Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "work with children/teenagers" project in Japan

Minimum 2 weeks.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Tokyo (4.5 hours from Tokyo by the highway bus)

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.

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!