Asia-US Service-Learning Program

The Asia-US Service-Learning Program (AUSL) brings together community-minded students from Asia and from Stanford University for an intensive four-week program.  AUSL offers Asian students an intimate, hands-on opportunity to explore some of America’s and the world’s most pressing issues, including poverty, health care, and environmental degradation.

AUSL is offered by VIA, a nonprofit organization based at Stanford University that has promoted U.S.-Asia international education and exchange for over 40 years.  VIA works with Stanford faculty and administration in crafting its cross-cultural education programs.

AUSL seeks to broaden cultural perspectives, encourage community engagement through service, and deepen coordinators ’ and participants’ understanding of pressing social and environmental issues.

AUSL FAQ

Stanford Coordinators

VIA selects six Stanford graduates and undergraduates to serve as AUSL coordinators.  These coordinators act as hosts and discussion leaders to the 30-35 Japanese and Taiwanese university participants of the program.

AUSL participants are placed into three service project groups, each of which are led by two Stanford AUSL coordinators and one AUSL Asia coordinator.  These topic groups are environment, health and disabilities, and urban issues. 

Pre-program (April – July 2008)

AUSL coordinators attend a two-day training retreat in April 2008.  Leading up to the program, coordinators should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week preparing for the “Service in the US ” class and the service project component of the program (lesson planning and arranging visits with partner organizations).  In addition to the retreat, AUSL fellows will have 2-3 meetings with the Program Director.

Training week (July 27– August 2)

Coordinators arrive one week before the program for teacher training, lesson plan review, staff bonding, and pre-program preparation (dorm setup, activity development, etc.).  The six Stanford coordinators meet with three Asia coordinators who have been working on pre-program activities in Japan and Taiwan, and who will work closely with Stanford coordinators throughout the program.

Weeks I & II: Stanford University

Stanford and Asia coordinators lead discussion sections of the class “Service in the US ”, a non-credit workshop class which meets from 9am – 11pm M-F.  Course content is drawn from guest lecturers and panelists, as well as from extracurricular activities and reading assignments. After lunch, coordinators prepare lead their groups for a visit to various organizations and participate in volunteer activities based on their topic group.

Coordinators meet daily with the Program Director, and are expected to participate in most extracurricular service and cultural activities of the program.  Coordinators live and eat with participants in a Stanford dormitory and are afforded two days leave.

Week III: Service Project Week

AUSL coordinators lead their group on a week-long service-learning project, working with non-profit and service organizations throughout the Bay Area (similar to an Alternative Spring Break trip).  During the trip, coordinators are in charge of leading reflection discussions and of all project logistics.  The service project activities are planned in spring in collaboration with the Program Director.

Week IV: Final Event and Reflection Retreat

After working with various organizations in San Francisco, participants work on and present their final presentations for the coordinators and local partner organizaitons.

Finally, all three service project groups reconvene for a two day retreat to reflect upon the program and spend their final days of the program in Marin Headlands.

Asia Service Trip

All Stanford coordinators visit Japan (and possibly Taiwan) to get first hand experience learning about issues in Asia and to reconnect with program participants.  Coordinators enjoy a cultural and service-oriented itinerary designed by AUSL participants.

Compensation

• Room and board during pre-program retreat, training week, and the AUSL program
• $1000 towards airfare for the Asia Service Trip

Timeline

March 7 , 2008	Application deadline for AUSL coordinator position
March 10 and 11, 2008	Interviews
March - April, 2008	Research topics
April - July, 2008	Coordinator training and preparation for AUSL
July 27 - August 2, 2008	Host training for AUSL
August 3- August 27, 2008	AUSL Program
Date to be determined by coordinators	Service trip to Asia

Applications and Frequently Asked Questions

• Applications are to be turned in to the VIA office (Room 101 of Galvez Module, near Meyer Library)
• Please review our FAQ page if you are seriously thinking of applying and contact Bina Zaitsu at
• bina@viaprograms.org for any further question.