Social Innovation Forum: Japan Curriculum

In each Social Innovation Forum: Japan delegation there are 10-12 Delegates.  These people are selected as “next generation leaders” (typically aged 21 to 35, but without a hard age cap) and recognized in their fields of endeavor. SIFJ Delegates have already established themselves and their work as central to the rebuilding efforts in Tohoku and are leading a change in Japanese civil society and social business.  The Social Innovation Forum: Japan has four main parts to the curriculum:

 

Skills-Building Workshops:  Social Innovation Forum Delegates begin their training with Foundations in Social Innovation and move quickly through workshops in cross-cultural communication, global philanthropy, resource and relationship development, partner identification, leadership, and sustainability. These courses are primarily faciliated by iLEAP staff, but also involve internationally recognized leaders in their respective fields.  Each workshop is highly interactive with close attention given to fostering a dynamic and inspired community of learning.

All sessions are conducted in both English and Japanese. 

 

 

Site Visits and Guest Speakers:  The Social Innovation Forum: Japan involves a number of leaders from widely recognized philanthropies, social enterprises and nonprofits in Seattle.  These include senior leadership from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Jolkona Foundation, Seattle Foundation, Center for Courage and Renewal, Give2Asia, and Mercy Corps.

The purpose of the Site Visits and Guest Speakers is to expose Delegates to new perspectives on change and to also hear about how other organizations in Seattle are deeply committed to supporting the relief and rebuilding efforts in Japan.

 

 

Resource Development and Global Partnership Building: As the result of March 11, 2011, a great deal of international giving has been collected in support of the Japanese rebuilding efforts.  At the same time, still a large percentage of these resources have yet to be distributed to the organizations doing the important work of energizing social innovation and change in Japan. During the Social Innovation Forum: Japan, Delegates meet with foundations and interested organizations and individuals who want to support their work in Japan. Each Delegate is eligible to become a part of i4 Japan, a funding partnership between iLEAP and the Jolkona Foundation, and a direct way for American supporters to give directly to Forum Delegates. 

 

 

Public Speaking and Events: Sharing their story of hope, resilience and change is an important part of the Social Innovation Forum: Japan. For this reason, Forum Delegates give a number of public talks during their time in Seattle. We believe that Delegates have as much to teach the world as they do to learn during their time in Seattle. Delegates appear on radio and television as well as give interviews to print and social media outlets.