Fellowships & Financial Assistance

While VIA does everything it can to keep program fees low, we also offer three types of additional financial assistance to qualifying applicants: General financial assistance provides a limited fee reduction to applicants for all VIA programs in Asia and is awarded based on need; the CJ Huang Fellowship is designed specifically for Stanford graduates interested in teaching and service work in China; the VIA Community Fellowships in Vietnam are offered to applicants to the long-term Vietnam program who have a demonstrated commitment to Vietnam or the Vietnamese-American community.

General Financial Assistance for VIA Summer Participants and 1 & 2 Year Volunteers

All program participants are welcome to apply for financial assistance. Contact the office for information regarding need-based financial assistance from VIA, ideas on personal fundraising and outside funding. Over 40% of our volunteers receive partial scholarships from VIA and many raise enough outside funds to cover the remainder of their fees! The application for financial assistance can be downloaded from our How to Apply page.

VIA attempts to keep participation costs as low as possible for all volunteers. We raise funds to cover almost 90% of what it costs to support a long-term volunteer overseas. This money is raised through alumni donations and private foundation grants. Visit our Support VIA page for more information on how VIA is funded.

CJ Huang Fellowship in China

The Dr. and Mrs. C.J. Huang Teaching Fellowship, administered jointly by VIA and the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford, pays for two Stanford graduates or recent alumni to teach at Ouyang Yu Experimental Middle School in Xintang Town, Hunan province. Dr. Huang founded this rural middle school in an effort to raise the quality of education in his native province. The fellowship enables fellows to experience life in a rural area of China--one which is becoming more unique as China's modernization continues to unfold. This fellowship provides fellows with an opportunity to learn more about an area of China that most foreigners will never even get to see firsthand.

Qualifications

• Stanford University graduate
• Native English speaker
• Willingness and ability to live in a relatively remote and rural part of China
• Interest in service and/or education

Details:

• Fellowships are for 1 or 2 years. Training begins in mid-July
• In addition to English teaching, fellows design a series of service projects aimed at benefiting the school and local community
• Applicants not chosen for this fellowship may apply for one of VIA's other long-term posts in China. For more information, please visit the long term posts page.

Inclusions:

• Fellows receive TESL and cross cultural training, two weeks of Chinese language training, a language tutor throughout the year or two of service, housing, living stipend, medical and emergency/evacuation insurance, round trip airfare, a travel allowance for use in China, and a readjustment allowance at the end of the year of service.
• $1000 to implement service projects aimed at serving the school and local community.
• Transportation and lodging for two conferences in China--the VIA China annual conference and the China Teaching Consortium annual conference.

In 2007, VIA will offer four Community Fellowships to exceptional candidates with a demonstrated and ongoing commitment to Vietnam or the Vietnamese-American community.

This fellowship program provides a unique opportunity for students and community activists to integrate their passion for Vietnam or the Vietnamese-American community with purposeful, hands-on volunteer experiences in Vietnam.  Fellows will teach English at one of VIA's 11 partner institutions in Vietnam and receive up to $1000 to design and implement a service project, in consultation with other fellows, staff, and/or their host institution.  The service project will benefit an underserved community in Vietnam and/or promote understanding between the U.S. and Vietnam. VIA’s Community Fellowship program is generously funded by the Ford Foundation.

Qualifications:

• College graduate with English fluency
• Demonstrated and ongoing commitment to Vietnam or the Vietnamese-American community (through work experiences, volunteer activities, or academic studies)

Details:

• Fellows will be posted at one of VIA's 11 regular volunteer posts in Vietnam, which include English teaching and resource positions at public universities, research institutions, government agencies, or local NGOs. For more information, please carefully read the Vietnam 1 & 2 Year Program page. For a list of posts and descriptions, please view the Long-Term Posts page.
• Fellowships are for one- or two-years beginning mid-July 2007.
• In addition to volunteer service at one of VIA’s 11 regular volunteer posts in Vietnam, fellows will design and implement a service project which benefits an underserved community and/or promotes understanding between the U.S. and Vietnam.
• Upon completion of service, fellows will share their experience with student or community groups in the U.S.

Inclusions:

• Fellows receive regular VIA inclusions such as training and in-field support, visa, housing and living stipend, medical and emergency/evacuation insurance, ground transportation, and return airfare to U.S. upon completion of service.  In addition, fellows receive relocation allowance, materials allowance, and readjustment allowance.  VIA’s program fee is waived.  Travel expenses to Spring Orientation are not covered.
• Up to $1000 for service project

To Apply:

• Complete and submit the regular VIA application, fellowship addendum, and if possible, a letter of recommendation from a sponsoring institution.  Only one letter of recommendation will be accepted per applicant.  All application materials are due by February 22, 2007.
• If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Christine Tran, Vietnam Program Director, by email or phone.