Program: Tomodachi Initiative
Location: University of California, Berkeley
Program Dates: July 16-August 16, 2012.
Remuneration: DOE + full room & board payable upon completion of the program.

Program Description:

Since 1981, Ayusa has been a leader in providing life-changing cultural exchange experiences for high school students around the world. As part of the Tomodachi initiative, Ayusa has designed an intensive three week program for Japanese high school students focusing on global leadership development and community service in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley. Students will learn leadership skills, and develop individual community service action and volunteer projects to implement in their home communities when they return home. The program will feature extensive contact with Americans through their academic program, a weekend homestay, social and sightseeing activities, along with exposure to American culture and values.

The program design incorporates community service projects, cultural enrichment activities, global skills training, and other types of experiential individual and group learning to develop civic responsibility and commitment to communities as well as inspiring future leaders to be agents of positive change. Additionally, Ayusa aims to equip participants to take action locally on issues of international importance and to empower, inspire and prepare them to work towards creating a peaceful international community.

Students will engage in a participatory learning process based on the Y-PLAN methodology (developed in UC Berkeley’s Center for Cities & Schools), which guides students through a process to engage real-world stakeholders and participants in global sustainability projects.

Job Description:

The Camp Director plays a dynamic role in the Tomodachi Initiative:

• Responsible for on-site supervision of entire program, including students and staff.
• Work closely with the Grants Manager on all programming.
• Maintain open communication lines among students, professors, resident assistants, high school mentors, and AYUSA HQ staff.
• Assist with scheduling of activities, meals, staff time-off and overall program operations.
• Provide overall support (academic, social, emotional, etc) for students attending the program
• Manage, and accompany, students on field trips around the Bay Area (Stanford University, Berkeley City Hall, CA State Legislature, etc)
• Manage evening and weekend social/fun events
• Create positive environment to ensure student satisfaction
• Other duties as assigned
•  Administrative duties as necessary

This is an exciting opportunity to work with youth from Japan, and to engage alongside them in a challenging and dynamic learning process. The ideal Camp Director enjoys working with youth and is interested in youth leadership and community development.
Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree required, masters preferred
• Minimum three to five years of summer programming
• Minimum three to five years of management experience, including staff supervision
• Camp Director needs to commit to all 3 plus weeks (training/UC Berkeley)
• Full-time availability during training/program dates. Camp Director will reside in the dorms and provide general supervision at all times
• Camp Director must pass background check
• Experience working with youth preferred (ideally with experience in Y-PLAN or a similar youth engagement process)
• Excellent multi-tasking skills
• Knowledge of youth leadership highly desirable
• International experience preferred
• Experience navigating cross-cultural differences
• Cell phone necessary
• Japanese fluency desirable

Deadline: Rolling

To Apply: Please submit cover letter and resume to Menraj Sachdev at msachdev@ayusa.org. No phone calls please.