For students who want to face the region and create from scratch with friends: Rikuzentakata and Kuzumaki, deadline May 10th

Recruitment has begun for the 2026 student internship program, where teams will create projects over six months to a year, set in Iwate's Rikuzentakata and Kuzumaki. This content is highly recommended for students who are interested in engaging with local communities but are unsure how to take the first step. Certified NPO SET is accepting applications for both the Rikuzentakata and Kuzumaki programs, with a deadline of Saturday, May 10, 2026.

SET has observed the changes that occur when teams spend six months to a year with local communities for over 15 years. Fostering "lasting relationships" between regions and young people, rather than one-off "experiences," is the core of SET's activities and what this program has valued.

About the two programs This recruitment is for the Chang Maker Study Program (CMSP) in Rikuzentakata and the Kuzumaki Program.

Students will create "what they can do for the region" with local residents. We are recruiting student operational staff to build programs from scratch in Rikuzentakata and Kuzumaki, Iwate Prefecture.

【Experiences only operational staff can have】

Deep local immersion: Become the "first runner" to enter the community and build trust with local people.

Project planning from scratch: Combine local issues with student energy to implement "actions" filled with passion.

Best team: Meet fellow students with the same enthusiasm, who can discuss and grow together.

It's okay if you don't know "what you can do" yet. We are waiting for your enthusiasm to empathize with the feelings of local people and work together.

・Rikuzentakata CMSP

Number of recruits: 18 people

Kick-off: May 24th

Closing ceremony: September 26th, 27th

・Kuzumaki Program

Number of recruits: 6 people

Kick-off: May 30th or 31st

Closing ceremony: December or January

Both programs are designed around the core idea of creating one project as a team.

We are looking for students with interest and will

SET does not require activity members to have prior experience in regional activities or special skills. Any university student with even a slight interest in local communities and the will to challenge something as a team can apply.

How to apply and deadline

The application deadline for both programs is Saturday, May 10, 2026. Please apply for the information sessions using the application forms below. (However, inquiries will be handled until before the kick-off meetings for both programs)

CMSP Information Session Form: https://forms.gle/uCB1R4FT2FaQJtze7

Kuzumaki Program Information Session Form: https://forms.gle/Tmy3feb8uK8ywoTU6

In an era of declining population, the relationship between regions and young people is being re-examined. What SET values is that young people who get involved don't just end with "I want to come again," but continue to connect with the region at a life level. SET believes that the six months to a year spent with a team in the two Iwate towns of Rikuzentakata and Kuzumaki will leave something in their lives thereafter.

About Certified NPO SET

SET's mission is to "turn each person's 'want to do' into 'done' and create a Good Change for the future of Japan." Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, it has created a system for young people and residents to learn together, mainly in Iwate Prefecture. Through school trip homestays, programs for university students and working adults, and community building, SET fosters "lasting relationships" where young people engage in the daily lives of the region and learn together with residents. In fiscal year 2024, over 5,000 people participated annually. Currently, activities are expanding beyond Iwate Prefecture to multiple regions. While simultaneously generating youth growth and regional vitality, SET is committed to sustainable community development based on the relationship between people and regions themselves. It has received the Prime Minister's Award twice in the past, among many other awards.

【Organization Overview】

Certified Specified Non-profit Organization SET

Location: 52-6 Yamada, Hirota-cho, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture

Chairman: Shunsuke Mitsui

Established: March 12, 2011 (Incorporated: June 18, 2013, Certified: October 16, 2025)

Official Website: https://www.nposet.org

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nposet/?hl=ja

Official Podcast Spotify: https://x.gd/wh4Lo Amazon Music: https://x.gd/TjRP0

【Inquiries regarding coverage】

Public Relations: set.forjapan@nposet.com