JENESYS Lao PDR-Japan Regional Revitalization Exchange

The Japanese government will invite 5 Lao students to participate in the regional revitalization exchange in the framework of the JENESYS, which is a people-to-people exchange program between Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
The main aim of this program is to learn about initiatives for regional revitalization in Japan and to explore potential solutions to social issues in Laos, such as the lack of successors in agriculture and traditional rituals, which are caused by the increasing migration of young people to urban areas and overseas. Another objective is to promote mutual understanding between Japan and Laos in this field.
 
1. Program Overview
Date: September 30 to October 7, 2025
Place: Tokyo and local city in Japan
Number of Participants: 5 graduate and undergraduate students 
Language: Lao (Japanese with Lao interpretation)
Contents:
(1) Lectures on Japanese politics, economy, society, history, culture, foreign policy, etc., related to the program theme or specific area.
(2) Site visits to educational and research institutions related to the program theme or specific area, cutting-edge technology, traditional industries, exhibitions, cultural heritage, and local governments, etc. Exchange events such as workshops and exchanges of opinions with persons related to the above site visits.
(3) Visits to various parts of Japan according to program theme and specific area, including homestays and hands-on events such as traditional arts and culture.
(4) Dissemination of information on what participants learned in the program and the attractions of Japan, during and after the program through Social Networking Services (online).
*Pre-Exchange Program (Prior to coming to Japan) will be conducted online on September 22, 2025.

 2. Qualifications for Participations
(1) Applicants must be enrolled in a vocational school, undergraduate program, or graduate program as of the program date.
(2) Applicants must be 18 to 35 years old as of the program date.
(3) Applicants are desirable to have adequate English conversation skills.
(4) Applicants must be in good health.
(5) Those who have been to Japan are, in principle, not eligible.
(6) Applicants must commit to sharing and disseminating their experiences of the program and information on Japan through social media, etc. (At least four times per person.)
(7) Applicants must have sufficient internet connection to have access to the online pre-exchange programs by using own mobile phone and PC.
(8) Applicants needs to bring mobile phone, and PC to Japan.
(9) Applicants must possess a passport by August 15, 2025. (The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of return to the Lao PDR.)  

3. How to Apply
Applicants should read the JENESYS application guidelines carefully.
(1) Entry Form, (2) Essay on the theme ‘Challenges facing local communities in Laos and what young people can do to address them’ (400–600 words in English), (3) Photo of student ID, and (4) Photo of passport (if available) should be sent to the form below by Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 16:00.

　　(Registration Form）https://forms.gle/pf8a6jTiRRC9X58a8

4. Selection of Participants

• Selection of participants will be conducted by a selection committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR.
• Shortlisted candidates will be asked to give a presentation (within 3 minutes) during the interview to be held on August 5 or 6, 2025.
• For further inquiries, please contact the Culture, Public Relations and Scholarship Section, Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR:

　　(Email) embassy@vt.mofa.go.jp