Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
A Collaborative Program by Japan’s Rotary Districts

The Rotary Yoneyama
Memorial Foundation isa scholarship foundation
jointly supported by
all the Rotary districts

2011, a total of 16,389 students from 120 countries havereceived scholarship support under this program.

Creating Heart-to-Heart Understanding
between Scholars and Rotarians

in Japan. To date,

In addition to the financial assistance provided to

the Foundation has

Yoneyama Scholars by way of their scholarships, theawarded scholarships

program has another uniquely Rotarianesque feature:

to more than 16,000

a system of sewa clubs (host clubs) and counselors thatstudents (Yoneyama

gives the scholars moral support and caring assistance

Scholars) from 120

during their tenures. Each Yoneyama Scholar is assigned

countries and regions to support their study

a sewa club chosen

in Japan. Providing a matrix for heart-to-heartfrom among thecommunication, the program also seeks to help

Rotary clubs in his/the young scholars understand and emulate theher area. One member

Rotary spirit.

of the host club

The Foundation’s Scholarship Program

serves as the scholar’scounselor, who helps toThe Rotary Yoneyama Scholarshipdeepen the relationship

Program uses funds donated by Rotarians acrossbetween the scholar

Japan to provide scholarships to overseas students whoand the club members and endeavors to make the scholar’

self-finance theirs stay in Japan a rich and rewarding experience. Whileeducations in Japan.

imbuing the scholar with the Rotary spirit of service,

T h e p r o g r a m ’s

the system also works to deepen the Rotarians’ own

mission is to foster aunderstanding of the role and value of the Yoneyama

large cadre of young

Memorial Scholarship Program. For further information,people who, imbued

see the foundation’s website at http://www.rotary-with the Rotary

yoneyama.or.jp/

spirit, will play activeroles in internationalsociety while building bridges of understanding andcooperation between their countries and Japan. Insum, the program’s goal is the same as the Rotary’s—toadvance international understanding, goodwill and peace.

Japan’s Largest Private-Sector Scholarship Program
With approximately 800 students receiving $15
million worth of scholarships each year (FY2010 figures),the Yoneyama Memorial Scholarship Program is the largestprivate-sector scholarship program in Japan. As of July

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THE ROTARY-NO-TOMORotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
Yoneyama Alumni in the World Today
1. Top 10 Countries or Regions of Origin for Yoneyama

2. Number of alumni obtaining PhDs: 3,265
By country or region

Scholars

1

China

4,952

1. South Korea

1,246

2

South Korea

3,925

2. China

1,115

3. Taiwan

602

3

Taiwan3,295

4

Malaysia820

5Vietnam541

6Indonesia

337

7

Bangladesh

285

8Thailand259

9Sri Lanka

234

10Nepal165

Cumulative Total(as of July 1, 2011)

16,389（Total number of alumni as of July 1, 2011: 5,562）
3. Clubs established centering around Yoneyama alumni● Rotary Club of Taipei Tokai（D-3480）
Charter ceremony: April 14, 1995
● Rotary Club of Taichung Wen Shin（D-3460）
Charter ceremony: May 4, 2007
● Rotary Club of Tokyo Yoneyama Yuai（D-2750）
Charter ceremony: May 30, 2010

An Alumnus’s Story: Bringing the Rotary Spirit to Palestine
The Palestinian flag appeared for the first time in theasked what motivated him most, he always answered, “Iflag ceremony in June 2010 at the RI Convention inpersonally consider the generosity bestowed upon meMontreal, Canada. After three decades Rotary made aby Japanese Rotarians as a motivating force in my life

comeback in this area, and the very first club charteredto help others in a similar manner.”

was located in the territory under the jurisdiction of theBehr enrolled in the University of Tokyo Graduate

Palestinian Authority. One Rotary Yoneyama Alumnus

School in 1992, and the next year became a Rotaryby the name of Jeffrey Behr devoted himself to thisYoneyama Scholar hosted by the Rotary Club of Tokyo-accomplishment.（See “Rotary in Ramallah” on P.37-39

