Who should apply: Alumni of TOMODACHI Initiative programs and/or VIA’s experiential programs, or university students and early-career professionals, ideally with experience in social innovation education, mentorship, facilitation, or other relevant experience. Citizens and permanent residents of Japan and the US are welcome to apply.

In order to be eligible to participate in this program as a Fellow, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age at the beginning of the program.
• Be able to travel to and remain on-site for the duration of the program.
• Be eligible to receive travel authorization to enter and remain in the United States for the duration of the program, if applicable.
• Be able to provide proof of vaccination and/or health status required for entry to the US 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.
• Be willing to undergo diagnostic tests if experiencing symptoms of a communicable illness considered serious by public health officials or if required for site visits by the host institution. A positive test or inability to meet requirements for a site visit may limit your ability to participate in program activities and/or may necessitate self-isolation during the program.
• 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.
• Maintain medical insurance coverage and provide proof of insurance to VIA prior to arriving on-site for the program.
• Be committed to attending all activities, both before and during the program, and participating fully.

Additionally, successful Fellowship candidates have:

• Interest in training and supporting future social impact leaders.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to work independently and in a team.
• Experience or strong interest in designing and facilitating programs.
• Experience with past TOMODACHI and/or VIA programs and dedication to program goals.
• Ability to serve as an effective bridge between program participants and VIA / TOMODACHI staff during the program.
• Strong interest and/or experience working with social issues/social entrepreneurship in Japan and the US.
• Willingness to promote the use of English during the program and serve as an interpreter when needed.
• Experience discussing complex issues in English.

• Interpretation and Facilitation: Serve as an interpreter/translator if students have a hard time following sessions and activities in English. Fellows will also facilitate discussions and reflection sessions to maximize the students’ learning experience.
• Mentorship: Serve as a mentor when participants come to you with specific questions that are related to your professional background and/or field of interest. Listen with intention, and share insights with the understanding that you are representing TOMODACHI and VIA’s core values as well as creating your own personal brand and reputation as a Fellow.
• Safety & Policy Enforcement: Serve as a role model by following the safety protocols and policies set forth by the Program Director and VIA. Fellows share responsibility in holding participants accountable for their actions; if you see anything harmful to an individual or the group as a whole, you are expected to prioritize the health and safety of individuals and the group over personal relationships with participants. Fellows will follow the Code of Conduct provided by TOMODACHI Initiative as well.

• Before the program

• • Bi-weekly Zoom meetings with Program Director and other Fellows (60 min weekly calls) from the start of the Fellowship until the week before the on-site program.
  • Attend all pre-departure online sessions during June and July.

• During the program

• • Lead / co-lead energizers and reflection sessions.
  • Provide support for participants; serve as the primary facilitator for teams (5-10 participants per team).
  • Act as a communication bridge between TOMODACHI/VIA staff and participants; if participants have any difficulty bringing up issues directly.
  • Coordinate logistics, such as group food orders, restaurant reservations, Uber/Lyft transportation for smaller group outings, and reinforce any directions given by the
  • Program Director regarding being punctual with meet up times.
  • Take photos and videos of program activities for documentary purposes throughout the entire program and share with the Program Director and related staff.
  • Participate in daily facilitation, team reflection, feedback, and planning sessions, during the entire duration of the program.

• After the program

• • Final team meeting: Including but not limited to sharing feedback and documenting incidents in the program report and participants’ evaluations.
  • Follow up with alumni, share a blog post on VIA website, and/or social media posts on personal platforms (IG, FB or LinkedIn).
  • Optional: Share and present what you learned during the fellowship with your organization or school, etc.

Professional Development

TOMODACHI and VIA support the Fellows’ professional development and provides mentorship to strengthen their skills in:

• Presentations
• Leadership & Mentorship
• Program Facilitation
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Team-Building and Development

Recognition of Achievement

Fellows will receive an official certificate of recognition upon successful completion of the Fellowship. We are also happy to provide letters of recommendation based on your performance as a Fellow.

Connections

Finally, Fellows come away from the program with lifelong personal and professional connections to TOMODACHI and VIA’s international network.

