Toyota Motor : Two Refugee Students Come to Toyota as They Try to Build Bonds between Syria and Japan

Toyota's Middle East & Central Asia Division, which oversees the company's business in the region, welcomed Ibrahim and Ahmed, two students from Syria as interns for about a month in June last year.

The two students fled Syria as refugees after the civil war intensified there, and came to Japan between 2018 and 2019 after applying to join the Japanese Initiative for the Future of Syrian Refugees (JISR)*. They planned to study at a Japanese university to obtain an MBA.

*A program announced in 2016 by the Japanese government as part of their Middle East policy. It was launched by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) to provide education to Syrians deprived of any chance to study. Around 100 Syrian students who fled to nearby Jordan and Lebanon as refugees have been accepted into this program in five stages up to 2021. The word "Jisr" in Arabic means "bridge."

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 82.4 million people around the world had been forced to flee their homes due to war and persecution as of the end of 2020. As many as 6.7 million of these people were Syrians, making up the biggest proportion of refugees.

Toyota's Middle East & Central Asia Division contacted the UNHCR to raise their awareness of the plight of refugees, which also lead to the company accepting these two interns.

So, what were the takeaways from Toyota for the two students, who traveled from the Middle East to study in far-off Japan, and as refugees what were their impressions of Toyota? With their internships now over, Toyota Times interviewed the two to find out.

Ahmed and Ibrahim both majored in engineering at prominent national universities in Syria.

The Syrian Civil War, which broke out in 2011, changed everything for them, though. Pro-democracy uprisings during the Arab Spring spread to Syria, prompting major anti-government protests throughout the country. The protestors were then joined by extremist militants, triggering violent conflicts with government authorities.

Ahmed studied petroleum engineering at university, and after graduating began working for a petroleum company in Syria. He joined an oil drilling project and was made foreman.

He continued studying for his master's degree while working, but the company first suspended and then shut down his drilling site due to the intensifying civil war. He had to abandon both his studies and work. He watched in horror as bombs fell in front of his house and decided to move to Lebanon, where his grandmother lived.

Ibrahim was still a student when his university closed down after the campus and student dormitories were bombed during the war. He moved to Algeria, where his father lived, and then to Jordan, where he entered university once again.

He became involved in a variety of activities as a student in Jordan, and even won a contest in a Livelihoods and Self-Reliance Project co-sponsored by the MIT Media Lab, a research institute within the School of Architecture + Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the U.S.

The common thread between these two men is that they both struggled as refugees through an inability to study despite their will to learn, and eventually chose to continue their studies in Japan. They first talked about why they made the choices.

- You had a variety of choices, but why did you choose Japan to study for your MBA?

Ahmed

I found out about JICA's scholarship program through Facebook. The website had a beautiful photo of Mt. Fuji. It was very impressive, so I decided to find out what kinds of courses were available.

Many people from the Middle East choose to study in the U.S. or Europe. Europe is only a few hours away by plane, and people have become familiar with the culture because of historical links. But I was so moved by that beautiful photo of Mt. Fuji.

People in the Middle East are also very familiar with Japan. Everyone grew up watching Japanese anime, and "Made in Japan" is synonymous with high quality there. Japan is respected in the Middle East for its high-quality, consistent, efficient, and lean manufacturing methods.

I majored in engineering, so I felt that I had a lot to learn from Japan.

Ibrahim

I moved to Jordan, where I found it extremely difficult for Syrians to acquire visas for overseas travel. I had always wanted to travel a lot to study, but I faced great difficulty because of this visa problem.

That was when I saw a notice posted on my friend's Facebook about a meeting to explain the JICA program scheduled at my university.

I was majoring in production engineering, so I'd always been interested in technology. I'd also been studying about Toyota, so I wanted to learn more about the company on-site.

I had the choice of studying at a university in Europe, but in the end, I chose Japan because I thought it would allow me to experience something unique that no one else could.

I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and experience something that I knew I would find highly rewarding.

The history of Toyota in the Middle East goes back many years. Since starting a business in Kuwait in 1954, Toyota currently has locally funded dealers in 16 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Thanks to popular large models like the Land Cruiser and Hilux, Toyota leads the region's automobile market.

