Organized together with Sumiyaki Kobo Otsuchi Mura since 2013, founded by local people to keep the original landscape. There were 140 inhabitants with 20 houses in 1916, but now no people live there! Still 10 houses are remained and the area was designated as Nation's Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. We will try to improve the situation of the village by young voluntary power. The workcamp last year did great job to revive the stone wall made about 100 years ago!
Work:
We will do various work to activate the area and success their culture. Main work is shoveling and removing snow from the roofs of traditional houses, but possibly also help to have a kids’ camp with snow activities and staying in the traditional houses and do some other work for the community.
Study Scheme:
Best practice to revive depopulated areas in each country and their networking. Bring some info!
Accommodation:
Renovated house (traditional house!). Cooked by volunteers. Sleeping bags needed.
Location:
The southwest part of Ishikawa prefecture. Otsuchi village is surrounded by mountains, so very isolated, but beautiful place. Charcoal making was main industry.
Terminal:
Osaka (Kansai) airport (2.5 hours by express train). From Tokyo, 4 hours by express train/ 8 hours by highway bus (For Narita airport, you need to arrive by 13th afternoon/ can leave there after 24th noon.)
Leisure Activities:
Exchange parties with local people etc.
Special Remarks:
High motivation to work hard and simple life in the isolated area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization! Speaking Japanese language is welcomed!
Organized together with some local groups. A giant earthquake occurred in the Tohoku area on the 11th Mar. that caused unprecedented damage. 80% of the houses were damaged in Rikuzen-takata and so many people still have to be living in the temporary houses. We have the special workcamps in Tohoku area for reconstruction work with over 350 vols. (over 3000 vols. x days) including international ones since 2011 Apr. that did great work! But we still need a lot of vol. and plan to continue for 10 years!
Work:
We will be divided into some groups, help local fisherman and farmers, people damaged by the tsunami such as reclaim, cutting grass and harvesting as well as organize some activities for the kids in the temporary houses and do anything else needed.
Study Scheme:
Best practice to revive disaster areas in each country. Bring some info.!
Accommodation:
Share room of the old house. Sleeping bags needed! Cooked by volunteers
Location:
South east edge of Iwate prefecture (very near from Miyagi). Forestry, agriculture and fishing are used to be the main industry, but were severely damaged and may take several years to be rehabilitated.
Terminal:
Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus, You need to arrive at Narita airport by 19:00 on one day before the first day and can leave there after 09:00 on one day after the last day)
Leisure Activities:
Excursion and trekking, etc.
Special Requests:
High motivation to work for disaster area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization! Motivation letter is required.
Organized together with “Kodomo-Art” since 2004. Kodomo art, Society of Children's Theater Works and Community Development, was founded in 1972. They have held the international child art festival for several years. They want to activate this area through art and cultural promotion in the future for kids and build the fruitful network of a child and a cultural art organization. We aim to involve local people to promote global understanding, friendship and solidarity through this festival.
Work:
We will help to prepare the festival, such as site management, decoration and promotion to local kids through visiting the kindergarten and the nursery schools. We will also work during the festival (do funny activities and performance for kids, reception, carry the materials for drama and clean up etc ).
Study Scheme:
Unique art festival. Bring some info.!
Accommodation:
Public hall. Cooked by volunteers. Sleeping bags needed!
Location:
Small town in the mountains, 60 km south of Fukuoka. Good access by highway bus from Fukuoka.
Terminal:
Fukuoka airport (1.5 hours by bus. You need to arrive by 11:00 on Mar. 15th and can leave there after 14:00 on Mar. 24th). From Osaka, 5 hours by bullet train and 11 hours by midnight bus (you need to arrive at Kansai airport by 19:00 on Mar. 14th and leave there from 11:00 on Mar. 25th).
Organized together with Local group since 2012, a giant earthquake occurred in the eastern part of Japan on March 11th, causing unprecedented damage. 80% of the houses have gotten damaged by the earthquake in Rikuzentakata, and so many people still have to live in the temporary house. Kids could not enjoy the school playground because there are so many temporary houses. So we would like to give the chance for Kids to enjoy the outdoor activates in their vacation.