Higashimurayama. “I remember well how at thein the December 2010 issue of “The Rotarian”）

meetings I attended each month members would always

The new club established in Ramallah, the detake time to welcome me and talk with me about how

facto capital of Palestinian Territories, celebrated its

things were going for me in Japan. Prior to becoming acharter ceremony on May 30, 2010. Recognized as aRotary Yoneyama Scholar, I of course had known aboutPaul Harris Fellow by then RI President John KennyRotary, but I had not really understood what it meansfor his distinguished contributions beginning in theto be a Rotarian. After attending Rotary meetings andearly planning stages of the club, Behr spoke to thosegetting to know several Japanese Rotarians personally,attending the ceremony.

I began to understand the importance of the Rotarian“During my studies at a university in Japan, I wasspirit of “service above self” as I was able to see this in

fortunate to receive a Yoneyama Scholarship. Thisaction at the Rotary Club of Tokyo-Higashimurayama.”

enabled me to complete my degree and begin mycareer, and it was the main motivating factor inspiring

Jeffrey Behr

me to work to enable Palestinian youth to receive（Scholarship Period: 1993-94 / Host
Club: Tokyo-Higashimurayama RC）
Born in Alabama, USA, Jeffrey
received a master’s degree in Urban
Environmental Engineering from theUniversity of Tokyo Graduate Schoolin 1992. After serving as Georgia’the same sort of opportunity. Now that a Rotary club
exists in Ramallah, I look forward to seeing Palestinian
youth have the opportunity, through Rotary, to study
in Japan and elsewhere, and become active in bridging
continents and building their communities.”Efforts to establish the new club were generally met
with disbelief, and in such circumstances Behr played aguiding role leading toward final accomplishment. WhenTHE ROTARY-NO-TOMOs economic development officer in Tokyo, he established theCenter for Environmental Diplomacy (CED), which promotes anumber of environmental projects. In 2009, he joined the Rotary
Club of Colorado Springs as an honorary member.

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Yoneyama Alumni around the World Aid Japan’s Recovery
Generous donations from alumni associations
both in Japan and abroadsponsor club and counselor, but he says he never forgot
his intention to someday return their kindness.
Then there was Dr.Na Li (1991－92, 1999 / the“I was shocked to hear about the terrible earthquake

Rotary Club of Gifu ) who works at a university in New

in Japan. I am very concerned. I pray that things are

York, who sent a check for $10,000 to her host District

alright.”

2630 (Gifu, Mie) by way of a friend. Enclosed with the“If there is anything I can do, please call on me. I
definitely want to help.”

check was a letter in which the following was written:“I was sponsored twenty years ago as a Yoneyama

Following the Tohoku Earthquake on March 11 thescholar by the Rotary Club of Gifu. I am grateful to themYoneyama Memorial

and to my counselor, Mr.

Foundation received a flood

Takahashi. I know in myof messages from Yoneyama

heart that it is thanks toscholars and alumni bothall of you that I was able

in Japan and all aroundto earn a PhD in medicine.

the world expressing their

I will never forget yourconcern. One after anotherkindness. I am sending thisalumni associations heredonation as an expression

and abroad offered to sendof my gratitude. I pray that

donations as well.

everyone will work hard to
recover from the disaster.”

Immediately following
the earthquake alumni

Other alumni donations

associations in Taiwan,

reached the stricken area

Korea and China began

in a variety of shapes andcalling on members for
donations. In addition tothis, alumni associations

Dr.Yuan Shen (2010－11/ the Rotary Club of NarashinoChuo),Yoneyama alumnus who is currently a professionalorganist in China, played a charity concert in Tokyo in July 2011forms. Some alumni took upcollections at their place of
employment in their homein Japan, as well as individual Yoneyama scholars andcountry; others sent their contributions by way of thealumni sent in their donation, making a total of over 7.4

Japanese embassy in that country; still others sponsoredmillion yen in contributions.

charity concerts and donated the entire proceeds.

