Global Community Fellowship (Short-Term)
Global Community Fellowship (Short-Term)
Overview
Short-Term Global Community Fellowships are 6-8 week placements for current degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students. Fellows work at NGOs, schools, universities, and social enterprises across Asia to support community development, capacity-building, and education. By working directly with communities, Fellows get hands-on experience learning how organizations in Asia are using creative and innovative methods to address critical social challenges.
Fellows engage in a wide range of activities and tasks with our local partners. Each post has a unique mix of responsibilities, which generally fall into the following categories:
- Education — Fellows advance student development in critical thinking and cross-cultural communication to access future education and professional opportunities.
- Training & Capacity-building — Fellows develop training resources and curricula for partners to enhance their organizational operations and optimize for impact. You may help with needfinding, research, training program or workshop design, facilitation, and assessment for partner staff and/or the communities they serve.
- Community Development — Fellows support community development and international communication efforts by facilitating access resources, networks, and collaboration opportunities. You may help with fundraising, project management, and community outreach efforts of our local partners.
Program Costs
Short-term Fellowships are participant-funded. Costs will vary depending on the specific fellowship post (see post descriptions on the Participation Details tab for more information). Participants are responsible for all program-related and personal expenses, including travel, housing, meals, insurance, and visa costs.
University of Oregon students are eligible for up to $6,500 USD through the Freeman Foundation Internship Fellowship. To apply, visit: gsi.uoregon.edu/caps-freeman-internship-fellowships
Please review our Payment and Participation Policies
What’s included:
- Approximately three weeks of preparatory training covering program management, cross-cultural communication, leadership development, local language lessons, and teacher training
- Ongoing remote support from VIA staff throughout Fellowship
- Local/regional travel for program activities
- Language study (tutors available at some posts)
- Initial visa costs ($150-$300, depending on country)
- Roundtrip airfare to/from Asia (usually around $2,000)
- Vaccinations (cost will depend on individual insurance)
- International travel medical insurance, required for participation – option to enroll through VIA ($80-$120)
- Accommodation (VIA can provide support in finding suitable housing arrangements if participants need assistance)
- Most meals and optional activities ($800-$1,400)
- Personal travel while at post or after Fellowship has ended
Application Timeline
Candidates may begin, submit, or update their applications at any time. Applications received by the priority deadline will be reviewed based on the following schedule. Applications submitted after the priority deadline will be incorporated into the review process on a case-by-case basis. All posts are considered open until placements have been confirmed.
2026 Summer Application Timeline
- Priority Deadline: January 25, 2026
- Application Review Period: January 26-30
- Interviews: February 2-6
- Partner Shortlist Review: February 9-12
- Fellowship Placement Selection & Confirmation: Starting February 13~
Program Timeline
| Summer Start | |
| Pre-Departure Training | April – June |
| On-Site Orientation* | July / August |
| Complete Fellowship (6-8 weeks) | Mid June – August |
| Wrap-up & Departure | August / September |
*Fellowship dates may vary and will be mutually decided by the host organization and Fellow.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to join this program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Currently be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree program at an accredited university.
- Be a US citizen, permanent resident, or have significant experience in the US (e.g., graduated from a university, worked several years in the US, etc). Due to certain visa/work permit restrictions and the needs of our partner organizations, non-US citizens are considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Must be eligible to receive travel authorization to enter and remain in your host country for the duration of your Fellowship. This includes possessing a passport that does not expire within one year of the Fellowship end date.
- Must be able to provide proof of vaccination and/or health status required for entry to your host country or re-entry to your home country that is in effect during your dates of travel. It is your responsibility to confirm which health-related regulations may apply to you.
- Must be willing to undergo diagnostic tests if experiencing symptoms of a communicable illness considered serious by public health officials or if required by the host institution. A positive test or inability to meet requirements may necessitate self-isolation, which may impact your ability to participate in certain activities or fulfill work responsibilities.
- Must disclose any life-threatening or significant allergies, dietary restrictions, medical conditions or illnesses, and physical limitations as they relate to the program and listed activities.
- Must be enrolled in overseas travel medical insurance for the duration of the program period. If waiving enrollment in insurance provided by VIA, must submit proof of insurance to VIA staff prior to on-site arrival.
- Must participate fully in all mandatory activities, including preparatory assignments online, on-site orientation, and for the entire on-site program period.
Fellowship Post Descriptions
2026 Fellowship posts will be available with the following organizations. Post descriptions with specific placement details will be added soon.
Indonesia
- Suwandi Foundation (Bali)
- Pusat Rehabilitasi YAKKUM (Yogyakarta)
Japan
- Manabi To (Kobe, Hyogo)
- Katariba (Nakano, Tokyo)
- Peacemaker Project (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka)
- ParaCan (Kashiwa, Chiba)
Malaysia
- Upcycle4Better (Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor)
Thailand
- Minmahaw/Education for Friendship Foundation (Mae Sot)
- Mae Tao Clinic (Mae Sot)
Application Content
Thank you for your interest in the Global Community Fellowship! For over six decades, VIA has partnered with organizations in Asia to support grassroots cross-cultural engagement and capacity-building, while providing opportunities for young professionals from the US to build intercultural competence and experience through working and living in Asia.
In the program application, we invite you to share your background, interests, and motivations for joining this program, so that we can support you in your personal and professional journey.
Confidentiality Statement
The information provided in the application form is confidential and will only be accessible to VIA staff to communicate with you regarding your application and to assess your eligibility and qualifications as a candidate.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Statement
VIA reserves the right to use AI tools to evaluate information submitted by applicants and participants, as well as tools that detect AI-generated content. VIA will take all reasonable precautions to secure confidential information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or exposure to AI tools that utilize user data to train models.
