1. About Sylff Leadership Initiatives (SLI)
To encourage Sylff fellows to take initiatives that can change society for the better, the Sylff Association provides financial support for two categories of SLI activities: (1) social action projects and (2) the organization of a forum, conference, seminar, or workshop; such gatherings may be of either an academic or nonacademic nature, but academic meetings must address tangible social issues and aim to have real-world impact. An important consideration in screening applicants is whether or not the proposed project was initiated by the Sylff fellow. Past SLI activities are described in “Awardees & Reports.”
The Sylff Philosophy
Issues of pressing concern today are becoming more and more intertwined with other complex, global-scale problems, and no one country can resolve them alone. The parties affected by the problems may not all have the same values and interests or share economic or political orientations. Underlying the Sylff philosophy is the desire to support “leaders” with the passion and ability to serve the common interests of humanity, transcending narrow national, religious, ethnic, and other differences to undertake socially constructive leadership initiatives and act in an inclusive manner, respecting diversity in cultures and values.
2. Eligibility
IMPORTANT: The award covers projects that will be implemented during the Tokyo Foundation’s fiscal year (April 2025 to March 2026). At least part of the project (including preparatory activities like arranging flights or reserving the venue) must begin by March 31, 2026, to be eligible.
(Note)
In addition to the above eligibility requirements, the following should also be considered:
3. Application
4. Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated from the following five perspectives:
Improving Your Chances of Winning an Award
Many applications for socially worthwhile projects are submitted but wind up getting rejected because they lack specifics. Proposals for concrete, well-planned action that can be expected to have tangible impact will have a much better chance of winning an SLI award. To improve your chances, please look over the list below. Based on the proposals we have received to date, successful applications:
5. Schedule
IMPORTANT
6. Awards
7.Others
Awardees and Reports
The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research is pleased to announce the following recipients of SLI awards since fiscal 2013.
Obby Taufik Hidayat (2024)
Universiti Malaya
Title: Building Digital Resilience: Enhancing Digital Literacy and Cybersecurity Awareness for Communities
Shangrila Joshi (2024)
University of Oregon
Title: The Significance of the Machchhindranath Jatra and the Newa Guthi for Climate Adaptation in Nepal
Eleni Papakyriakou (2024)
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Title: Gender equality for orchestra conductors in leadership positions: Sinfonietta Passau - a symphony orchestra founded by Eleni Papakyriakou. Concerts “Tree of Life – Bruckner200” in April 2024
Khinvraj Suthar Jangid (2024)
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Title: Life after School for the Rural Youth in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Pilar Valenzuela (2023)
University of Oregon
Title: Sustaining Indigenous Identity: A Collaborative Approach to Community Education for the Amahuaca People
Mauricio Artiñano Guzman (2023)
Princeton University
Title: An Ethical Pact for the Costa Rican Municipal Elections 2024
Dorjkhand Sharavjamts (2023)
National Academy of Governance
Title: Breaking the Chains: A Conference on Overcoming Childhood Trauma and Improving Mental Health in Mongolia - Bridging Research and Practice
Liza Hamman (2020)
University of the Western Cape
Title: Mindfulness for South African Educators
Holly Horan (2020)
University of Oregon
Title: The International Conference of Integrated Birth Care: Bridging the Gaps to Evidence Based Practice and Collaboration
Mulatu Alemayehu Moges (2019)
University of Oslo
Title: Strengthening Ethiopian Journalists’ Capacity on Election Reporting, Voters Education and Civic Education
Related article: "SLI Awards for Projects to Ensure a Democratic Election and Protect Indigenous People’s Rights"
Report on "Voices from the Sylff community": "Strengthening Journalists’ Election Reporting Skills as Ethiopia Transitions to a Democracy"
Bruno Pegorari (2019)
University of São Paulo
Title: Protecting Guarani Kaiowa Indigenous People’s land rights through a litigation strategy
Related article: "SLI Awards for Projects to Ensure a Democratic Election and Protect Indigenous People’s Rights"
Shangrila Joshi Wynn (2019)
University of Oregon
Title: Climate Justice and REDD+: Voices of Community Forest Users
Related article: "SLI Awards for Projects to Empower the Local Community and Facilitate Climate Justice"
Sennane Gatakaa Riungu (2019)
University of Nairobi
Title: The Greenhouse Enterprise - Maara Constituency -, Kenya
Related article: "SLI Awards for Projects to Empower the Local Community and Facilitate Climate Justice"
Jennifer S. Moore (2018)
Massey University
Title: Action to address a stakeholder-identified need: development of a questionnaire to improve resolution after medical injury
Related article: "SLI Awards in 2018: Projects to Stop Violence against Women and to Improve Medical Injury Responses"
Tayseer Abu Odeh (2018)
The University of Jordan (Jordan)
Title: Bruised Bodies and Wounded Souls: Violence Against Women in Jordan
Related article: "Influential Figures Attend University of Jordan Forum to Discuss Violence against Women"
Related article: "SLI Awards in 2018: Projects to Stop Violence against Women and to Improve Medical Injury Responses"
Rimple Mehta (2017)
Jadavpur University (India)
Report on "Voices from the Sylff Community": "Carceral Logics and Social Justice: Women Prisoners in India"
Related article: "Fellow’s Book Highlights Plight of “Invisible, Incarcerated” Women Prisoners in India"
Edit Eva Kiss, Andrea Kunsagi, Loretta Huszak, Viktoria Ferenc, Viktor Oliver Lorincz (2017)
Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Hungary), University of Leipzig (Germany)
Related article: "A Sylff Leadership Event to Examine Hungary’s Future Development"
Joe McCarter (2017)
Victoria University of Wellington(New Zealand)
Report on "Voices from the Sylff Community": "Catalyzing Cultural Revitalization in Western Province, Solomon Islands"
Jacinta Mwende, Socrates Majune, Steve Muthusi, Alexina Marucha (2016)
University of Nairobi (Kenya)
Report on "Voices from the Sylff Community": "Finding a Lasting Solution: Insights From the Forum on Violent Extresm and Radicalization in East Africa"
Related URL:Sylff UON Chapter- Final Peace Forum Report
Corey Johnson (2016)
University of Oregon (USA)
Report on "Voices from the Sylff Community": "Environmental Geopolitics in the Anthropocene: Understanding Causes, Managing Consequences, Finding Solutions"
Related article: "[Report] Environmental Geopolitics in the Anthropocene"
Naglaa Hussein (2015)
Howard University (USA)
Title: Rural Nubian Women Economic Empowerment
Report on "Voices from the Sylff Community": "Nubian Women’s Arts and Cultural Continuity:The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Nubian Women Art"
Related URL: http://tamkeen.webs.com/
Chika A.Ezeanya (2015)
Howard University (USA)
Report on "Voices from the Sylff community": "Training for the Best and Brightest Students on Leadership and Character Building in Rwanda"
Related article: "[Report] Leadership and Character Building for Youth in Rwanda"
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Inquiries should be directed to:
Sylff Association Secretariat
Subject: Sylff Leadership Initiatives(SLI)
Email: sylff[a]tkfd.or.jp *[a] must be replaced by @
The Sylff Association will accept inquiries related to this program via email ONLY.