SAKURA SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

1. Sakura Scholarship Scheme uses a term "Sato-Oya" or "Foster Parents" Scheme as an alias. Supporters are called "Sato-Oya" or "Foster Parent", and those receiving the support are called "Sato-Go" or "Foster Child". Despite the term, this scheme does not suggest legal parental authority, nor duty to support the child. This simply means financial support for children in education.

2. The financial contribution as a foster parent is \60000 a year, and this may change according to various factors such as Thai economic. This covers educational fee (school fee, textbooks, stationery, uniform, and transportation etc), and accommodation (meals, heating and lighting, personnel, and communication etc), facility, fixtures (desks, tableware, bedding, and maintenance etc). The expence differs depending upon the grade and school children are at, and this amount is an average cost. In reality, the total amount of the financial support is managed as an annual management budget, and used for all the students at SAKURA HOSTEL. Therefore, please note that it is not possible to provide the details of expenditures for individuals.

3. The foster parents are expected to provide support until the foster child graduates from junior school. After the graduation, the office may, considering the capability and willingness of each student, continue the support until the student graduate from high school, university or vocational school. However, it is possible to end the support at this point, and under unavoidable circumstances, foster parents may end the support prior to graduation from junior school, too. If informed in advance, the office will take care of finding a new foster parent and continue the support.

4. SAKURA PROJECT, at the time of graduation, have hearing with students about their career, and for those wishing to continue their schooling will be judged their appropriateness based on their everyday behaviour, willingness, ability, and finance of their family. It is the director of SAKURA PROJECT Thailand who, observing their life at first hand, makes final decision, and foster parents will be informed with the reason if decided to end the support. In this case, foster parent may choose either ending the support, or supporting a new foster child.

5. When students continue their education at high school or vocational school, additional costs will be applied such as lecture fee, lunch and transportation, and the total amount of the financial support will be doubled. If \60000 is one share, two shares (\120000) will be required. In the case of university, depending on the university, we might ask for 3 shares. Foster parents, at the time of graduation, may choose from the following three options;

a) ending the support
b) continuing support with one share (in this case, you will be a joint sponcer together with another foster parent)
c) supporting two shares

6. There may be cases that foster child being expelled from school or the hostel and being out of our support. Decisions of expelling school is made by school official, and the expelling the hostel is made by SAKURA PROJECT strictly and fairly based on the regulation set aside.

7. Some foster children may leave the support due to school changes to remote area, their decision, or improvement of their family finances. The final decision is to be made based on the survey and investigation by SAKURA PROJECT Thailand.

8. In the case of 6 and 7, foster parent may choose from the following two;

a) end the support
b) support different child (this may start in the following year)

9. Communication between the foster parent and the foster child is made through exchanging letters. As a principle, letters in Thai language with Japanese (English) translation from primary school children, and English letter (no translation) from Junior high school children will be posted. When you reply, please write in Japanese (English) to Primary school students, and in English to Junior high school students if possible. If you have difficulty writing in English, you may write in Japanese.

10. Presents for the children are accepted through the post, however, please avoid cash, expensive goods, and those subject to custom duty such as electric goods. Also, in order to be fair to all the students, we ask extra consideration of you to select goods that are reachable to every students, or shareable for all rather than just for your foster child.

11. When visiting SAKURA PROJECT, please inform SAKURA PROJECT THAILAND before organising your trip. School system in Thailand differs from that of Japan, and during the break, often times, students and staff are absent. In principle, between early March and middle of May, and all October is a holiday time as well as end / beginning of the year. Please avoid these time as children go home.