Work:
We will help out and live together with kids in the Kids camp supporting activities and sharing your culture. We will encourage the kid’s independence and creativity by letting them plan the schedule, so you will need to respect their ideas.
Study theme:
Best practice to revive disaster areas in each country.
Accommodation:
Youth center. Self-catering.
Location:
Southeast edge of Iwate prefecture (very near from Miyagi). Forestry, agriculture and fishing are used to be the main industry though they were severely damaged and may take several years to be rehabilitated.
Terminal:
Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus. You need to arrive at Narita airport by 19:00 on the 1 day before the first day and can leave there after 19:00 on last day.).
Leisure time:
Excursion and trekking, etc.
Skills Required:
High motivation to work for disaster area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization.
Organized together with Unzen Social Welfare (a semi-governmental) Association since 1994. Unzen is located in the west part of Japan, there is a rich natural environment facing the sea and mountain town. However, the town has been lost active community participation due to the declining birthrate and aging population. The past workcamps were quite successful in encouraging Kids camp that is held for some days to promote volunteering and international friendship with about 20 local kids aged 10-18.
Work:
We will organize and run the Kids room (7-12 years old) during their summer vacation, Kids room will open the 9:00-17:00, volunteer give the some international game for them. And we run 2-3 days international exchange program with about 20 local girls and boys within the ages of 10 to 15.
Study theme:
Current volunteer activities by kids in your country.
Accommodation:
Social Welfare Center where we also have day-care facility.
Location:
Small town, about 80 km east of Nagasaki, very famous as a symbolic place against nuclear war. Unzen is very famous for football in Japan.
Terminal:
Fukuoka airport (3 hours by express train. You need to arrive by 11:00 on first day. and can leave there after 17:00 on last day.)
Leisure time:
Home stay for a few days, exchange parties, etc.
Skills Required:
Motivation to encourage youth involvement in care for the elderly and disadvantaged. Some fluency in Japanese is helpful.
Organized together with "Hirata International Center" since 2001. Hirata town is depopulated area in Izumo city and they doesn’t have much chance to have an international interact, which is important for kids growth. Also number of people who maintain the environment in this town is getting decreasing. Through this workcamp they hope that volunteer can activate local people and community.
Work:
We will maintain bamboo forest surrounding local shrine, which is important for local people to pay a visit. Bamboo is very so strong that it invades other species of trees and destroy landscape. After that, we will have event of bamboo craft with kids. Also we will plan international exchange day and invite local people to interact.
Accommodation:
Local community center. Self-catering.
Location:
About 250 km north west of Osaka. Near the Sea of Japan.
Terminal:
Osaka (from Osaka to Shimane, 9 hours by midnight bus. You need to arrive at Kansai airport by 18:00 one day before the first day and can leave there after 15:00 one day after the last day). From Tokyo, 6 hours by Shinkansen or 12 hours by midnight bus.
Leisure time:
Exchange parties, experiencing Japanese culture, home stay, etc.
Organized together with Local group since 2012, a giant earthquake occurred in the eastern part of Japan on March 11th, causing unprecedented damage. 80% of the houses have gotten damaged by the earthquake in Rikuzentakata, and so many people still have to live in the temporary house. Kids could not enjoy the school playground because there are so many temporary houses. So we would like to give the chance for Kids to enjoy the outdoor activates in their vacation.
Work:
We will help out and live together with kids in the Kids camp supporting activities and sharing your culture. We will encourage the kid’s independence and creativity by letting them plan the schedule, so you will need to respect their ideas.
Study theme:
Best practice to revive disaster areas in each country.
Accommodation:
Youth center. Self-catering.
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 and may take several years to be rehabilitated.
Terminal:
Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus. You need to arrive at Narita airport by 19:00 on the 1 day before the first day and can leave there after 19:00 on last day.)
Leisure time:
Excursion and trekking, etc.
Skills Required:
High motivation to work for disaster area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization.
« I can say that the best things about the workcamp and this whole experience were the chance of making a real difference to the lives of very needy children. This is an extremely valuable project where volunteers can have a massive impact. Also the possibility of learning a huge amount about a country so different from our own. I learnt ten times as much by carrying out a workcamp than I would ever do backpacking. »