International volunteer

Ashinaga

The Ashinaga movement began after President and Founder Yoshiomi Tamai’s mother was involved in a traffic accident in 1963. She fell into a coma and passed away soon after. Tamai and a group of like-minded individuals went on to formally establish the Association for Traffic Accident Orphans in 1967. Through public advocacy, regular media coverage, and the development of a street fundraising system, the association was able to secure significant improvements to national traffic regulations and provide support for students bereaved as a consequence of traffic accidents across Japan.

Over time, the Ashinaga movement extended its financial and emotional support to all students who had lost their parents, including causes such as illness, natural disaster, and suicide. The Ashinaga-san system, which is based on anonymous donations, began in 1979. This was inspired by the Japanese translation of the 1912 Jean Webster novel Daddy-Long-Legs, in which an orphaned girl is sent to college by an anonymous benefactor. In 1993, Ashinaga expanded its role to include residential facilities, thereby enabling financially disadvantaged students to attend universities in the more expensive metropolitan areas. Around this time Ashinaga also expanded its summer programs, or tsudoi,at which Ashinaga students could share their experiences among peers who had also lost parents.

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International Volunteer (Lusophone Program Coordinator)

Key Information:

Job Title: International volunteer (Portuguese-speaking) for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative.

Start date: May 5, 2025 (earlier starts are also considered). Initial 1-year contract. Opportunity for promotion to full-time staff if they perform well.

Working days: 5 days/week, Mon-Fri

Reports to: Program Manager.

Working hours: 09:00-17:00.

General:

The International Volunteer (Lusophone) works primarily with the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI), an international leadership program that supports the next generation of leaders who will contribute to the development of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The International Volunteer (Lusophone program coordinator) manages the Preparatory Year of Lusophone candidates, ensuring their transition to universities in Brazil through the PEC-G scholarship. The coordinator also ensures an efficient academic transition by managing logistics, academic support, and administrative procedures. In addition, the coordinator teaches some classes and is responsible for developing the curriculum that will be followed by Portuguese-speaking candidates throughout the preparatory year.

Benefits:

  • Accommodation: Provided
  • Communication Scholarship: USD 100 per month
  • Flights: Provided
  • Housing grant: USD 400 per month
  • Insurance: Provided
  • Feeding Allowance: USD 250 per month
  • Installation Bag: USD 1400 one-time payment
  • Training Grant: USD 100 per month
  • Carrying bag: USD 250 per month

The total value of the scholarships is USD 1250 net per month.

Deadline for applications:

March 31, 2025

Function Description:

  • Oversee consultation, application, and study support for Ashinaga Africa Initiative applicants.
  • Interface with students about their plans, subject of study at foreign universities, and university applications.
  • Facilitate the operation of the Preparatory Year for all students.
  • Contribute to the development of innovative, evidence-based curricula and optimized course schedule.
  • Assist in the management of service providers that support the delivery of Ashinaga Uganda's activities.
  • Support the collection, entry, and analysis of academic and leadership-related data collected throughout the year.
  • Assist management in the growth and development of program strategy and delivery.
  • Recruit and supervise interns as needed.
  • Provide support with marketing, promotion, and fundraising as needed.
  • Support with all administration related to students and organizations.

Requirements:

Education

  • Bachelor's degree in education, African Studies, International Development or related degrees.
  • Master's degree (preferential for contract renewal).
  • Experience studying in Brazil (desirable).
  • Experience with ENEM entrance exam and Celipe-Bras exam (desirable).

Experience

Portuguese and English fluently.

  • 1 to 3 years of work experience in a similar organization.
  • Experience in leading a team in a professional environment.
  • Experience with administrative work and following strict administrative procedures.
  • Experience in tutoring or teaching.
  • A track record of meeting tight deadlines and balancing various tasks.

Skills and abilities

  • Excellent communication, verbal and written skills.
  • Microsoft Office Suite Advanced (this will be tested).
  • Proficiency in Japanese or French (desirable – this will be tested if listed).
  • Experience with social media, photography, videography, marketing, fundraising, and partnerships (desirable)

Qualities and characteristics

  • Demonstrable interest in youth empowerment and education.

  • Ability to multitask and manage concurrent schedules.

  • Proactive and positive attitude - a collaborative team player.

  • Critical thinker - not afraid to deal with complex issues.

  • Passionate about social impact, especially in an African context.

Key Information:

  • Title: International Volunteer (Lusophone) for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative.
  • Start Date: May 5th, 2025 (Earlier starts also considered). Initial 1-year contract. Opportunity to be promoted to full-time staff if good performance.
  • Days of Duty: 5 days/ week, Mon-Fri
  • Reports To: Program Manager.
  • Working Hours: 09:00-17:00.