That is the area that the two interns came from.

- Why did you apply for an internship at Toyota? What kind of image did you have of the company?

Ahmed

My father drove a Corolla, and there were many Land Cruisers at the oil drilling site where I worked, so Toyota was a familiar brand.

Oil drilling sites are on the edge of the desert. In that kind of environment, the Land Cruiser is an indispensable partner that ensures your safety. I myself am a big Land Cruiser fan.

Toyota is known all over the world. I thought gaining experience at a global company like Toyota would allow me to learn a lot and hone my skills.

Everyone's heard of the Toyota Production System (TPS), especially if you're an engineer. You minimize waste and excess inventory. TPS applies to all industries, so that's what I wanted to learn more about.

Ibrahim

My father was also involved in the petroleum industry, and he used a Land Cruiser. Everyone else around us also saw Toyota as being the car to own. They're seen as being durable and reliable.

One of the reasons I came to Japan was because I wanted to learn more about Toyota and TPS, which I studied at university. I was really excited when I found out about this internship because I thought I'd finally be able to talk directly to someone at Toyota.

I only had to write one page to explain the reason for my application, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't condense everything into less than two pages. That's how excited I was about jumping on this opportunity, no matter what it took.

Most of the internship was carried out online. They learned about TPS and TBP (Toyota Business Practice: Toyota's eight steps to solve problems) among others through lectures, but they also visited a Toyota dealer and plant.

- What in particular left a lasting impression, and what all did you learn during your internship? Moreover, how did your view of Toyota change during this time?

Ahmed

In addition to TPS, I learned about the steps taken to implement TBP, which I thought was extremely useful for solving problems. It allows you to dig deep in your search for root causes, then you implement countermeasures. That sets a standard for other divisions and workplaces to follow.

These unique and outstanding methods were the most valuable takeaways for me during my internship.

Furthermore, I learned about the corporate culture of looking after people through my encounters with the members of Toyota. The Toyota Way is a code of conduct that includes the maxims, "Act for others" and "Thank people."

I learned that cars were given to Lebanon as part of activities to support refugees. At a dealer in Japan, I was shown an initiative they're implementing to support the mobility of elderly local residents.

I was impressed by how Toyota really cares about people and society. The company isn't just interested in making money. My respect for Toyota has deepened even more.

Ibrahim

I learned that you don't just install sensors to automate everything at plants. I learned the importance of fully using your understanding when you make kaizen (continuous improvement) without spending too much money.

I was really surprised when I visited the Lexus plant in Kyushu. I had this image of it being lined with state-of-the-art equipment and sensors, but it was actually a very simple factory that made clever use of various karakuri mechanisms. I learned that people at Toyota really value making improvements at the level of 1-second and 1-yen increments in all processes. It's the accumulation of these tiny improvements that result in profits.

My image of Toyota also changed. Until I started this internship, I imagined that Toyota was all machines, including cars and production lines. But meeting the people of Toyota made me see the warmer, more human side of the company.

On the first day of my internship, we were welcomed online by more than 80 people. I was really surprised to receive such a warm welcome. Watching the way supervisors communicate with subordinates also made me realize how everyone is just like one big family.

I was also very impressed with the long-term relationships between Toyota and its dealers and suppliers.

As the world's leading automobile company, I thought Toyota would place the greatest priority on sales and profits. But they place even greater priority on building relationships based on trust with dealers and suppliers. Everyone in the value chain cooperates with one another to overcome difficulties. I think this is extremely unique.

At the end of their internship, the two men analyzed issues faced by the Middle East based on the TBP methodology, then came up with proposals for how Toyota can contribute to local communities.

Ahmed proposed that an internet center be set up allowing students to study without worry, while Ibrahim came up with the idea of providing manufacturing support and fostering human resources through Toyota's know-how.

The two men knew the distress of being unable to study despite having the will to learn, and education was at the root of both of their proposals.

- What were the reasons behind the proposals you came up with for your final presentations?

