Thursday, November 20, 2008

2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia

Background

The May 18 Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization established on August 30, 1994 by the surviving victims of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, the victims, families, and the citizens of Gwangju. The Foundation aims to commemorate and continue the spirit of struggle and solidarity of the May 18 Uprising, contribute to the peaceful reunification of Korea, and work towards peace and human rights throughout the world. Since its establishment, the Foundation has carried out numerous projects in varying fields, including organizing memorial events, establishing scholarships, fostering research, disseminating public information, publishing relevant materials, dispensing charity and welfare benefits, building international solidarity, and awarding Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. The Culture and Solidarity Team is in charge of the Foundation's international solidarity work throughout Asia and implements this project.


Description

The 2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA) supports work that contributes to promoting Democracy and Human Rights and building of international solidarity. This grant shall be awarded to non-government organizations in Asia who continually play a significant role in strengthening people’s participation and empowerment in creating a civil society that respect human rights and protect democracy and peace and encourages international solidarity.

Funding scheme available: (US$ 1 = KRW 1,423.00, as of 24 October 2008)
Schemes


Description
Amount

Short-term grant
2 organizations will be supported for one year project
₩3,000,000.000 (Three Million Korean Won)

Other Information

In the past The May 18 Memorial Foundation have been supporting organizations with a yearly support amounting to ₩300,000 for the last two years. These organizations include:

• Asia NGO Center in Philippines (Asian Bridge)
• Advocacy Forum in Nepal
• YPKP in Indonesia
• PPDD in Thailand

The National League for Democracy in Korea was given support for ₩200,000 yearly. Presently the Foundation is providing support to 6 organizations with different funding schemes that include country’s like Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and HK-China.

Focus
For 2009 the GDHRPA funding shall focus on the following:


• Publication, Education, Training and Research in the field of Democracy and Human Rights in Asia.
• Peace, Conflict Resolution, Women’s Rights, Children’s Rights, Labor Rights in Asia.
• Database and Net-work building.

Eligibility


• Applications only for the new project are eligible.
• Organizations or institutions who have been working on the above field for more than 3 years (applications from GO are not eligible)
• Eligible projects are those based in Asia.
• Organization grant is not available for individuals.

Qualification

Applicants need to be able to demonstrate that their organization:

• is duly registered, has a constitution/by-laws, a clear management structure, efficient and effective financial control or systems.
• existing program on Democracy, Peace and Human Rights.
• demonstrate the capacity to effectively monitor project implementation, come up with regular evaluation and accomplishment (outcomes, output, and impact) reports once a year.

Application Procedure

2007 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia will be closed on 28 November 2008. Related documents should be submitted as follows:

• Application Form (refer to the attachment).
• Project Proposal
• Financial or Accounting and Audit System (Internal or External Audit).
• Record of Funds for the last 2 years.
• Organizational profile, brochure and other related documents.

Application for funding must be submitted by post or e-mailed to may18found@gmail.com. Selected applicants will be informed on 31 December 2008. Insufficient data of application will not be accepted.

Contact Information

Mr. Chanho Kim
Director International Cooperation Team
The May 18 Memorial Foundation
may18found@gmail.com
surnadal@hanmail.net
Mobile: +82 10 4462 6650

The May 18 Memorial Foundation,
518 Memorial Culture Hall,
Postcode 502-260
Sangmudong Seo-gu, 1268
Gwangju, Korea Republic

http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05010000&idx=330&page=1&key=&keyword=

THE MAY 18 MEMORIAL FOUNDATION International Internship Programme

The May 18 Memorial Foundation was founded by Gwangju citizens, sympathetic overseas Koreans, and from individuals who sacrificed and got indemnification from the government. It was created on August 30, 1994 by people who believe it's important to keep the ideas and memories of the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising alive and remembered.


