The environment surrounding people living with cancer continues to evolve. Advances in medical care have expanded treatment options, but the challenges faced by patients and their families have also grown increasingly diverse. One issue has become especially apparent: even when information is readily available, many people still experience isolation. What is needed today is not simply access to information, but opportunities to connect with others and build supportive relationships through it.

Through its pro bono initiatives, NEC has leveraged the professional expertise of its employees to help address a wide range of social challenges. One such initiative was a collaborative project with pro bono members from Asahi Kasei Corporation, providing support to MiaLuce Inc.

Putting hidden value into words

From December 2025 to March 2026, the pro bono team worked with MiaLuce to clarify the value of CureMind, a platform connecting cancer patients and their families with the information they need. The team organized the information needed by patients and their families according to their respective situations, carefully articulating the platform's value through persona development and user journey mapping. This process fostered a shared understanding among stakeholders and clarified who the platform should serve and what value it should deliver.

At the same time, a new question emerged: "How can the value we have defined truly reach the people who need it?"

Transforming words into experiences

Seeking to answer that question, the pro bono project entered its next phase.

To help bring the clarified value to life, the pro bono members continued their support from April through June 2026, planning and helping to organize a networking event for adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with cancer and their families. They provided end-to-end support, from participant recruitment and event promotion to on-site operations. On June 13, the team held the hybrid event "AYA Generation: Connect and Grow in Kanto," bringing together approximately 30 participants for lively discussions and exchanges. What began as an effort to articulate value evolved into creating a place where people could connect with one another.

During the event, a panel discussion featuring cancer thrivers provided an opportunity for speakers to share the challenges they faced during treatment and how they overcame them. Roundtable discussions encouraged open conversations on topics such as employment, appearance, finances, and personal relationships. The venue also featured exhibits from companies and organizations that share MiaLuce's vision, showcasing initiatives that support the everyday lives of people living with cancer.

Through these activities, speakers, participants, and supporters came together to foster a community where participants could encourage and support one another. Rather than simply providing information in a one-way format, the event created a space where genuine connections emerged naturally through the sharing of personal experiences.

Change born from connections between people

One representative from MiaLuce had this to say about the project:

"Thanks to the support provided by members from NEC and Asahi Kasei, we were able to hold an event in the Kanto region for the first time. I sense that the sheer number of participants resulted in even more people being helped."

Meanwhile, pro bono members shared some of the insights they gained while on the front lines of this project.

"Listening to the personal accounts of those living with cancer and gaining a better understanding of their concerns and true needs gave me a better grasp of this project's significance."

"This opportunity to help create an environment where those living with cancer can support one another will serve as a powerful driving force for future projects."

As for feedback about this collaborative pro bono project involving both NEC and Asahi Kasei employees, one project participant said:

"By working together as one team, transcending corporate boundaries, I was able to experience firsthand the tangible results of directly tackling social issues through co-creation with external parties."

New possibilities unlocked through co-creation

What stands out about this recent project is how value evolved through ongoing involvement. Rather than merely articulating value, it was also offered through real experiences and further developed to create a space where people can connect. This process was achieved through ongoing involvement, leading to the creation of new value.

That which can only be achieved through persistence

NEC is a company whose Purpose is to "create the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential."

This pro bono project was one that put NEC's Purpose into practice in phases. Ensuring that everyone has access to the information they need and enabling individuals to connect with others rather than taking it all on themselves. This was not just about providing support; it was an undertaking aimed at creating a society where people can live authentically as themselves.

When taking on social challenges, the results are not always obvious right away. However, the changes start to become visible if you remain involved.

Initially, this project aimed to define value, but it evolved into providing that value through actual experiences. Eventually, it also went beyond that to the development of relationships where people naturally connect and support each other. Once forged, these connections lead to new ones.

Going forward, NEC will remain committed to its efforts to create new value together with society through its continued pro bono initiatives.

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In 2010, NEC became the first company in Japan to launch a pro bono program. A decade later, in 2020, employee volunteers from the NEC Group established the NEC Pro Bono Club, a pro bono community helping to address challenges faced by local communities, NGOs, NPOs, educational institutions, and others. Today, the NEC Pro Bono Club comprises approximately 900 employees.