Asia-US Service-Learning Program

Program Overview

  AUSL participants at an organic farm near Stanford

  Asia-US Service-Learning is a four-week intensive program which brings together community-minded students from Asia (Japan, Taiwan, and Mainland China) and from Stanford University to learn about some of America’s and the world’s most pressing issues.

  During this program participants will learn by joining in hands-on service projects, daily discussions and reflections with other students, and meeting with professors and experts in the field.   Participants research about issues that concern them, and share with other students different approaches that are being used in their home countries to address them.  Finally they will work together to design a project addressing issues in their own community.

  For 2010, the AUSL program focuses on the issues of health and disability, and environment and sustainability. Dates for this program are August 1 -25.

Program Goal

The goal of the Asia-US Service-Learning Program is that participants will learn, share, and make an impact.  Participants do this by engaging in:

• Introduction to issues related to health or the environment in their home countries
  
• Investigation of traditional services and new approaches to address these issues in different countries
  
• Implementation of what they have learned to design new approaches to issues in their communities

Pre-Program in Asia (Introduction)

 

Participants on a field visit during pre-program

  The AUSL pre-program provides an opportunity for participants to get to know each other and to become more familiar with service organizations and the social sector in Japan, Taiwan, and mainland China. 

 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 their own country related to health or the environment.  Please visit the AUSL Curriculum page to learn more.

Week 1-2: Stanford University (Investigation)

Students and Coordinator during discussion session 

  The first two weeks of AUSL are based around the Stanford University campus.  Participants have discussion sessions from 9am to 11am each morning comparing Health and Disability or Environment and Sustainability issues in Asia and the US.  All discussion sessions are conducted in English. 

   During the time at Stanford, participants will meet with university faculty and staff to see how public service and social awareness is being incorporated into the university's mission and into students' learning.

  Participants will also network with Stanford student organizations to learn about paths they are taking to realize social change. 

   Participants are also given the opportunity to develop an understanding of service in the United States and improve their English skills in the afternoons, evenings and weekends through scheduled field trips, panel and group discussions, volunteer activities and other program events.  Please visit the AUSL Curriculum page to learn more.

Week 3-4: San Francisco  (Implementation, step 1)

AUSL Participants presenting their group project proposal

   During the third and fourth week of the program, 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 provide accessibility to health and social services, promote sustainable businesses and lifestyles, and develop new technologies to better address wide range of health and environmental issues. 

    Throughout the four weeks participants will be asked to reflect on the opportunities and the challenges of providing high quality service.  During the final week of the program, participants will work together in groups to design a service project to address an issue in their own communities.  Please visit the AUSL Curriculum page to learn more.

   Service project ideas will be presented during the last few days of the program and after returning to Asia.

Post-Program in Asia (Implementation, step 2)

Coordinators visit to Asia

    Asia-US Service-Learning Program in the US will be followed with opportunities to stay involved after returning to Asia.  Post-program includes a Final Debrief Meeting and an AUSL Sharing and Networking Event in November or December 2010.

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

  In the winter following the program, Stanford Coordinators will have the opportunity to visit Asian students in Japan, Taiwan, and mainland China.  During this visit, Stanford students can learn about local social innovation in Asia as well as visit local sights.

Cost

The cost for the 2010 program is tentatively $4,500 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.

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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 Asia-US Service-Learning (AUSL) Program and the Exploring Social Innovation (ESI) Program.