Earth hacks Socially Implements Student Ideas from "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" – New Special Participation Slot for Young People at TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting
Earth hacks has socially implemented student ideas originating from the "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" program, organized by Kitakyushu City. A new special participation slot for young people has been established at the TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting, promoting interaction between youth and grantee organizations to encourage future applications.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (2h 56m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 22:52 (551h 56m after Collected)
Earth hacks Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Sumihito Sekine; hereinafter "Earth hacks") operates a co-creation platform that aims to develop decarbonization-related products, services, and businesses based on consumer feedback. The company also manages the "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" program, hosted by Kitakyushu City. This program is a co-creation initiative where students, based on themes presented by participating companies, exchange ideas with company employees to create and socially implement solutions.
Earth hacks has now supported the implementation of measures based on ideas proposed by students through this program. This initiative aims to promote applications from younger generations to the "TOTO Water Environment Fund," operated by TOTO Corporation. It was realized by provisionally establishing a venue for exchange between grantee organizations and youth organizations at the "TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting" held on February 18, 2026.
■ Background
The TOTO Water Environment Fund is an initiative that aims to solve social issues in collaboration with local support organizations to realize a sustainable society. While promoting grants to organizations composed of various generations, the TOTO Water Environment Fund identified an increase in applications from youth-led organizations as a challenge.
Based on this understanding of the challenge, the "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" set the theme of TOTO Water Environment Fund's lack of contact with younger generations, and proposals for revitalizing the system were made from a Gen Z perspective.
■ Implementation Details
The students proposed a measure to establish a special participation slot for pre-selected youth organizations engaged in sustainable water-related activities to be invited to the annual "TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting."
This implementation created an opportunity for youth organizations to interact with grantee organizations and TOTO Group employees involved in the TOTO Water Environment Fund at the exchange meeting where grantee organizations gather. The objective is for youth organizations to deepen their knowledge of contributing to solving local social issues, feel closer to the TOTO Water Environment Fund, and lead to future applications.
Traditionally, the event primarily focused on organizations that had already applied. However, by creating contact points with youth organizations at the pre-application stage, this initiative expanded the "entry point" to the system.
This initiative is expected to yield the following effects:
- Promotion of understanding of the grant system
- Formation of networks between youth organizations and selected organizations
- Cultivation of future application motivation
■ Event Highlights
Participating youth organizations and Gen Z Challenge participants commented, "We were able to directly hear diverse and innovative ideas from the selected organizations" and "New perspectives and connections were born."
Earth hacks has now supported the implementation of measures based on ideas proposed by students through this program. This initiative aims to promote applications from younger generations to the "TOTO Water Environment Fund," operated by TOTO Corporation. It was realized by provisionally establishing a venue for exchange between grantee organizations and youth organizations at the "TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting" held on February 18, 2026.
■ Background
The TOTO Water Environment Fund is an initiative that aims to solve social issues in collaboration with local support organizations to realize a sustainable society. While promoting grants to organizations composed of various generations, the TOTO Water Environment Fund identified an increase in applications from youth-led organizations as a challenge.
Based on this understanding of the challenge, the "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" set the theme of TOTO Water Environment Fund's lack of contact with younger generations, and proposals for revitalizing the system were made from a Gen Z perspective.
■ Implementation Details
The students proposed a measure to establish a special participation slot for pre-selected youth organizations engaged in sustainable water-related activities to be invited to the annual "TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting."
This implementation created an opportunity for youth organizations to interact with grantee organizations and TOTO Group employees involved in the TOTO Water Environment Fund at the exchange meeting where grantee organizations gather. The objective is for youth organizations to deepen their knowledge of contributing to solving local social issues, feel closer to the TOTO Water Environment Fund, and lead to future applications.
Traditionally, the event primarily focused on organizations that had already applied. However, by creating contact points with youth organizations at the pre-application stage, this initiative expanded the "entry point" to the system.
This initiative is expected to yield the following effects:
- Promotion of understanding of the grant system
- Formation of networks between youth organizations and selected organizations
- Cultivation of future application motivation
■ Event Highlights
Participating youth organizations and Gen Z Challenge participants commented, "We were able to directly hear diverse and innovative ideas from the selected organizations" and "New perspectives and connections were born."