Overview

The AYF Fellowship is a one-year live-in working internship on Awaji Island, Japan at the home of the Awaji Youth Federation, Manabi no Sato. It provides selected Fellows with the opportunity to challenge themselves and hone their individual skills in a multicultural environment that reflects both the needs of the Japanese workplace and the opportunities that come with a flexibly structured and stimulating `learning by doing structure.

Guided by the philosophy of `Turning your Imagination into Action`, AYF works under the umbrella of the Pasona Group towards sustainable solutions for society`s problems. AYF Fellows have a special chance to bring a unique global perspective to a highly localized regional community on Awaji Island in Japan.

AYF Program Summary Video

Fellowship
Themes and Structure

Reflective of its overall mission, AYF has selected four main themes for Fellowship activity. These are:

Social Entrepreneurship

Leadership and
Project Management

Innovation

Innovation and
Intrapreneurship

Regional Revitalization

PR and
Marketing

The AYF Fellowship consists of 3 components which link to and support one another, namely:

Lectures

Self Development and Mentoring

Challenges

Project Ideation and Project work

Projects

Event Creation

More

Special Lectures

Fellows will receive several lectures from eminent experts well-versed in the AYF 2021 themes and goals. Past lecturers have included entrepreneurs, international thought leaders, representatives from the United Nations and key Pasona stakeholders that are driving the new initiatives in Awaji.

Lectures will be planned and designed to link to other components of the Fellowship, with the objective of providing Fellows with both intellectual stimulation as well as to inspire them in their self-development journey.

Lectures

Projects

As a working internship, the AYF Fellowship will require participants to be involved in supporting, developing, and creating initiatives to drive and deliver outcomes for AYF and the Pasona Group across several core areas.This will include supporting ongoing events and developing new events focused on wellness, inbound tourism, and culture.

As far as possible, project work will be divided to reflect the interests and activities of Fellows, and to support their work goals, so as to create an overall synergy and maximize time and effort.

Project work will broadly cover, but is not limited to, the following:

AYF Academy

AYF Academy

training and skills development for external organizations

AYF Global

AYF Global

development of networks and content for the AYF online platform

YUNGA Japan

New Initiatives

Work in implementation and improvement of new AYF Projects

Regional Revitalization on Awaji Island

Regional Revitalization on Awaji Island

involvement in specific Pasona Group projects and work activities as directed

Mentorship

Each Fellow will be assigned a dedicated Mentor from the AYF Secretariat staff, all of whom are AYF Alumni, to act as a sounding board and personal guide throughout the year. For any new initiatives that get traction, a Mentor with Experience within Pasona will be assigned to the project to support its development.

Fellow-Fellow mentoring and skill sharing sessions will also be planned and facilitated as part of the curriculum. In addition, a selected number of industry expert mentors will be available on call for more specialized advice.*

*We cannot guarantee to have an industry expert focused in the exact area of your desired career interest

Mentorship

Hear from our AYF Global Ambassadors

Hear from our 2020 AYF JICA Japan Ambassadors

Graduation
Pathways

The AYF Fellowship provides participants with a unique opportunity to test their skills, interests and move out of their comfort zone. From the perspective of a new country, new culture and surrounded by AYF Fellows from all around the world, Fellows have an opportunity to take time out and rediscover themselves.

For those interested in developing a lasting connection with Japan, AYF is the perfect vehicle for the development of insight, experience and most importantly language skills that are a pre-requisite to any further career either on Awaji Island or elsewhere in Japan.

AFellows who successfully showcase their skills and contribution to the development of Awaji Island in line with the vision and corporate direction of the Pasona Group will be offered a chance to stay on Awaji Island after the Fellowship to keep working on new initiatives.

Regular career counselling sessions will be included as part of the AYF Fellowship program to assist Fellows in articulating their goals and taking proactive steps to achieving them.

Japanese
Language

Japanese Language

Support will be offered for online study of Japanese language on a discounted fee basis.
Improvement of Japanese Language skills is an important criterion for evaluating the progress of Fellows, and an essential prerequisite to a successful career in Japan

Qualifications
Required

  • Age between 24-30 preferable
  • Graduated with a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree
  • English ability of TOEIC 800 or equivalent for non-native speakers. (Fluent both in speaking and writing)
  • Japanese language skill （JLPT N1-N3）preferable
  • Commitment to solving society’s problems and contributing to the our projects.
  • Core values of hard work, discipline, and care for others
  • Flexible, perseverance and resilience
  • The ability and drive to translate ideas into concrete action
  • Membership and track record of activity in the AYF Global Community preferable

Pre-requisite**
Proposal of a new idea that aligns with the long-term vision and mission of Pasona Group in Awaji.

Fees and
Conditions

The AYF Fellowship has been designed so that Fellows will be able to enhance their skills and abilities without being burdened financially while in Japan. As an Awaji Youth Federation Fellow, you will be employed by the Pasona Group Inc. and enjoy the following benefits and conditions, while fees and government taxes are processed by Pasona. Applicants who are successfully selected need to fund their own travel costs to and from Japan.

  • 1. Net Stipend of roughly JPY 90,000
  • 2. Government fees and taxes covered
  • 3. Program & Accommodation costs covered
  • 1. 5 days a week of working & learning
  • 2. 10 days of paid leave available six months into the Fellowship
  • 1. Individual room in either Japanese or Western style
  • 2. Utility costs such as electricity and Wi-Fi are included
  • Although Fellows are responsible for their own food, Pasona can offer discounted meals. We cannot guarantee these meals fit all dietary restrictions.

Application
Timeline

2023 Applications have now open! Join AYF Global to get more information

Applications for the 2023 Fellowship will broadly follow the timeline below. .

  • 01

    March 29

    Applications Open

  • 02

    May 31

    Application Deadline

    Shortlisted applicants will be notified on a Rolling Basis

  • 03

    June - July

    Interviews over Zoom

    Applicants passing the first round of interviews will be invited for a second round.

  • 04

    July - August

    COE & Visa

    Take necessary procedures for immigration and employment.

  • 06

    September

    Fellowship Begins