VIA is committed to providing an inclusive work and learning environment for applicants, participants, Fellows, volunteers, contractors, and employees. VIA does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression (including sex stereotyping), transgender status, age, religion or religious creed (including religious observances, practices, dress and grooming standards), physical, intellectual or mental disability, medical condition, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, AIDS/HIV status, marital or domestic partnership status, military service, veteran or military status, military caregiver status, status as a victim of domestic violence, assault or stalking, weight, height, criminal history (including arrests and records of conviction), political affiliation, position in a labor dispute, application or participation in a public assistance program, or any other characteristic or status protected by federal, state or local laws. Discrimination based on the perception of someone being in a protected class or affiliating with someone in a protected class is also unlawful.

In this 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. The information provided in this application is confidential and will only be accessible to TOMODACHI / VIA staff for the purposes of determining your participation in the program.

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).
• 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.
• Before submitting your application, we recommend printing a copy for your records. After filling out all the questions on the application form, click the [···] icon in the top-right corner to print.

Personal Information

• Personal Information
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Preferred Name
  • Full Name in Native Characters
  • Gender
  • Date of Birth
  • Citizenship
  • Current place of residence
• Contact Information
  • Email Address
  • Alternate Email (opt)
  • Phone Number (opt)
  • Messaging App Contact (opt)
• Referral Information
  • How did you learn about this program?
  • Personal Recommendation
• Academic / Professional Information
  • Current Status (working, studying, other)
  • Current or Most Recently Attended Academic Institution (current employer for professionals)
  • Field of Study / Degree Program (current position for professionals)
• TOMODACHI / VIA Experience 
  • List past TOMODACHI or VIA programs you joined

Professional Development Priorities

This is an experiential learning opportunity for both participants and Fellows, so we want to learn about the specific ways that you want to develop as a leader. In this section, you will be asked to share your expertise and/or interest in specific topic areas of the curriculum, as well as details about your general availability.

You may choose to respond to the essay questions in writing (about 200-250 words each), or by making a video (no more than 5 minutes long). If you make a video, you will be able to paste the link from Google Drive, Google Photos, YouTube, Vimeo, Wistia, etc. into your application. Please make sure the video permissions are set to allow anyone with the link to view.

• Your Goals – What excites you about this opportunity? What do you hope to gain from the position? What do you hope to contribute to the program or the TOMODACHI/VIA community as a whole?
• Participant Support & Mentorship – This program will bring together a group of Japanese high school students from different backgrounds with different English levels and areas of interests. In this environment, how would you effectively support and engage participants during the program? What would you do if you noticed a participant not speaking up or facing other challenges? Feel free to share any personal experiences you’ve had engaging in cross-cultural and/or virtual spaces.
• Leadership Experiences – Please tell us about your leadership experience in cross-cultural settings. What strengths would you bring to the team and weaknesses that you are aware of? Which leadership qualities/skills would you like to enhance through the Fellowship experience?
• Working in a Team – The ideal Fellow is someone who is a team player. Describe a challenge you have had working closely with a group. What was the source of the difficulty and how did you respond?
• Time Commitment – Please share a little bit about any other commitments you might have, and how you would plan to balance them with your responsibilities as a Fellow.
• [Optional] CV/Resume Upload – After the essay questions, you have the option to upload your resume as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file (must not exceed 50 MB).

Photo & Bio

If you are selected as a Fellow, we will publish your photo and bio on TOMODACHI and VIA’s website and social media channels. To ensure we are able to publish in a timely manner, we request all candidates to submit their photo and bio along with their application.

Biography Guidelines

• Length – 150-250 words
• Suggested Content – Personal and professional background, academic course of study, current associations / projects, why you are excited to be a fellow, and connection to TOMODACHI / VIA (if any).

Profile Photo Guidelines

Photos will be automatically cropped square to fit the formatting of the site. To ensure the cropped photo looks ok, please choose a photo where:

• Your face is centered in the image and cropping is possible without cutting off part of your head/neck.
• There is sufficient space around your head (so it doesn’t have to be cropped to the top of your head and chin).
• Other people’s heads or limbs will not be in the frame.
• Photos must be no smaller than 300×300 pixels after being cropped.
• Finally, please make sure your photo doesn’t portray any imagery that might be considered religiously, politically, or culturally sensitive. Check the background, clothing (including your own and people in the background, if applicable), and be mindful of where the photo was taken (e.g., showing places of worship is generally not recommended, especially if worshippers are visible in the background).