of the Program

What is the The expected long-term impact of this project is simple,
expected long-term yet powerful: higher civilian participation in theimpact of thispolitical process. This project resulted in educatingproject?

civilians and members that participating in the politicalprocess is one of the most powerful actions one cantake in order to create tangible change in society. When
more people vote in their best interests, the better thatsociety can be ruled by laws rather than men. A
government for the people, rather than the few.

What changes One major aspect of the project that could be improved
would you make to upon would be its effectiveness on the younger
improve the results
demographic (20-24 year-olds). Although total voterof this project?

turn-out was higher than average, the younger
demographic did not show the same improvements(16.4%). Although the project seemingly failed toinspire that demographic, there is a great opportunity inthe future to encourage greater participation among thatgroup. Specific-media targeting, more educational
institution collaboration, high-school organization
partnerships, and Jr. High school materials can all beutilized for educational priming. Examples could
include sponsorship for something as simple as mock
votes and parliaments. In Japan, the right to vote will bechanged, lowering the required age to vote to 18.
During this time, it is more important than ever to stressthe importance of the political process to the young
voter demographic.

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