The AYF Fellowship Program

Application deadline 31st MAY 24

Awaji Youth Federation (AYF) is an international community based in Japan focused on regional revitalization, innovation, and entrepreneurship. AYF is involved in numerous projects on Awaji Island aiming to solve the various problems facing society.

The AYF Fellowship is a 9-month live-in working program on Awaji Island, Japan at the home of the Awaji Youth Federation, Manabi no Sato. It provides selected Fellows with the opportunity to challenge themselves and hone their individual skills in a multicultural environment that reflects both the needs of the Japanese workplace and the opportunities that come with a flexibly structured and stimulating `learning by doing` structure.

Guided by the philosophy of `Turning your Imagination into Action`, AYF works under the umbrella of the Pasona Group towards sustainable business solutions for society`s problems. AYF Fellows have a special chance to bring a unique global perspective to a highly localized regional community on Awaji Island in Japan.

Why AYF?

Our parent company, the Pasona Group, has been making significant investments on Awaji Island since 2007 undertaking a number of projects in agriculture, tourism, hospitality, the arts and entertainment, all designed to create new sources of employment and revitalize the local economy.

In 2020 it took the major step of relocating its headquarters from Tokyo to Awaji Island, a rural island in Hyogo Prefecture. AYF was established in 2017 and stands at the forefront of this vision, serving as a catalyst to bring talented youth from across the globe to accelerate Pasona Group’s transformative efforts.

AYF’s Vision
Aligned with the methodology of “hire for talent, train for skill,” and in harmony with the mission of our parent organization, the Pasona Group, we strive to bring out the best in people. We envision a future where individuals flourish within the inspiring landscape of Awaji, not only realizing their potential but also contributing to both the personal and the growth of the organization.

Many AYF Alumni remain on Awaji Island continuing to pursue their dreams and passions undspices of the Pasona Group, while others find that the AYF Fellowship is a springboard to the next stage of their careers either in Japan or abroad.

Themes and Structure

Reflective of its overall mission, AYF has selected three main themes for Fellowship activity. These are:

PR & Marketing
Art & Music
Health & Wellness
Design & Technology

Projects

As a working internship, the AYF Fellowship will require participants to be involved in supporting, developing, and creating initiatives to drive and deliver outcomes for AYF and the Pasona Group across several core areas.This will include supporting ongoing events and developing new events focused on wellness, inbound tourism, and culture.

As far as possible, project work will be divided to reflect the interests and activities of Fellows, and to support their work goals, so as to create an overall synergy and maximize time and effort.

Project work will broadly cover, but is not limited to, the following:

Regional Revitalization involvement in specific Pasona Group projects and work activities
New Initiatives Work in implementation and improvement of new AYF Projects
AYF Academy Training and skills development for external organizations
AYF Global Development of networks and content for the AYF online platform

Graduation Pathways

The AYF Fellowship provides participants with a unique opportunity to test their skills, interests and move out of their comfort zone. From the perspective of a new country, new culture and surrounded by AYF Fellows from all around the world, Fellows have an opportunity to take time out and rediscover themselves.
For those interested in developing a lasting connection with Japan, AYF is the perfect vehicle for the development of insight, experience and most importantly language skills that are a pre-requisite to any further career either on Awaji Island or elsewhere in Japan.
AYF Fellows who successfully showcase their skills and contribution to the development of Awaji Island in line with the vision and corporate direction of the Pasona Group will be offered a chance to stay on Awaji Island after the Fellowship to keep working on new initiatives.
Regular career counselling sessions will be included as part of the AYF Fellowship program to assist Fellows in articulating their goals and taking proactive steps to achieving them.

Japanese Classes

Improvement of Japanese Language skills is an important criterion for evaluating the progress of Fellows, and an essential prerequisite to a successful career in Japan.
Valuable support will be offered for online and offline study of Japanese language and Fellows are required to participate as proactively as possible.

Ideal Candidate

Your Profile

Experience: You’ve got 2-3 years of experience in one of our Fellowship focus areas. You thrive in startup environments and fast-paced settings, and you’re ready to take your skills to the next level.
Age: In principle, you’re between 24-30 years old and ready to dive into this exciting opportunity. Individuals are assessed on merit, however we do not consider that the Fellowship is an appropriate opportunity for people aged 35 and above or. Those with significant family and marital commitments should inform the Secretariat upon applying.
Education: You hold a Bachelor’s degree or above as a legal requirement for the working visa, and showcasing your commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Language Skills: You’re fluent in English (TOEIC 800 or equivalent), and if you’ve got a handle on Japanese (JLPT N1-N3), that’s a huge plus!

Soft Skills that Shine

Hard Work and Discipline: You’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and put in the effort to make things happen. Your discipline keeps you focused on achieving your goals.
Empathy and Care: You understand the importance of caring for others and believe in the power of collaboration and support within a team.
Flexibility and Perseverance: You adapt to new challenges with ease and keep pushing forward, no matter what obstacles come your way.
Action-Oriented: You’re not just full of great ideas—you have the drive and determination to turn those ideas into reality.

Fees and Conditions

Salary and Benefits

Monthly Salary (Base salary + Overtime):JPY 197,000
Government Taxes, Pension and Insurance fees will be deducted
Japanese class fees will be deducted
Accommodation & Utilities included

Terms and Conditions

5 days a week of working & learning
10 days of paid leave available six months into the Fellowship

Accomodation

Individual room in either Japanese or Western style
Utility costs such as electricity and Wi-Fi are included

Meals (on working days)

Although Fellows are responsible for their own food, Pasona can offer discounted meals. We cannot guarantee these meals fit all dietary restrictions.

2024 Recruitment Timeline

Detailed application process on the recruitment period of 2024.

01.Application Period April – May 31

1.) Registration – Fill in the application form after clicking the APPLY NOW button

2.) Submit a project proposal specific to Awaji Island, within 2 weeks after registration

02.Interviews June – July

Candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis

03.Visa Process

Selected fellows will be contacted in early August.

Take necessary procedures for immigration and employment.

Fellowship Starts

Fellowship will start in October

Application

Application will start in April and will be open until the 31st of May, 2024.
Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.

AYF Fellowship FAQs

I’m not fluent in Japanese. Can I still apply?

Fluency in Japanese is preferable but not required, however during the program you will have Japanese classes and will contribute to your future path. The fellowship is mainly focusing on creating innovative projects therefore even with a lower level of Japanese we encourage you to apply.

I’m over 30 years old. Am I still eligible?

We are focusing on bringing young talent from around the World. The current age range is 24-30 years old but we might recruit fellows that are slightly above or below the age limit.

Is Visa provided with this program?

Pasona Group will support your Visa application once you are selected to the program. You will need to apply for the process at your local Japanese Embassy.

What is the relationship between Pasona and AYF?

AYF is a child company of PASONA Group on Awaji Island. Pasona Group is a major HR Solutions company operating in Japan and Internationally and created AYF and AYF Fellowship in 2017 to bring revitalization, internationalization and new projects to Awaji Island.

As part of AYF Fellowship, participants can access great opportunities within Pasona both in terms of connections and in terms of future carreer.

What are the career opportunities after completing the program?

The AYF Fellowship equips you with valuable skills and experiences, making you a competitive candidate for various career paths. These may include:

Working in international development or social impact organizations.
Pursuing further education in related fields.
Building a career in Japan, potentially with the Pasona Group.

I didn’t submit my project proposal within 2 weeks. Can I still upload it?

No.

We give exactly 14 days to each candidate to upload a project proposal to us. Failing to do so will result in the automatic cancelation of your application.

Click here to know more and APPLY