The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund: SYLFF

About SYLFF

“SYLFF” (pronounced as “sylph”) refers to The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund Program that was established in 1987 by The Nippon Foundation. Selected institutions of higher learning each receive endowments (permanent funds) of US$1 million which are invested and managed by the receiving institutions. Under this unique scheme, the earnings of their investments are used to provide fellowships to students enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs that fall within the parameters of the social sciences, humanities, and the performing arts. As of March 2008, there were 68 universities and consortia (a total of 87 institutions of higher learning) in 44 countries that have received SYLFF endowments, and more than 10,000 SYLFF Fellows (recipients of SYLFF fellowships).

The SYLFF Program is a collaborative initiative of The Nippon Foundation (the donor of endowments) (NF) and The Tokyo Foundation (the program administrator).

Vision:

“The world is one family and all mankind are brothers and sisters.” ― Ryoichi Sasakawa
All have the right to fulfill their basic needs for food, health care and education.

Mission:

To support the education of outstanding students pursuing graduate level study in the social sciences and humanities with high potential for leadership and commitment to exercising leadership in local, national, regional and international affairs, in public as well as in private endeavors. To nurture future leaders who will transcend geopolitical, religious, ethnic, cultural and other boundaries and will contribute to peace and the well-being of humankind.

The SYLFF Program is an outgrowth of the vision of the late Ryoichi Sasakawa, the founding chairman of NF and a philanthropist. To contribute to the fulfillment of the vision and mission of SYLFF by establishing endowments at selected institutions of higher learning throughout the world, a scheme ensures a sustainable source of fellowships in perpetuity.