Organized together with some different local organizations and people including Disaster Volunteering Center of Rikuzen-takada. 80% of the households of Rikuzen-takada city was seriously damaged by tsunami and many people are living in the shelters and temporary houses. NICE was organizing international workcamps there till several years ago and have started a special workcamp from 11/04 only with Japanese volunteers, but now, will open 2 places for international vols.
Work:
Be ready to do any necessary work there. We are mainly clearing rubbles from the local houses and their gardens (this work can be dangerous with a lot of crashed glasses and metal stuffs, so vols. are carefully working with good equipments) as well as helping to revive/ maintain farms, but the work can be changed depending on the needs (e.g., running activities for the children or helping elders).
Accommodation:
Temple kindly offered by the local people. Meals will be cooked by the vols. by turns Sleeping bag is not necessary.
Location:
South east edge of Iwate prefecture (very near from Miyagi). Forestry, agriculture and fishing are used to be the main industry though they were severely damaged by this earthquake and may take several years to be rehabilitated.
Terminal:
Tokyo (9 hours from Tokyo by the highway bus)
Leisure Activities:
This is totally different from usual workcamps, so please don't expect any cultural. leisure programs by the organizers.
Special Remarks - very important!: * Qualification: Vols. need to be fulfilled in all of the following points... + Those who can speak/ read Japanese language well! + Those who can manage the activities and life by themselves + Those who can consider others feeling and accept their difficulties + Those who can adapt themselves well in simple and hard life conditions + Those who have flexibility, patience and can respect local ways + No smoking. No vegetarian (you need to enjoy eating any food!)
* The very aim of the project is to improve the local situation that should be the first motivation than inter-cultural learning, group solidarity, etc. Vols. need to submit the motivation letters with the application forms.
* The project starts on Mondays of every 2 weeks (27/06, 11/07, 25/07, 08/08, 22/08, 05/09) and finish on Sundays and the minimum period is 2 weeks, so the applicants need to fill in the period on the application forms according to this rule. Vols. need to arrive at Tokyo by the Sunday night and can come back there in the Sunday evening. We welcome longer term volunteers!
* There are possibilities to stop/ change the activities/places depending on the situations and even if it is happened, we will try to accommodate the vols. in different projects depending on their needs/ wish.
* Volunteers need to pay transportation to/ from the project. There is no fee, we will provide the meals and accommodation by free by using the donation (while Japanese vols. pay some fee for the fund) though you are of course welcomed to raise and bring any amount of donation!
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
yap-uk
0844 20 90 927
