Asia-US Service-Learning Program (AUSL)
PProgram Dates: August 1 - August 25*, 2010 (*return to Asia the following day)

The Asia-US Service-Learning (AUSL) Program brings together community-minded students from Asia (Japan, Mainland China and Taiwan) and from Stanford University for an intensive four-week program. AUSL offers Asian students an intimate, hands-on opportunity to explore some of America’s and the world’s most pressing issues, including health and disability and the environment.

What will you do on AUSL?
Goals The goal of the AUSL program is for participants to:
* Learn about issues related to health or the environment in their home countries and the U.S.
* Investigate entrepreneurial approaches and services to address these issues
* Implement what students have learned to design new approach es to issues in their communities

Weeks 1 & 2: Introduction
The first two weeks of AUSL are based around Stanford University. During this period, Asian participants will gain understanding about health and environment-related issues through group discussions conducted by Stanford students in English from 9am – 11am every morning. In the afternoon, participants visit organizations and volunteer in the community.

Week 3: Investigation
During the third week, participants will engage in topic-focused service activities with innovative social organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. To help gain a deeper understanding of the issues, Stanford and Asia coordinators will lead reflection sessions after each service activity.

Week 4: Implementation
Finally, the last several days are a time for participants to reflect on the entire month and work on a project to propose a new approach addressing issues in their home communities.

What will you learn?
Pre-Program Research
Participants will focus on issues related to either Health & Disability or Environment & Sustainability. They are expected to research one of these issues related to their home country. Participants will use this research to share with other participants and compare the systems in their countries and in the U.S.

Volunteer Activities
During the program, the participants will engage in various Volunteer/service activities. Examples of possible activities are:

Health & Disability: Work with children with disabilities at Camp Costanoan; volunteer with the elderly at Lytton Gardens

Environment & Sustainability: Participate in a beach clean up at Half Moon Bay; engage in service work at organic gardens to educate children in low-income neighborhoods.