The Hiroshima University Startup Demo Day 2024 was a vibrant gathering of ideas, energy, and innovation. With over 70 participants, including students, business professionals, faculty, and members of the general public, the event served as a platform for 13 finalist teams to present the fruits of their three-month startup journey. Among them was a standout initiative from the Positive Peace Society (PPS), a student-led club representing the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Led by Vrajesh Rawal, PPS presented a project titled “Positive Peace Society: Peace Index for Local Companies”, which not only captured attention but also earned the prestigious Deloitte Prize alongside mentoring support from the firm.
The Concept: Building a Peace Index
The core idea pitched by the PPS team was the development of a Peace Index—a novel framework designed to evaluate and rank the peace contributions of local businesses in Hiroshima. Inspired by the global concept of positive peace, the Peace Index seeks to go beyond traditional economic or CSR metrics.
Instead, it measures how companies are contributing to long-term societal well-being through:
- Internal workplace culture and inclusivity
- Environmental sustainability practices
- Community outreach and support
- Ethical governance
By creating this localized peace index, PPS hopes to shine a light on companies that are helping build resilient, equitable, and harmonious communities and to encourage others to follow suit.
Why Positive Peace Matters
Positive peace goes beyond the mere absence of conflict (negative peace) by focusing on the deeper social, economic, and cultural conditions that sustain lasting harmony, such as strong institutions, equitable access to opportunities, and a culture of tolerance and justice. This focus is especially important at the local level, where businesses play a crucial role in shaping community well-being. While most peace indices operate nationally or internationally, evaluating how local companies contribute to positive peace is a largely unexplored but highly worthwhile endeavor. By assessing businesses not only on profits or traditional CSR but on their impact in fostering inclusion, ethical governance, environmental sustainability, and community support, the Peace Index introduces a fresh and powerful way to align corporate efforts with social harmony. This approach not only promotes peacebuilding within local economies but also serves as an educational tool for students and a platform for civic engagement, making it a meaningful step toward building resilient, equitable, and peaceful communities.
The Outcome & Future Vision
The project was met with wide interest from attendees and the judging panel alike. The Deloitte Prize, a special recognition awarded by Deloitte for projects with strong societal relevance, comes with mentoring privileges and guidance to shape the initiative further.
Looking ahead, the PPS team envisions launching a pilot assessment of select local businesses, involving Hiroshima University students, faculty advisors, and community representatives in the process. The longer-term goal includes annual Peace Index reports, workshops on corporate peace practices, and public events to raise awareness.
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