This money was distributed to three affected Rotary
Districts, D-2520 (Iwate, Miyagi), D-2530 (Fukushima),
and D-2820 (Ibaraki)

Donations made through sponsor clubs

Volunteer efforts in the disaster area
Many alumni groups volunteered their services aswell. Ram Giri (Nepal/ 1998－2000 / the Rotary Club ofMuroran), who served on the committee responsible for

A number of scholars and alumni sent their donations

establishing in 2010 the alumni-centered Rotary Club of

by way of their sponsor club. One of these, Dr.Young-Cheul

Tokyo Yoneyama Yuai, teamed up with fellow countryman

Kang (1995－96 / the Rotary Club of Kamakura Chuo)and former Yoneyama scholar Jigyan Kuman Thapa

working at a Japanese firm in Korea, sent his donation of(2008－09 / the Rotary Club of Yokohama Tama), whoroughly 1million yen to his sponsor club saying, “Japaneseserves as secretary of the Nepalese Association of Japan,

are a people who usually remain calm on the outside

and in addition to sending relief funds donated by overeven though inside they feel deep sorrow. But the present

150 Nepalese living in Japan, organized several visits tocalamity saw many tears shed, and I could not hold backstricken areas to aid disaster victims.

my tears.” Dr.Kang had long been out of touch with his24

Their first visit was on April 1 to the city of Iwaki inTHE ROTARY-NO-TOMORotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
Fukushima Prefecture. People
there were without runningwater and were receiving nooutside aid due to rumors about
the danger from the accident
at the nuclear power plant. Giriand his compatriots prepared achicken curry for 1,000 people
sheltered at evacuation sites.
They also brought a supplyof drinking water with them,as well as baby diapers andchildren’s toys.
On April 23 some of theYoneyama Alumni Associationsof District 2780 (Kanagawa) andDistrict 2520 (Iwate, Miyagi)
visited two evacuation centersin the heavily damaged town ofYoneyama Alumni Associations of District 2780 and District 2520 made dumplings for evacueeat Natori in Miyagi Prefecture

Natori in Miyagi Prefecture, where they made dumplings“I will never forget how many Rotarians, Yoneyama

and delivered 1,000 pairs of socks, a load of vegetables

scholars and Yoneyama alumni made charitable for theand handcarts for hauling supplies.

2008 earthquake in Sichuan, and that with the money weAlumni participants were shaking hands withwere able to support two children in China.

evacuees and telling them to be brave and hang in

Many scholars and alumni, including myself, arethere. The person who originally proposed the visit,concerned and pained that such a disaster happened inthen president of the District 2780 Alumni Association

Japan. I believe it is now time for each of us to think about

Gang Wang (2005－07 / the Rotary Club of Ebina),

what we can do for Japan’s recovery. And not merely

stated decisively, “I don’t want this to be the end of ourthink about it, but go into action.”

involvement, but the beginning.”

It is now time to think about what we can do
In a message to the Yoneyama Memorial Foundation

Japan still faces a long path to recovery. Yoneyama
alumni, who have been spiritually enriched through theirinteraction with Rotary, will walk the path with us andlend their support.

Wang wrote as follows:

See You at 2012 Rotary International Convention in Bangkok!
Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation will sponsor a boothat the annual Rotary International Convention to be held May 6－9, 2012. To get preparations underway, sixteen Yoneyama
alumni now returned to Thailand gathered at a hotel in Bangkok
on April 30. This was the first time for most of them to meet, but
one thing they all shared in common was their desire to cooperate
to their fullest in preparing for the convention out of gratitude foreverything that was done for them while they were studying inJapan. The group decided to contact other alumni now returned to Thailand to help with preparations.The Yoneyama
alumni in Thailand are looking forward to seeing many Rotarians from all over the world next year in Bangkok.

THE ROTARY-NO-TOMO25