Awaji Youth Federation Fellowship for Emerging Leaders 2026

Reach us on

Applications are open for Awaji Youth Federation Fellowship for Emerging Leaders 2026, a prestigious nine-month live-in leadership program based on Awaji Island, Japan. The fellowship is designed for emerging young leaders from around the world who are passionate about addressing regional revitalization in Japan while tackling broader global challenges.

The AYF Fellowship is an intensive, immersive experience that brings together young professionals with prior work experience to learn, collaborate, and contribute meaningfully to society. Fellows live and work on Awaji Island for nine months, engaging directly with Japanese workplaces and community-based initiatives.

Through lectures, mentorship, fieldwork, and hands-on project execution, participants gain practical experience while contributing to Natureverse and regional development projects. The program focuses on building globally minded leaders who can act as bridges for sustainable development across national and cultural boundaries.

Awaji Youth Federation Fellowship Program Features

Learning Integrated with Practice Utilizing Awaji Island’s rich local resources, the program combines lectures, fieldwork, and collaborative regional projects to promote both personal growth and business development.
Diverse International Community Fellows live and work alongside peers from around the world, learning through dialogue and cooperation across cultures. This unique environment cultivates global perspectives and creative thinking.
Global Alumni Network Upon completion, Fellows join the AYF Alumni network, maintaining lifelong connections and access to continued career and project development opportunities worldwide.

Fellowship Themes and Focus Areas

Participants will work on projects across key sectors, including:

New business development
International projects
Tourism
Wellness
Agriculture
Education
Technology
Social innovation
Entrepreneurship

Eligibility Criteria for Awaji Youth Federation Fellowship

We welcome candidates who:

Resonate with AYF’s philosophy of self-help, altruism, and unity.
Enjoy living and collaborating in a rural environment while co-creating value with the local community.
Have a theme clear or field they wish to pursue—such as new business development, international, tourism, wellness, agriculture, education, or technology.
Aspire to demonstrate leadership in entrepreneurship, the well-being industry, social
innovation, or regional revitalization.
The AYF Fellowship Program is designed for individuals with prior professional experience who wish to grow rapidly and achieve significant advancement in a short period.
Work experience is required. AYF provides a platform for practical engagement and business creation, not a training program.
Expected Visa category: “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.”
Language: English (business level required); Japanese not mandatory but desirable.