Exploring Social Innovation (ESI) Program

Program Overview

   Exploring Social Innovation is a two-week program which brings together students* from Japan and from Stanford to consider new solutions to local and global issues.

  The program provides an opportunity for participants to learn about social innovation, share experiences with a community of social entrepreneurs in the US and Japan, and eventually impact their own communities with positive change. 

    The 2010 program will be from March 18 - 30.  Issues addressed in 2010 ESI program include environment, poverty relief, and health.  

*Include university undergraduate/graduate students.  University graduates also welcome to apply.

Definitions and Goals

 The goal of the Exploring Social Innovation Program is that participants will engage in:

• Introduction to social innovation addressing various issues in Japan
• Investigation of social innovation in the US
• Implementation of what they have learned to design new approaches to issues in their communities

Pre-program in Japan (Introduction)

  The ESI pre-program provides an opportunity for participants to get to know each other and to become more familiar with types of social innovation in Japan. 

 Pre-program includes regular meetings that include review of readings, group discussion, direct service, and personal reflections.

  Participants are also asked to do pre-program research of a specific social issue in Japan related to environment, poverty relief, or health.  Please visit the ESI Curriculum page to learn more.

  One student from Japan and two students from Stanford will join the ESI program as Coordinators.  They plan activities and curriculum for both the program and pre-program.  

Week 1: San Francisco (Investigation)

Participant working with students at a local organization

   For the first week of the program, participants, coordinators, and mentors explore social innovation in San Francisco. 

   During this week, participants will visit some of the Bay Area's most socially innovative companies and organizations.  These visits will focus on efforts in the Bay Area to promote sustainable business practice as well as efforts to develop Green Technology. 

  We will also have the chance to work alongside several local social enterprises, businesses that combine a social mission alongside their monetary goal.  These visits will highlight social enterprise that creates new opportunity for disadvantaged sectors of society, including underprivileged youth, ex-felons, and the homeless. 

  Following the week in San Francisco, the participants and coordinators move to  Stanford. 

Week 2: Stanford University (Implementation, step 1)

Participant describing a proposal for a Social Venture Project

  From emerging social enterprises to more established organizations, participants will network with Stanford student entrepreneurs and learn about paths they are taking to realize their vision of social change. 

   Participants will also meet with Stanford faculty to see how social innovation is being incorporated into the university's mission and into students' learning.

  During the last part of the week, participants will work together in groups to design a social venture project to address an issue in their own communities.  Please visit the ESI Curriculum page to learn more.

   Social venture project ideas will be presented during the last few days of the program and after returning to Japan.

Post-Program in Japan (Implementation, step 2)

Stanford Coordinators' visit to Japan

   Exploring Social Innovation Program in the US will be followed with opportunities to stay involved after returning to Japan.  Post-program in Japan includes a Final Debrief Meeting and an ESI Sharing and Networking Event in May or June 2010.

  Participants who wish to continue their social venture projects or who want to learn more about social innovation in Japan are encouraged to connect with many existing local resources, such as the Hirayama Ikuo Volunteer Center (WAVOC) at Waseda University.

  In the summer following the program, Stanford Coordinators will have the opportunity to visit Japanese students in Japan.  During this visit, Stanford students can learn about local social innovation in Japan as well as visit local sights.

Cost

The cost for the 2010 program is tentatively $3,000 USD, which covers:

• Accommodation
• One third of your meals
• Activity fees
• Transportation fees
• VIA staff services

The program fee does NOT cover medical insurance or air travel. All participants are REQUIRED to purchase medical insurance before participating in the program. The estimated airfare for 2010 is 102,000 yen.

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Timeline

Application

• Application information is available here.
• If you have any questions, please contact Ben Strong (Stanford Programs Director) by email at ben@viaprograms.org

Information and Orientation Meetings Schedule

Partner Organizations

The Hirayama Ikuo Volunteer Center (WAVOC) at Waseda University is a partner organization for VIA's Exploring Social Innovation (ESI) Program and the Asia-US Service-Learning (AUSL) Program.