School Trips to Japan: Travel Grant for Accompanying Teacher
NB: Visit Eric Lindblom’s site ‘Running School Trips to Japan’ for heaps of useful information from and for NZ trip leaders.
Are you leading a school trip to Japan? Are you struggling to raise funds? Do you feel uncomfortable asking parents to factor in your costs when fund raising for their children’s trip?
Blush no more….
Apply to Sasakawa for a $1,500 travel grant to contribute towards your airfare.
“Spending time in
the country in which a target language is spoken has got to be the most
motivating experience possible for a language learner".
"Nothing beats
that feeling of having made yourself understood in a language other than
your own.”
Recognising these claims from language teachers and students in New Zealand, in 2003 the Management Committee for the Sasakawa Fellowship Fund initiated a grant for teachers of Japanese accompanying school groups to Japan.
In general a grant will only be awarded to groups comprising 6 or more students. Only one grant will be awarded per school travelling, and a maximum of 3 grants will be awarded to one school in a six year period. In the case of secondary school groups, travellers should be current students of Japanese. If the majority, but not all travellers are Japanese language students, please specify what the remainder of the group are studying.
The number and size of grants awarded each year varies. In 2003, 20 grants of $2,000 were awarded, 30 in 2004, and 40 in 2005, 2006, and 2007. 35 grants of $1500 each were awarded for trips in 2008 and 2009. Due to the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March, all of the schools which were to have travelled in April, postponed or cancelled their trips, as did many which had planned trips later in the year.
The April 2011 trip schools which had had grants approved, are now guaranteed a grant for their trips in 2012, but need to contact Naomi Collins to confirm that they have rescheduled. Organisers of all other 2012 trips need to apply now for grants in 2012 as only 30 grants of $1500 will be awarded (excluding the April 2011 trip schools).
As at 17 August 2011, all 30 grants have been awarded so subsequent applications will be placed on a waitlist. Do not let this put you off applying – typically a reasonable number of waitlisted applications are eventually successful, as schools cancel for a variety of reasons.
How to Apply:
Important note: Apply at the beginning of your planning process. They are approved on a first-in first-served basis, provided criteria are met.
Simply complete the application form below. Please contact us if you have any questions.
A two stage process is involved in securing the award.
Apply as soon as you have dates, a rough itinerary, and an idea of numbers of travellers. If an award is approved, you will be advised promptly.
When you have receipts confirming your purchase of travel etc, send copies to Naomi Collins, together with a final itinerary, confirmed passenger list, confirmation that the majority of travellers are students of Japanese, and information on how you wish the grant to be paid. Payment of the $1,500 will be actioned upon receipt of these documents, but please note that payment can take up to a month.
On return
You will be asked to complete a very brief factual questionnaire on your return, information from which is used to feed the website ‘Running School Trips to Japan'.
Please also provide an example of one activity which you used with your students either to prepare for the trip or while in Japan. This will be added to the bank of activities on the Running School Trips website, to give ideas to leaders of future trips.
See reports and photos from schools which have received these grants
Application form