The International Internship Program is a program of the Foundation created in 2005 to contribute in the development of democracy and human rights throughout Asia. It is also an opportunity for interns to learn and experience the history and process of the development of human rights and democracy in South Korea. Specifically the purpose and aim of the program are the following: 1) To improve international solidarity and networking and 2) To promote Gwangju as Asia's Hub for Human Rights Movement.


The Foundation is looking for two interns who will serve for 10 months from March-December 2009. Applicants female or male should not be more than 30 years of age, with a minimum of 3 years NGO or social development work experience on the issues of human rights, democracy and peace. Must be proficient in English and working knowledge of Korean is an advantage. Must be computer literate (email/internet, blog/web page, lay-out/design, etc).


Living allowance will be provided to successful interns. Housing will be provided but utilities (telephone/internet, electricity, and gas) will be paid for by interns. The Foundation will pay for the round trip airfare of interns.


Please download the attached application form if you are interested to apply and send application to this email address: 518interns@gmail.com

Deadline of application is on 28 November 2008. Short listed applicants will be emailed for an online/webcam interview through Skype or Yahoo messenger.

http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05010000&idx=299&page=1&key=&keyword=

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Justice Initiative Fellows Program for 2009-2011

The Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open Society Institute (OSI), joins with Central European University (CEU) to announce the Justice Initiative Fellows Program for 2009-2011.


Overview
The aim of the Justice Initiative Fellows Program is to support and further develop a network of lawyers and activists working internationally on human rights-related issues. Since its start in 1996, 165 fellows have graduated from the Justice Initiative's Fellowship program.

The Justice Initiative Fellows Program is a two-year program of study and practical work experience. Up to ten applicants will be selected to participate in the 2009 program. Applicants from the following regions and countries are eligible: Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, East, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America.

Applicants must be nominated by a non-governmental organization concerned with human rights. The first year is spent at Central European University, the second in the applicant's home country, working with the nominating NGO.

The applicant must demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights, and have a university degree and a high degree of proficiency in English. Criteria for selection will include the applicant's experience, his/her potential to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights, and the suitability of the applicant's proposed role in the nominating NGO. Upon selection, Fellows will be required to sign an agreement with the Justice Initiative committing themselves to the program for two years.

The Justice Initiative Fellows will reside for one year in Hungary, at CEU Legal Studies Department. They will undertake a degree program (M.A. or LL.M. in Human Rights, depending on their undergraduate degree), in which they will be required to fulfill the requirements of the Human Rights Program at Central European University. During their stay at CEU, the Fellows will also participate in a three-month internship placement with leading NGOs in Europe from January until March. During the first year of the program the Justice Initiative Fellowship will be administered by CEU Legal Studies Department in partnership with the Justice Initiative. Financial conditions will be identical to CEU policies for full scholarship students.

The Justice Initiative Fellows will return to their nominating NGOs after the first year, where they will spend at least one year working in human rights advocacy on a non-profit basis: providing legal services, undertaking human rights litigation, providing training and education, etc. The Justice Initiative will pay a local salary during this second year equal to an amount determined to be similar to equivalent work by the nominating NGO. This amount will be provided to the nominating NGOs in the form of a grant.

Application Procedure

Please note that the applicant must mail his/her application to the CEU Admissions Office (1051 Budapest, Nador u.9, Hungary).

The applicant must meet the general CEU Admissions requirements, which can be viewed online http://www.ceu.hu/admissions_apply.html as well as the CEU Legal Studies Department Requirements (http://web.ceu.hu/legal/prosp_students.html).

In addition, applicants must include with their application:

1. A nomination letter from an NGO describing the reasons for nominating the applicant, the expectations the NGO has of the project, and contractually committing (to the Justice Initiative) to hire the applicant for at least one year after s/he returns from the twelve-month training program in Hungary. The nomination letter should also indicate a monthly salary gross rate in USD (including all taxes and fees) that will be offered to the applicant by the NGO in the event that s/he is selected for the program (provided to the NGO by the Justice Initiative in the form of a grant).