Ahmed

My idea was based on an issue that I had struggled with since the time I lived in Syria.

It's the fact that there are people stuck in Syria living under harsh conditions similar to, or even worse than, those faced by refugees. People in Syria often have lower incomes and standards of living.

One example is that blackouts are very common in Syria. In summer this year (2021), people sometimes had no power for most of the day. That makes internet connections unstable too. It's impossible to study under such conditions.

But I thought that a company like Toyota could provide support in setting up places at universities where students could concentrate on their studies without worrying about blackouts and internet connections. Just like Toyota prioritizes the fostering of human resources, it's extremely important to provide an environment where young people can study.

People still in Syria need just as much support as refugees living outside the country. This is what I wanted to share in my final presentation.

Ibrahim

Education itself is not the goal. The goal is to improve people's living standards through education. Skills and knowledge are what will save the socially disadvantaged, including refugees. Acquiring practical skills will help them break free of poverty.

Japan has a very long history of industrialization. People work extremely quickly and efficiently at factories in Japan. It's the result of many years of accumulating skills.

I want young people in Syria and Jordan to acquire these skills too, and I thought Toyota could provide a bridge for doing that. If we can adopt Toyota's spirit of kaizen, as well as a variety of other practical skills and knowledge, I think that'll help solve the problem of poverty.

Toyota already provides vocational training in various countries and regions in the Middle East, but they are mainly conducted independently. All the countries face similar problems, so I think we can prompt major changes by sharing information on the issues and knowledge across the entire region.

The Syrian Civil War has been described as the "worst humanitarian crisis of the century," and has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and driven millions to live as refugees. Despite raging on for over 10 years, there is still no end in sight for the war.

The two men have not returned to Syria once since leaving the country. At the end of the interview, they shared how they feel about the reconstruction of their home country.

- What are your feelings for your home country? Is there anything you want to do when you return?

Ahmed

I want to work for a Japanese company for at least three or four years to gain experience. Then I want to eventually return to Syria.

I came to Japan to earn an MBA, but during this time, I've met people with all kinds of different views and experienced Japanese culture. When I go home, I want to pass on what I was impressed with in Japan, about Japanese politeness, the spirit of mutual respect, punctuality, and so on.

Before coming to Japan, we were told by a person at JICA's office in Jordan that we will be like "Syrian ambassadors" to Japan. People in Japan are not very familiar with Syria, so it meant that we'd have to try and leave a good impression of Syria among Japanese people.

After I leave Japan, I hope to become a "Japanese ambassador," promoting what I learned and acquired in Japan throughout Syria and the Middle East.

Ibrahim

I sincerely hope a day will come when I can return to Syria.

You need a big team to change the world. The people who came to Japan under the JISR program are now working at companies in a variety of fields and gaining all kinds of experience.

When we all return to Syria, share our knowledge, and collaborate, I believe we will succeed in making huge improvements in all kinds of fields.

Improvements are being made in Japan every day even at supermarkets or on public transport systems like buses and trains, all based on the TPS methodology. That's the kind of knowledge that I want to pass on to the people back home.

The things they practice are so simple that anyone can do them, and they can be applied to anything. All it takes is to try and make what you're doing a little better. When you do that, it's not just for yourself, it's also for the benefit of others around you and future generations of people.

We received scholarships to study in Japan, so in the future, I want to return the favor to the people of Japan. I'll strive to become an ambassador promoting excellent aspects of Japan back home.

Ibrahim landed a job at a startup in Japan and started his new career in November 2021. Ahmed is currently writing his master's thesis in preparation for graduation this year.

Reflecting on what went through his mind when he decided to leave Syria, Ahmed says, "No one wants to leave their home country. I was sad, too. But at the same time, I also dreamed of the new possibilities I would start exploring. When I learned from JICA that my application had been accepted, I was so happy. It was the happiest moment of my life."

The two men continue to address their destiny and the hardships they face as refugees, while looking toward the future as their experience and learning continue in a foreign land. They will surely make good use of their experience in Japan, including their internship at Toyota, as they work for a better future for their home country. For now, their hard work in Japan continues.