Job Overview:

The International Volunteer (Lusophone) works mainly with the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI), an international leadership program that supports the next generation of leaders who will contribute to the development of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The International Volunteer (Lusophone Program Coordinator) manages the Preparatory Year of Lusophone candidates, ensuring their transition to universities in Brazil through the PEC-G scholarship. The coordinator also ensures an efficient academic transition by managing logistics, academic support, and administrative procedures. In addition, the coordinator teaches some classes and is responsible for developing the curriculum that will be followed by Portuguese-speaking candidates throughout the preparatory year.

Benefits:

  • Accommodation: Provided
  • Communication Stipend: USD 100 per month
  • Flights: Provided
  • Living Stipend: USD 400 per month
  • Insurance: Provided
  • Meals Stipend: USD 250 per month
  • Settling in Grant: USD 1400 one-off payment
  • Training Stipend: USD 100 per month
  • Transport Stipend: USD 250 per month

The total value of the stipends is USD 1250 net per month.

Deadline for applications:

March 31st, 2025

Role Description:

  • Oversee consultation, application, and study support for Ashinaga Africa Initiative Candidates.
  • Interface with students regarding their plans, subject of study in overseas universities, and university applications.
  • Facilitate the operation of the Preparation Year for all students.
  • Contribute to the development of innovative and evidence-based curricula and optimized course scheduling.
  • Assist in managing service providers who support the delivery of Ashinaga Uganda's activities.
  • Support the collection, entry, and analysis of academic and leadership-related data collected across the year.
  • Assist management in the growth and development of program strategy and delivery.
  • Recruiting and supervising interns as required.
  • Providing support with marketing, promotion, and fundraising as required.
  • Support with all student and organization-related administration.

Requirements:

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in education, African Studies, International Development, or related degrees.
  • Master's Degree (preferred for renewal of contract).
  • Experience studying in Brazil (desired).
  • Experience with ENEM vestibular and Celipe-Bras exam (desired).

Experience

  • Can speak, write, and read Portuguese and English fluently.
  • 1-3 years' work experience in a similar organization.
  • Experience leading a team in a professional setting.
  • Experience with clerical desk work and following strict administrative procedures.
  • Experience in tutoring or teaching.
  • A track record of meeting tight deadlines and balancing several tasks.

Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent communication, verbal and written, skills.
  • Advanced with Microsoft Office Suite (this will be tested).
  • Japanese or French proficiency (desired - this will be tested if listed).
  • Experience with social media, photography, videography, marketing, fundraising, and partnerships (desired)

Qualities and Characteristics

  • Demonstrable interest in youth empowerment and education.
  • Ability to multi-task and manage concurrent timelines.
  • Proactive and positive attitude - a collaborative team player.
  • Critical thinker - unafraid to tackle complex issues.
  • Passionate about social impact, especially in an African context.

How to apply

Application Procedure:

Please send your CV/ Resume and Cover Letter by March 31st, 2025, to ugandaoffice@ashinaga.org  . Please ensure both documents are in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Please include the role you are applying for in the email subject in the title.

Invitations for further assessment and/ or interview will be sent by April 15th. If you have not heard from us by this stage, please assume your application was unsuccessful.

Additional Information:

Ashinaga

Ashinaga is a Japanese non-profit organization that provides educational and emotional support to young people who have experienced the loss of one or both parents. In the past 45 years, Ashinaga has raised over $1 billion to enable more than 100,000 orphaned students to complete higher education in Japan. In 2001, Ashinaga expanded beyond its domestic activities and now supports a global community of disadvantaged young people, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. We now have offices in Uganda, Senegal, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and France. We have supported over 100 orphaned students from Sub-Saharan Africa to study at universities in Japan, Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.

Ashinaga Africa Initiative

The Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) is an academic leadership program that aims to provide higher education opportunities at the world's leading institutions to orphaned students from 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program's goal is to nurture future leaders who will contribute to democratic realization, economic development, and poverty eradication in their home countries post-graduation. Ashinaga hopes that education will empower these students to overcome their difficult backgrounds and bring positive change to their communities. One outstanding student from each Sub-Saharan African country will be selected to join the program every year. Ashinaga will provide these students with the training, opportunities, and finances necessary to study at academic institutions worldwide.

Ashinaga Uganda

The Ashinaga Uganda Kokoro-Juku serves as the core of the AAI's recruitment and training. Selected students from English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries join a six-month "Study Camp" to improve academics, apply for global universities, and expand leadership capacity. After application, students again gather in Uganda to join "Preparation Camp" to apply for Visas, improve academic skills, and adopt new culture and life. We also work to establish a wider network of academic, financial, and career development support for our scholars, as well as activities to ensure the economic sustainability of our work.

 

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