Leading Asia-US exchange since 1963 VIA PROGRAMS VIAPROGRAMS.ORG OUR MISSION
VIA provides innovative experiential learning programs in Asia and the United States that promote cross-cultural understanding, build partnerships, and offer transformative experiences for our participants and the communities they serve. ORIGINS
VIA began in 1963 when then Dean of Freshman Men at Stanford University, Dwight Clark, organized a summer volunteer project with Stanford students serving refugees in Hong Kong. The summer reshaped many of these students’ personal and professional goals. They so valued the benefits of their cross-cultural experience that they recruited others for similar projects. In 1966, theses programs were incorporated under the name “Volunteers in Asia”.
Since its founding, VIA has grown to offer short-term cultural and professional training programs, internships, and year-long fellowships throughout Asia and in Silicon Valley for participants from the US and Asia. The organization shortened its name to “VIA” (pronounced vee-ya) to recognize its origins while also being inclusive of its entire community in the US and Asia. HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
1980 1963 VIA starts VIA’s first mainland China volunteers program, quickly spend a summer expanding to in Hong Kong, 1977 2010’s many provinces serving Chinese VIA launches VIA hosts first refugees the American Exploring Social Language & Innovation Culture (ALC) program at program at Stanford (‘10); Stanford for launches summer students from medical and Japan (now social innovation 1966-68 1996 includes students programs in VIA incorporates VIA launches first from mainland Silicon Valley as a 501(c)(3) Exploring Health China, Macau, (‘12) non-profit; sends Care program Korea, and first volunteers to in collaboration Taiwan as well) Vietnam (‘66) and with Tokyo Indonesia (‘68) 1970’s Medical and VIA enters Tokyo Women’s 2006 Taiwan, remains Medical VIA enters in Taiwan for Universities Myanmar and nearly 24 years; continues to also sends grow its network volunteers to of local partners Bangladesh and there Sri Lanka for several years PERSONAL GROWTH
How VIA Invests in Individuals...
VIA seeks to create meaningful impact through a unique, whole-person and community-based approach to cultural exchange.
Our programming focuses on three core competencies: creative problem-solving, leadership development, and cross-cultural competence, in addition to program-specific themes.
Through strengthening these core competencies, participants cultivate a global mindset, resilience, self-awareness, and empathy - growing as future leaders and changemakers equipped to solve the challenges facing our global community. GLOBAL IMPACT
...to Create Global Impact
To design and deliver programs, VIA partners with universities, local community organizations, social enterprises, and NGOs developing grassroots solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges facing communities across the globe.
By connecting individuals and organizations in the US and Asia, we support grassroots collaboration and innovation across cultures.
As we support and learn from one another, our global community grows stronger and more capable of developing innovative solutions to the challenges facing our world. PROGRAM SITES
SAN FRANCISCO PALO ALTO/ STANFORD SILICON VALLEY
CHINA INDONESIA JAPAN MYANMAR THAILAND VIETNAM PROGRAM THEMES
VIA’s team of experienced cross-cultural and immersive learning educators design and manage programs that build understanding across cultures and promote collaboration for positive social impact
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE PUBLIC HEALTH + COMPARATIVE HEALTH CARE
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
EDUCATION SOCIAL INNOVATION
SPORTS + YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TECH FOR SOCIAL GOOD
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ART + SOCIAL MOVEMENTS ELEMENTS OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
VIA’s programs are designed to be immersive, hands-on experiences using scaffolded content and guided reflection activities to reinforce learning outcomes
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS ORGANIZATION VISITS Participants learn to understand and Interns, fellows, and student teams work By visiting local NGOs and social enterprises, appreciate other cultures by experiencing closely with community partners to better participants gain insights into how local traditional and modern cultural activities understand social challenges and offer their organizations are addressing social time, skills, and energy to help address them challenges
GUEST SPEAKERS INNOVATIVE WORKSHOPS Participants engage with community Participants dive into VIA’s innovative members, thought leaders, and experts curricula through hands-on workshops and working to address social challenges professional training PROGRAM MODELS
VIA designs and manages a diverse portfolio of experiential education programs, offering a range of lengths and structures
EXPLORATION + EXPOSURE EXPERIENCES 3-5 DAYS
STUDY TOURS 10-14 DAYS
FACULTY-LED FIELD COURSES 10–28 DAYS
INTENSIVE SKILLS TRAINING 2-4 WEEKS
IMMERSIVE INTERNSHIPS 7–10 WEEKS
PARTNER-BASED FELLOWSHIPS 12–14 MONTHS PROGRAM PORTFOLIO Asia Programs
Program Academic Location Program Duration Scholarship Open to... Fee (approx) Credit Student-athletes from Duke and Stanford Western Yes, from Sports & Environmental Leadership 3 weeks in July Fully funded Universities who apply to the Rubenstein-Bing China Duke/Stanford Student Athlete Civic Engagement program US university students - preference given to Rikuzen Takata 11 days in Japan Fully funded students who have volunteered as coordinators Social Innovation Program September on VIA’s Silicon Valley-based programs Art & Social Movements 2 weeks in Yes, University undergraduate & graduate students (no with State University of New York $3,900 January from SUNY citizenship requirements) (SUNY), Cortland Gender & Conflict Studies 2 weeks in Yes, University undergraduate & graduate students (no $3,900 Yogyakarta with George Mason University (GMU) January from GMU citizenship requirements) & Bali, Indonesia Graduate Research Studies University undergraduate & graduate students (no 3 weeks in July $4,770 Yes, from GMU with George Mason University (GMU) citizenship requirements)