2. A copy of the applicant's Bar Association membership (if applicable), or the date scheduled for examination.

3. Proof of English proficiency: Candidates staying out of the testing region are required to submit official score reports (See CEU recognized Language exams and score required http://www.ceu.hu/admissions_apply.html ). For applicants from the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe, language tests as well as Legal Reasoning Test and Department essays will be carried out by local Soros Foundation/Open Society Institute coordinators on March 14, 2009. For candidates outside this region the Admission exam will be carried out via e-mail on March 14, 2009, followed by interviews administered at a later date. (See also http://web.ceu.hu/legal/prosp_students.html .)

4. A statement of purpose for applying to the Justice Initiative Fellows program.

5. A proposal of project activities that the candidate plans to work on with the nominating NGO during the second year of the fellowship.


The DEADLINE for receiving applications at CEU is January 26, 2009.


Contact

If you have questions regarding the first year of the program, please contact:
Lea Tilless
Special Programs Coordinator, Legal Studies Department,
Central European University, NA?dor u. 9, Budapest 1051,
Tel: +361 327-3205 e-mail: TillessL@ceu.hu
web: http://www.ceu.hu/legal

For more information about the overall program and the second year commitment, please contact:

Anna Fischer
Fellows Program Coordinator at Justice Initiative, Oktober 6. u. 12,
Budapest 1051, Tel: +361 327-3108; fax: 361 327 3103; e-mail:
afischer@osi.hu, web: http://www.justiceinitiative.org
For more information about this program please visit http://www.justiceinitiative.org

The Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open Society Institute (OSI), pursues law reform activities grounded in the protection of human rights, and contributes to the development of legal capacity for open societies worldwide. The Justice Initiative combines litigation, legal advocacy, technical assistance, and the dissemination of knowledge to secure advances in the following priority areas: national criminal justice, international justice, freedom of information and expression, and equality and citizenship. Its offices are in Abuja, Budapest, London, New York, and Washington DC.

2009 CIPE International Essay Competition

The deadline for the 2009 competition is March 1, 2009!

Young people can be a powerful force for change! As future reformers,young people (18-30) have innovative ideas on how to solve the political, economic, and social problems facing their countries. However, they often lack the voice to bring these ideas to policymakers. Simply, young people are often regarded as recipients of
reforms, not active participants in the reform process.

CIPE's essay contest gives you the opportunity to share your ideas about citizenship, democratic and market-oriented reform, youth leadership, and the ways that your country can create avenues for youth to participate in the political and economic spheres. We encourage you to get thinking, get involved, and use your own
experiences to develop concrete solutions to these development issues.

A $1,000 honorarium will be given for each winning essay.

Download a flyer about the contest
http://www.cipe.org/programs/women/pdf/CIPEcontest.pdf

For more information, visit
http://www.cipe.org/programs/women/essay.php

Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)

The application for JDS Program is now on-going. Interested government employees may submit their application documents to JICE JDS Project Office on or before December 12, 2008.

There's a target government agency for each field of study so kindly check first if your agency is included or not. If you have further queries, please contact the JICE JDS Project Office at 753-3261 or you may email them at jicejdsphilippines@yahoo.com . You can also visit their website at http://sv2.jice.org/jds/


**********************************************************
MARY ANN G. BAKISAN
Program Officer
Training Program Section
JICA Philippine Office

40th Floor, Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza
Ayala Avenue, Makati City
tel no: +63-2-889-7119 local 144
fax no: +63-2-889-6850
email: MaryannBakisan.PP@jica.go.jp

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Graduate School 2009 Full Scholarships

Warm greetings from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Japan. We would like to inform you of full scholarship opportunities available for academically exceptional individuals to study at our university in 2009. Important details are as follows:

