top of page

Willie Banks Appointed to a Member of Ashinaga's Kenjin-Tatsujin Counsil


In June 2015, Ashinaga appointed Willie Banks, CEO of HSJ Incorporated, to a member of Kenjin-Tatsujin Kai. Ashinaga is a non-profit organization that provides educational funding and psychological support to children who have lost one or both guardians, as well as to those whose guardians suffer from serious disabilities. Kenjin-Tatsujin Kai is a an advisory body of Ashinaga's program of “100-Year Vision for Supporting the Higher Education of Orphaned Students from Sub-Saharan Africa.” which is the program. See Willie's profile introduced by Ashinaga here.

(The following explanations are quoted from the program's official website. )

What is Ashinaga’s “100-Year Vision?”

Through the program of our “100-Year Vision for Supporting the Higher Education of Orphaned Students from Sub-Saharan Africa”, we select one brilliant orphaned student from each of the 49 Sub-Saharan countries in Africa, and provide them the opportunity the world's top universities, expecting them to gain the capability to establish and improve their own societies in the future.

We provide them with an intensive study camp at Ashinaga Kokorojuku, our educational facility in Uganda, where they strengthen their linguistic abilities and subjects of interest. We also provide the students with a 4-year scholarship and their living expenses during those 4 years.

What are the “Kenjin” and “Tatsujin”?

Kenjin are intellectuals and business leaders held in high public regard with knowledge about global issues (e.g. Nobel laureates, academics, and entrepreneurs). Tatsujin are nationally or internationally recognized artists, performers, and athletes who are socially active and globally conscious(e.g. musicians, designers, and film directors).

The Roles of Kenjin and Tatsujin

  • Kenjin and Tatsujin will be an intellectual resource for Ashinaga’s “100-Year Vision for Supporting the Higher Education of Orphaned Students from Sub-Saharan Africa.” They will provide valuable advice and proposals on the formulation and management of the project, and offer ongoing counsel to Ashinaga concerning the project’s development.

  • Kenjin will assist Ashinaga in developing the institutional trust and authority necessary for fundraising and establishing relationships with universities. Kenjin will not be expected to fundraise themselves, but rather act as a support system.

  • Kenjin will also advise Ashinaga in finding suitable matches between scholarship students and universities abroad. Kenjin with an intimate knowledgeable of their own country’s educational system, for example France and its unique higher education system, will be especially valuable.

  • Although not a requirement, Kenjin with university connections or affiliations are highly desired as they can facilitate in the exchange of information and other support-related activities.

  • When possible, Kenjin will visit and interact with the scholarship students during their period of study.

For more information, visit Ashinaga “100-Year Vision” official website http://ashinaga100-yearvision.org/

#WillieBanks #Englishedition

bottom of page