Enrollment

Rural Leaders Training Program

Rooted in Communities,
Transforming the World

The Rural Leaders Training Program aims to cultivate leaders rooted in their communities, enabling rural areas in developing countries to achieve sustainable development through their own initiative. At ARI, learning goes beyond the classroom. Daily life itself—practicing organic farming, living in a multicultural community, engaging in dialogue and reflection—becomes the learning environment.

Over nine months, participants live, work, eat, struggle, and support one another across differences in background and values. Through this shared experience, they embody “Servant Leadership,” “Foodlife,” “Community of Learning,” and the ability to “Live Together.” The knowledge and experience gained through this program are carried back home, becoming a strong foundation for shaping the future of their communities.

Program Features

Learning by Doing

We emphasize daily hands-on practice so that participants acquire and sustain new skills.

In Practical Field Study (PFS) classes, for instance, participants practice a variety of agricultural techniques and livelihood skills like fertilizer production, fermented feed mixing, and soap making.

During Foodlife Management Activity (FMA), they combine leadership and livelihood skills. By managing the fields, livestock and processing food, they further develop their observation, facilitation, and planning skills. Participants then take the lead in providing healthy produce for the whole community.

Learner-Centered Classroom

Experts from different fields share their knowledge and discuss with participants in classroom sessions. Participants become independent and observant learners who think critically and learn to ask questions that are relevant to their home community.

From beginning to end, ARI’s teaching staff monitor the participants’ performances in personal and group-based reviews, analysis, and reporting to ensure that they achieve their study goals. Personal consultants facilitate reflection and support monthly writing exercises that contribute to participants’ growth.

Study Trips

All over Japan, participants meet farmers, activists, and educators who are part of ARI’s educational network. Several short observation trips and two long study tours broaden the participants’ horizons.

During the Farming Community Study Tour, for example, participants meet local organic farmers and learn about their marketing and community organizing first-hand. Another study tour to west Japan provides insights into social issues such as healthcare, discrimination, and urbanization.

By getting to know people’s lives in Japan, participants reflect on what is truly essential for development and happiness in their own countries.

Curriculum

Three Pillars of the Program

ARI’s program is built on communal living and sustainable agriculture, aiming to develop servant leaders. It consists of three interconnected pillars: Servant Leadership, Foodlife, and Community of Learning. These concepts are integrated into all aspects of life—classes, farm work, community living, and events—allowing participants to develop comprehensive leadership skills within nine months.

Servant Leadership

Leaders should not dominate but listen, act with initiative, and support others. Participants deepen self-awareness, empathy, and ethical leadership throughout the program.

Main Curriculum

Leadership at ARI
Servant Leadership
ARI History and Mission
Participatory Learning and Action
Presentation Skills
Facilitation Skills
Religion and Rural Life
Report Writing
Who is a Rural Leader?
Peace & Reconciliation

Practical Training

Project management at school events
Practice of leadership in daily life

Foodlife

At ARI’s farm, over 60 crops and various livestock are raised, achieving high food self-sufficiency. Participants learn sustainable organic agriculture suitable for rural communities, gaining skills to support healthy and self-reliant living.

Main Curriculum

Crops & Vegetables
Livestock
Agricultural Technique
Disease Control of Livestock
Nutrition
Dangers of Chemical Agriculture
Natural Farming in Tropical Areas
Agroforestry
Alternative Marketing Systems
Biogas Workshop

Practical Training

Bokashi making, compost making, etc.
livestock disease control, feed formulation, fermented feed production, etc.
Meat processing

Community of Learning

Participants develop true communication skills beyond language and cultural differences. Living together fosters both the challenges and beauty of community life, nurturing leaders who contribute to peace.

Main Curriculum

Gender
Group Discussion
Reflection
Consultation

Practical Training

Community Life
Dorm Life
Community building
Morning gathering
Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration

Learning Integrated with Daily Life

From morning to night, every moment at ARI is an opportunity for learning and growth. Communal living and shared work are central to developing leadership.

A Weekday in the Life of Participants

6:30 Morning Activities

7:00 Foodlife Work

8:15 Breakfast

9:30 Morning Gathering

10:20 Classes

12:30 Lunch

13:45 Classes

16:00 Foodlife Work

18:30 Supper

9 Months of Curriculum Calendar

This is an intensive program equivalent to two years of vocational school in Japan,
completed in nine months without long vacations.
Participants experience rapid personal growth through this immersive schedule.