By submitting information to VIA, you acknowledge that you have carefully read this statement and understand that your information may be exposed to AI technology and assessed for AI-generated content. You also affirm that the information you are submitting to VIA is factually accurate to the best of your knowledge and authentically represents your identity, capabilities, and intentions.
Notice Regarding Citizenship
Due to certain visa/work permit restrictions and the needs of our partner organizations, Fellowship posts are often limited to US citizens/residents, or individuals who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree program at an accredited US university. You may still apply, but please understand that even the most exceptional candidates may not be accepted to the program if we are unable to make a mutually agreeable arrangement for the applicant and the partner organization, and/or support the applicant in obtaining the necessary visas and work permits.
Application Content
Before you get started:
The application form is hosted on Airtable and requires a login for security purposes. If you already have an Airtable account, you can use your existing account login information. If you haven’t used Airtable before, you will need to create an account (email and password or use your Google account or Apple ID).
Part 1: Applicant Profile
You can create or update your VIA Applicant Profile at any time. You must be logged in with the same Airtable user account to access an existing profile. If you log in with another Airtable account, you will need to create a new profile. Your profile will be connected to any current or future VIA program applications, so you won’t need to provide this information each time you submit an application. After saving your profile, a copy will be sent to the email address entered in the email field (which may be different from your Airtable account).
Personal Information
- First Name
- Last Name
- Preferred Name
- Pronouns
- Birthdate
- Nationality
- Current place of residence (city, state / province / prefecture, country)
Contact Information
- Primary Email Address
- Phone Number
- [Optional] Alternate Email
- [Optional] Messaging App Contact
Referral Information
- Referral Source(s)
- Personal Contact Referral
Academic Information
- Current Status (working, studying, other)
- Current / Most Recent University
- Current / Most Recent Field of Study
- Highest Academic Degree Completed
- Graduation Date
- Are / were you a Pell Grant recipient? (not used to evaluate candidacy)
- Are you part of the first generation in your family to complete high school and/or university? (not used to evaluate candidacy)
Professional Information
- Resume (PDF no more than 2 pages)
- [Optional] LinkedIn or other online profile URL
Part 2: Short-Term Fellowship Application
You will receive a link to the Program Application form after creating or updating your VIA Applicant Profile. The application form is one page, so please be prepared to complete all questions to submit your application. Closing the application window before submitting may result in lost data.
Post Placements
- Select all post(s) you wish to be considered for.
Professional Strengths & Development Goals
- Which skill(s) would you consider your strongest or have the most experience in?
- Which skill(s) would you most like to develop through your Fellowship experience?
Personal Statement – The following statement should be equivalent to a 1-2 page essay (2,500 min – 5,000 max characters).
Purpose & Values
Please discuss your motivations for working in Asia with VIA and our partners as part of this Fellowship. Why would you be a good fit for the Fellowship, our partners, and the communities they serve?
Our values are derived from our cultural backgrounds, personal and professional experiences, and education. They often come into play when we live and work across cultures. Please share about your own values – what they are and the features of your background that influence them. How does the mission, vision, and work of VIA and its Fellowship partners resonate with your values? How do you see yourself applying your values in your Fellowship experience, and beyond?
Scenario-based Short Essays – The following responses should be equivalent to 1-3 paragraphs (2,000 character max) each.
Cross-Cultural Challenge
Share an example of a time when you engaged with a community with characteristics or needs that were very different from your own, and you encountered a challenge of some kind. How did you approach that situation, how did you communicate, and how did you respond to the needs of that community?
Facing Ambiguity
Share an example of a time when you were tasked with doing something in a professional context that you’ve never done before. How did you approach completing the task? How did you get the support you needed and generate buy-in from collaborators, stakeholders, and colleagues? Looking back now, how would you describe your ability to navigate an ambiguous situation and adapt as needed? What did you learn from this experience?
[Optional] Video
You may create a short video that illustrates your personality and interest in VIA, the Fellowship work and community, or Asia in general. You may upload it to YouTube (set as “unlisted” if not public), Google Drive, Google Photos, or a similar video hosting site, and share the link below. Set permissions to “anyone with the link can view”. We don’t require a certain length or format, so be creative! Typical videos are 30-90 seconds.
Part 3: Letter(s) of Recommendation
Who should write your letter?
An employer, professor, coach, or other mentor – someone who can speak to your character and experience. Family members may not submit letters of recommendation for your application.
How many letters are required / accepted?
One letter is required, but we will accept a second letter if you feel it would help us better assess your qualifications and fit for the program.
What are the letter format requirements?
Letters should be 1-2 pages, ideally on company letterhead, saved as a PDF file.
How should letters be submitted?
Recommendation writers (not the applicant) should submit their letters through the recommendation form.
When should letters be submitted?
It is highly preferable that letters are submitted by the application deadline, but they should be submitted no later than your first interview. We strongly encourage you to start reaching out to potential letter writers at least a month in advance.
Funding Opportunities
University of Oregon students are eligible for up to $6,500 USD through the Freeman Foundation Internship Fellowship. To apply, visit: gsi.uoregon.edu/caps-freeman-internship-fellowships
Short-term Global Community Fellowship participants may be eligible for funding through several competitive scholarships and/or grants. If you are considering this program but are concerned about the cost, we encourage you to research funding available through your university, government scholarships, international scholarship and grant-making organizations, and personal fundraising.
Application Information
Program Dates:
Application Deadline:
Partners
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