CLAIR has announced the Satogaeri (“Homecoming”) Project, an exciting new program which will send former JET Program participants back to the communities where they once lived and worked as JETs. As part of the project, the Japanese government will fund trips for JET alumni to return to their JET home towns to reconnect with the friends, colleagues, and students with whom they developed close relationships. A “mini-JETAA International” meeting in Tokyo will also be part of the program.
Submission Details: CLAIR Satogaeri Project Page – http://bit.ly/1dLs98Z
Deadline for Submissions: Monday July 13th, 2015
JET Programme Alumni Satogaeri Project
～Return to your second home in Japan～
Application Guidelines
1. Aim
The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme began in 1987, with the aim of promoting internationalization of Japan’s local communities by enhancing Japan’s foreign language education and furthering international exchange at the local level. Now in its 29th year, more than 60,000 people from 63 countries have participated in the JET Programme to date.
The JET Programme Alumni Satogaeri (Homecoming) Project for JET alumni aims to further strengthen this JET network.
Further, to coincide with the project, a “mini-JETAA International Meeting” will be held, where JET alumni, including country representatives, will come together to share examples of their activities, and to exchange opinions about how to strengthen the bonds between JET alumni and local authorities in Japan, and about events which will be held in 2016 in celebration of the JET Programme 30th Anniversary.
JET alumni who wish to act as a bridge between Japan and other countries are encouraged to apply to participate in this project, which aims to further develop the JET Programme network, promote the appeal of Japan’s local regions around the world, and create an opportunity for further development of the JET Programme.
2. Dates
Monday, 9 November, 2015 – Friday, 13 November, 2015 (4 nights, 5 days)
3. Schedule*
After participating in exchange activities in Tokyo, the participants will each return to the area in Japan where they lived and worked as a JET participant, and engage in activities according to their own ‘Satogaeri Project Plan’.
*The above schedule is subject to change
4. Number of Participants
11 JET Programme Alumni
Applicants must be in a position to interact with and distribute information to country representatives from countries with a large number of JET participants (America, Canada, the UK and Australia), as well as other acquaintances and connections.
5. Eligibility
1. You have completed your term of appointment on the JET Programme as an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher), CIR (Coordinator for International Relations), or SEA (Sports Exchange Advisor), and are actively contributing towards JET Alumni Association (JETAA) activities*.
(*This condition does not apply if there is no JETAA chapter in your area.)
2. You would be a suitable representative of JET Programme alumni (e.g. you have been recommended by your JETAA chapter).
3. You have a strong desire to reconnect with your former contracting organization and the region you previously lived and worked in, and you are able to make direct contact and cooperate with the school/workplace that you worked at.
4. Your former workplace is able to receive you (and carry out activities with you during your visit).
5. You will actively post about your experiences in and impressions of Japan from the perspective of an international visitor on your blog, homepage, Facebook page or other means.
6. You accept that there may be mass media coverage of your visit, and will cooperate where required.
7. You will write a report of your experiences on the Satogaeri Project after returning to your home country.
8. You are able to participate in the entire schedule of the Satogaeri Project.
9. Your Satogaeri Project Plan is deemed appropriate.
10. You are a participant who completed your term on the programme 3 or more years ago (preferred).
6. Participation Fees
CLAIR will cover the cost of traveling to Japan; domestic travel, accommodation and meal expenses in Japan (excluding meal expenses when the participant is not engaged in Satogaeri Project duties); and overseas travel accident insurance (travel insurance). However, travel expenses incurred when traveling from one’s place of residence to the airport in the participants’ home country, and personal expenses (e.g. phone calls/communication expenses*, hotel room mini-bar charges, any expenses incurred during non-Satogaeri Project duties etc.) will be borne by the participant.
Any other expenses incurred in Japan before or after the official start/end dates of the project will be borne by the participant. Costs for travel insurance for this extended period of stay in Japan are also to be borne by the participant, and CLAIR cannot bear any responsibility for any accidents that may happen during this time.
*CLAIR will provide a portable Wi-Fi internet connection
7. Accompanying Persons
In principle, all costs incurred by accompanying persons (e.g. partner) will be borne by the Satogaeri Project participant. However, if the participant has a disability and requires the assistance of their partner or another person, CLAIR will bear their costs as per 6, above.
(1) If you would like to request that somebody accompany you (e.g. your partner), please submit Form 1-1 ‘Accompanying Person Notice’ by the deadline below.
(2) CLAIR will ask for all possible assistance from the receiving organization regarding accompanying persons, in terms of the planned local exchange activities.
(3) In principle, CLAIR will not make any arrangements for accompanying persons when they are not travelling with the group.
8. Applications
Applications can be made by sending Form 1 ‘Satogaeri Project Participant Application Form’ and Form 2 ‘Satogaeri Project Plan’ to the CLAIR office that holds jurisdiction over the country that you are based in by July 13 (Mon.). Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by the end of July (tentative) by the CLAIR office which processed their application.
9. Application Submission Information
JLGC New York Contacts:
• Canada: Mr. Keisuke Matsuura – matsuura@jlgc.org
• US: Ms. Arisa Maruno – maruno@jlgc.org
Mailing Address: Japan Local Government Center / CLAIR New York
3 Park Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone No.: 212-246-5542