Organized together with Terakoya Hojosha (TH) which runs an alternative school for children not going to the formal schools since 1999 and has hosted the workcamps and long term vols. from NICE. The giant earthquake hit the eastern part of Japan on the 11th March by which (including tsunami and fire caused by the earthquake) over 27,000 people have either died or been missing and in Aizu area (located very far from the sea and so, had almost no damage), about 10,000 people are displaced mainly from the coastal part of Fukushima prefecture mainly to escape from danger of radioactivity from the nuclear power station in addition to the damage by the earthquake itself and its tsunami. In the shelters (sports centers, schools, public halls, etc.), most of stuffs for basic needs are sufficiently provided, so the needs for support is shifted to mental care and other life activities. Especially, children (25% of the people there) need further mental and educational support. TH is supporting the children in 2 places and would like to develop the actions with NICE, the local college and the social welfare association.
Work:
We will mainly take care of the children in the shelters and temporary houses by organizing sports and creative/ artistic indoor activities, watching them for safety. We may so some other work such as separating the life stuffs, talking with the elders, helping the projects of TH (environmental education, farming, etc.). Be ready to do anything needed and work hard for a long time!
Accommodation:
We will spend most of our free time (incl. meals) in the office of TH and sleep in a house kindly offered by the local people which is located 10 min. walk from the office of TH. We will cook our meals by ourselves. Sleeping bag is needed.
Location:
Aizu Wakamatsu city is located in Aizu Basin with rich nature, farming lands and cultural heritages. About 100 km from the power station, so no serious danger for radioactivity (that's why people have moved here), but some are still quite nervous, that's why children are playing inside. It is colder than Tokyo, but the summer can be quite hot.
Terminal:
Tokyo (4.5 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... + Speaking Japanese language fluently is preferable. + Those who like children. Experience of activities with them is preferable! + 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 + Skills for cooking, medical care, arts are welcomed!
* 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 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.
The bus leave Shinjuku in Tokyo at 09:
30, so vols. need to arrive at Tokyo by the Sunday night and can come back there in the Sunday afternoon.
* We welcome longer term volunteers! We have to limit the places for non Japanese speakers (3-5 in maximum in the same period).
* 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.
* Vols. need to pay transportation to/ from the project (from Tokyo, about 7,000 yen for the return ticket by the highway bus), fare in the public bath (390 yen though we cannot anyway take a bath every day). 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 & bring any amount of donation!
Organized together with Kurikoma Plateau Nature School (KPNS) which runs provides various nature-oriented courses, eco tours, kids programs and support of the students with difficult backgrounds and has hosted the workcamps and long term volunteers from NICE (including rehabilitation from the earthquake that hit this area in 2008).
The giant earthquake hit the eastern part of Japan on 11 March by which (including tsunami and fire caused by the earthquake) over 27,000 people have either died or been missing. Kurikoma is located very far from the sea and so, had almost no damage), but all the staff members of KPNS are so busy to work to support the affected areas, so they need a few vols. who can help to maintain the School itself. .
Work:
We will mainly help farming (e.g. cultivation of rice fields) as well as take care of the animals such as horses, goats, chicken and also maintain the forests nearby within the eco-village plan of KPNS. So, this is a quite indirect way to support the affected areas (be aware of it and don't expect to help people directly!), but still important!
Accommodation:
Log cabin of KPNS. Meals will be either cooked by the vols. or provided by KPNS. Sleeping bag is not necessary.
Location:
Center of Tohoku area, specified as the quasi-national park, so you can enjoy the beech woods and the alpine plants in all seasons. About 150 km from the power station, so no serious danger for radioactivity. It is colder than Tokyo, average temperature may be 10C for April, 15C for May and 20C for June (morning can be 5-10C less).
Terminal:
Tokyo. (5-6 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 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 and finish on Sundays and the minimum period is 1 week, 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!
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! »
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