1. Scholarship Benefits: All university fees, an allowance for living expenses, and airfare will be provided.

2. Semester to enroll: Fall (September) 2009

3. Required Application Fee: 5,000 yen or US$49

4. Application Deadline: February 20, 2009

Please see the following page on our web site for full details about the scholarship, and instructions for how to apply.
http://www.apu.ac.jp/graduate/modules/admissions/index.php?id=48

Yours sincerely,

Kimio YAKUSHIJI
Vice President
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

CONTACT
Jacob CHMIELEWSKI, Hann-shiuh HSIUNG
Shirley SUTHERLAND-FIGINI
Graduate Admissions
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
1-2 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita, JAPAN 874-8755
TEL: +81-977-78-1119 FAX: +81-977-78-1121
E-mail: apugrad@apu.ac.jp
URL: www.apu.ac.jp/graduate

RP-US Exchange on Criminal Justice

Michigan State University- School of Criminal Justice in cooperation with the Xavier University in the Philippines , and with funding assistance from the US Department of State, is sponsoring an exchange program for young promising leaders in the field of criminal justice. There will be 12 Filipinos who will be selected for an intensive 6 week training in the United States on issues of crime and justice. This project aims to improve our country's Criminal Justice System.

Anyone who had been in the forefront for the struggle for reforms in our criminal justice system to apply in this project. (The list includes but not limited to: defense lawyers, prosecutors, judges, activists, academicians, environmentalists) The organizers believe that exposure to comparative and international justice systems will provide us with innovative approaches to the challenges facing our own Criminal Justice system.

The process of selection will be through a competition. Please note that the deadline for application is on NOVEMBER 15, 2008.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to raymund_narag@yahoo.com or download application form here

World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific Internship Program




The Asia Pacific Internship Program is open to all World Youth Alliance members in the Asia Pacific region between the ages of 16 and 30.

Internships are voluntary and may be done on a part or full-time basis. All internships will be coordinated and supervised by the Regional Directors of the Asia Pacific office.

Objectives

1. To identify and train young leaders to communicate articulately on behalf of the intrinsic dignity of the human person and a culture of life

2. To develop a vocabulary with which to engage the international community and larger culture on issues relating to the dignity of the person, human rights, and integral development

3. To provide work-related experience to members of the World Youth Alliance

4. To involve members directly by handling projects of the World Youth Alliance

The Program

Internships run for 10 to 12 weeks on the average. Interns will be assigned a project and will be in-charge of implementing it according to the specifics in the brief. All externships will be divided into three main components, namely the introductory training, project development, and project assessment.

Introductory Training
All interns begin with their basic training (Track A of the Certified Training Program). Training will be facilitated by the staff of the regional office and when possible, outside experts. It will focus on two areas namely human rights philosophy and the dignity of the human person as the basis for all human rights. Training sessions will be done as a group and will be held once a week. These will be facilitated by a supervisor.

Project Development
Interns will be chosen for and briefed on a project. Projects may focus on international law, public relations, diplomacy, research, a project related to another regional office or to provide regional support for an existing project. All projects will include concrete goals and tasks formulated in cooperation between the intern, the program coordinator (when applicable) and the supervisor.

Project Assessment
In the middle and end of the program, an evaluation of the project and the program will be conducted. Interns will be required to write a final report and finalize their research in consultation with WYA staff and other experts.

Deadlines for Submission

All applications must be submitted by mail to the World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific by the following dates:

2009
1. January 12 (Monday) to March 28 (Friday)
Deadline: December 12 (Friday)
2. April 20 (Monday) to June 26 (Friday)
Deadline: March 13 (Friday)
3. July 6 (Monday) to September 18 (Friday)
Deadline: June 8 (Monday)
4. October 12 (Monday) to December 18 (Friday)
Deadline: September 21 (Monday)


Confirmation of receipt of applications will be sent via email. Final decision will be given one week after the interview.

For further inquiries, please contact Desiree Go at desiree@wya.net or the Asia Pacific office through tel/fax (632) 433 0715.

http://wya.net/regions/asia_internships.html?catid=52