April

Opening Ceremony, Orientation, Organic farming

May

First presentation, Rice transplanting

June

Field trip (local farmers), Special lectures (natural farming, dignity, etc.)

July

Participatory Learning and Action (PLA), Seasonal individual projects

August

Farming communities study tour, Midterm presentation

September

Rice harvesting, Graduates seminar

October

Harvest Thanksgiving Ceremony

November

Western Japan Study Tour

December

Final presentation, Commencement service

Post-Graduate Program

Training Assistant (TA)

ARI invites graduates who have demonstrated at least five years of outstanding leadership in their organizations and accomplishment in their communities to return to ARI for a year of advanced studies.

Faculty

Main Lecturers

特別講師

Applications Open!

Everyday a Grassroots Leaders Summit. Represent Your Country!

ARI is looking for grassroots rural leaders, who are living and working with marginalized groups in their rural communities. We are seeking local leaders who have demonstrated through their actions a commitment to serve their people and act as catalysts for positive change within their own communities. In a world that is rapidly changing, our curriculum focuses on core principles that are relevant in a variety of contexts. Adaptation and resilience, key factors in creating strong rural communities, are only possible with a deep understanding of the needs of one’s own community.

Two-step Admissions Process

1. Approval of the organization as a Sending Body

2. Submission of the individual application

Anyone interested in taking part in the ARI Rural Leaders Training Program must be employed, or
actively involved, in an organization that will serve as her/his Sending Body (SB). The organization may be an international, national or local NGO, religious organization, or other organization based in a rural area. The organization must have a clear history of working for at least 3 years with marginalized people in the local community, and a commitment toward self-sustainability.

Government offices or departments are normally not considered as SBs. Exceptions are made for countries without NGOs or church organizations. ARI does NOT promote church-planting evangelism, large-scale agriculture, and industrial development, and will not consider organizations with these goals.

Sending Body: the bridge between the individual candidate and ARI

ARI views Sending Bodies (SBs) as partners in a common mission. In order to form a productive
relationship, it is essential to begin with a mutual understanding of each other’s work and mission.

To maintain this relationship, SBs must select a “SB representative” – this is typically the head of the
organization—who ARI maintains contact with throughout the application process, the training, and continues communication even after the graduate’s return to their community.

The Individual candidate (applicant) must be nominated by the SB- a specific organization within which she/he is carrying out her/his work as staff or as volunteer. We strongly encourage the SB to select qualified women leaders to apply for this training program. The applicant, together with the SB, must be able to provide a clear objective or plan for the use of the ARI training.

Additionally, both the applicant and SB must pledge to collaborate after the completion of the
training. The applicant, as a new graduate, has the responsibility to bring back his/her learning from
ARI to the SB, and the SB must reintegrate the new graduate into the organization.

Individual Requirements

Basic Expectations	The SB candidate (applicant) should be a woman or man dedicated to serving people at the grassroots level in rural areas. The candidate must have at least 3 years of experience as a leader in her/his rural community. The candidate must be aged 25~45.
English Ability	English is used for all program activities and also in daily life. The candidate should have sufficient ability to communicate in English.
Training Period	The training period is from April 1 to mid-December. ARI will arrange round-trip flights so that the individual arrives at ARI in the last week of March.
Number of accepted Participants	20~25

Cost of Training & Living (9 months)

Sending Body Fee $100
Admission Fee $800
Tuition $7,000
Field Trip & Study Tours $2,600
Room (Lodging) $2,700
Board (Food) $2,700
Allowance $1,440
Health Insurance $600
Total $17,840

Round-Trip Flight to Japan

from Asia ~$2,000
from Africa ~$3,500
from Latin America ~$4,500
from Pacific Islands ~$2,500

As ARI actively seeks to serve some of the poorest and most marginalized people, we are very much aware that many Sending Bodies (SBs) cannot cover these costs. Because we do not wish to discriminate against any candidate due to financial capability, we work hard to assist Sending Bodies that need funding by arranging a scholarship through our supporters.

However, ARI expects the Sending Body to pay the $100 Sending Body Fee, and cannot waive this charge for any reason.