What is the HANDs Project?

An initiative by the Japan Foundation Asia Center, the Hope and Dreams (HANDs) Project is a biannual youth exchange programme aiming to nurture a sense of solidarity and coexistence among Asian communities.

In order to deepen mutual understanding between Japanese and Asian youth, HANDs will utilise a two-way method of knowledge and experience-sharing that promotes cross-cultural dialogue, cultivates a network of like-minded peers and fosters collaborative efforts in the field of disaster education.

The programme is limited to the young people of Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and India. Successful applicants will travel to Japan, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand to learn more about local disaster prevention. In the second year, participants will work together to create community projects.

Why the need for HANDs now?

We’d hate to resort to clich, but youths truly are the change agents who determine the future. Right in our own backyard, the wave of young people taking an active interest in social welfare has grown at a rapid rate, especially with regards to problem areas synonymous with this region.

In seeking to capitalise on this trend to further strengthen the friendship between Japan and its Asian counterparts, the Japan Foundation Asia Center provides opportunities for youths to trade expertise, inspire one another and seek project partners through the HANDs Programme.

Participants are therefore not only able to accelerate personal development, but are also encouraged to take action, as symbolised by the logo depicting a palm made up of smaller hands. This epitomises the power of youths in coming together to tackle society’s most pressing issues of the day despite hailing from vastly different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

What does being a HANDs participant entail?

First year

1. Study trip #1: 10 days in Indonesia and Philippines (September 25 October 5, 2014) 2. Study trip #2: 10 days in Thailand and Japan (January or February 2015, date TBC)

Second year

Participants are expected to:

1. Form a network of youths, university students and young professionals focusing on disaster education-related issues 2. Propose a new project on disaster education based on the year’s theme to the Japan Foundation Asia Center

In short, we are looking for applicants who can:

1. Join the two study trips to learn as much as possible and develop potential projects 2. Implement the best project ideas in their respective communities

Who can apply?

1. Applicants must be EITHER of the following: a) an active university student or graduate (must present student ID) OR b) a young professional (social worker, journalist, creative, etc.) with at least one year of working experience

2. Applicants must have a history of performing community engagement in such fields as disaster education, preparedness and post-disaster recovery OR children, handicapped and elderly care, women empowerment, LGBT rights, etc.

3. Applicants are eager to learn from other countries’ experiences in disaster preparedness and post-disaster recovery.

4. Applicants must understand and agree to the aims of HANDs.

5. Applicants must be 18-30 years old.

6. Applicants must possess the ability to conduct formal conversations in English and have good communication skills. The whole programme is presented in English without the aid of a translator.

7. Applicants must be able to commit to the full length of the programme: a) September 25 October 5, 2014 b) January February, 2015 (date TBC)

8. Applicants must be in good physical and mental shape.

What must I prepare and submit to apply?

University student and graduate applicants

1. HANDs application form for university students and graduates (download here) 2. Photocopy of student ID 3. CV in English (must not exceed 5 pages) 4. Any additional material regarding your experience in disaster-related activities

Young professional applicants

1. HANDs application form for young professionals (download here) 2. CV in English (must not exceed 5 pages) 3. Two work samples, e.g. short essays, newspaper articles, journals, poster designs, comics, photo sets, videos, etc.

All documents should not exceed 10MB. We will not accept any that exceeds this file size. For videos (if any), please upload to Youtube and send us the link.

When and where should I send these documents?

Attach the documents to an email and send it to amira [at] jfkl.org.my with the subject header ?HANDs/University Student or Young Professional/Applicant?s Name?, before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2014.

NOTE:

1. Please DO NOT wait until the last day to submit your application. In our last programmes, many waited until the last day and crashed our email system due to the heavy traffic. If we do not receive your email, we will not screen your application. The earlier, the better.

2. Upon sending your email, ensure that you did not receive a delivery error message. If your email bounced, please resend your application.

If you have questions, please contact:

Nurul Amira binti Sabri Cultural Affairs Department The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur 18th Floor, Northpoint, Block B Mid-Valley City, No.1, Medan Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia T 603 2284 6228 F 603 2287 5859