Indonesia Summer Immersion 6-10 weeks $4,000 - University undergraduate & graduate students (no Yes Internship in summer $5,000 citizenship requirements) University graduates and professionals (US One year, Global Community Fellowship Fully funded citizenship or 4-year degree required for most starting in June Indonesia fellowship placements) Myanmar Thailand 2 weeks to Starting Universities, organizations, & individuals, including Custom Programs in Asia Vietnam 2 months from $2,000~ university students and professionals & other Professionals, VIA alumni and friends/family locations 10 days, spring Starting Study Tours (study tours for private groups also available or summer from $4,000~ through custom program option) PROGRAM PORTFOLIO Silicon Valley Programs
Program Academic Location* Program Duration Scholarship Open to... Fee (approx) Credit Depends on 11 days in students’ University students & starting professionals Exploring Social Innovation (ESI) February, July, $3,100 Yes home from Asia, must be 18 or older & August university
5 days in University faculty from Asia with an interest/focus San Francisco Social Innovation Educators Exchange $2,500 February in social innovation
Depends on 12 days in students’ Medical students from Japan, Exploring Health Care (EHC) $3,800 March home must be 18 or older university Depends on University students from Japan (Japanese Palo Alto/ Design-Thinking for Social Innovation 10 days in students’ $3,100 Yes citizenship not required) & Stanford University Stanford (DSI) March home students, must be 18 or older university Depends on 3 weeks in students’ Medical students from Asia, Medical Exchange & Discovery (MED) $4,800 August home must be 18 or older Stanford university Campus 4 weeks in Yes, from University students from Asia, American Language & Culture (ALC) $7,300 August Stanford must be 18 or older
Starting Universities, organizations, & individuals, including Silicon Valley Custom Programs in Silicon Valley 3-5 days from $2,000~ university students and professionals
* Location indicates where participants are based for the majority of the program, but all programs include visits to San Francisco, Stanford, and other Silicon Valley sites. PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS
VIA partners connect us with participants, provide strategic and programmatic support, and collaborate on various levels. Universities and organizations we collaborate with regularly include:
UNITED STATES INDONESIA • Sophia University • American University • Sanata Dharma University • Taktopia • Bellejar Foundation • Gadjah Mada University • Tokyo Medical University • Dr. CJ Huang Foundation • Universitas Alma Ata • Tokyo Metropolitan Toyama High School • Duke University • Universitas Jember • Tokyo Women’s Medical University • Enlight Foundation • Waseda University • George Mason University JAPAN • Middlebury Institute of International Studies at • Business Break Through University MYANMAR Monterey • Doshisha University • Inle Heritage Hospitality Vocational Training • Stanford University’s Haas Center for Public • Ehime University, School of Medicine Centre Service • Fukuoka Futaba High School • Pre-Collegiate Program Yangon • Good Try JAPAN • Stanford University’s Summer Session TAIWAN • Stanford Language Center English for Foreign • Hitotsubashi University • International University of Health & Welfare • Ming-Shin International Education Center Students Program • National Cheng Chi University • State University of New York, Cortland • United World College, International School of Asia, Karuizawa • National Taiwan University MAINLAND CHINA, HONG KONG • Japan Foundation • National Yang Ming University & MACAU • Juntendo University THAILAND • China Exploration & Research Society • Keio University • Bridging Educational Access to Migrants • Guangzhou English Teaching Center for the • Kyoto University (BEAM) Education Foundation Handicapped • Kyushu University • Thammasat University • Hong Kong University of Science & Technology • Meiji University • Lingnan University • Nihon University, School of Medicine VIETNAM • Macau University of Science & Technology • Osaka Medical College • Pacific Links Foundation • Peking University, School of Economics • Rikkyo University • The Lab, Vung Tau MANAGEMENT TEAM ASIA PROGRAMS TEAM Kazutoh Ishida, PhD Patrick Arnold Executive Director Peter Nguyen Director of Programs Provides visionary Global Community leadership, advocates for Fellowship Coordinator Manages program portfolio VIA’s mission, & connects development, partnerships, Supports fellows & fellowship with community of VIA & coordinates program staff partners in Asia; coordinates alumni, partners, & friends new applicant screening & placement SILICON VALLEY PROGRAMS TEAM
Brian Byrdsong Yuki Ueda Izzy Rhoads Director of Development Language & Cultural Indonesia Programs Director Programs Director Manages fundraising, donor Designs & leads short-term, engagement, & grants Designs & leads cultural faculty-led, and internship education & customized programs in Yogyakarta programs in Silicon Valley & Bali
Melissa Golden Lina Yamashita, PhD Samantha White Sports Program Director Director of Operations Medical Programs Director Leads the Sports & Manages program marketing, Designs & leads comparative Environmental Leadership recruitment, & enrollment health care programs for program in western China, & coordinates evaluation medical students from Asia coordinating with universities with program staff in Silicon Valley and on-site partners
Joanna Kraut Yi Zhang Sani Widowati Director of Finance & Admin. Social Innovation Programs Indonesia Representative Manages and oversees Designs & leads social Coordinates with local finance, administration, HR, innovation & design-thinking partners, supports & IT operations programs in Silicon Valley participants, & manages & Asia on-the-ground logistics JOIN US!
Connect with VIA to learn more about our programs and how to collaborate with us to transcend boundaries, transform lives, and inspire future leaders and changemakers in the US and Asia!
VIA c/o WeWork 995 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94103
415-904-8033 [email protected]