รับสมัครอาสาสมัครไทยร่วมค่ายนานาชาติ ประเทศญีปุ่่น

* Vols. = Number of volunteers to be recruited (incl. Japanese vols).

W: Voluntary work

S: Study theme

A: Accommodation

L: Location

T: Terminal (The closest big international airport)

LA: Leisure Activities

SR: Special Remarks (if any)

PF: Participation Fees (if any)

CV: Cook by volunteer

SB: Sleeping bag need

NICE-16-006  Kurikoma  (Miyagi)  01/29-02/07  MANU  8 vols. (4 int.)

Organized together with Kurikoma Plateau Nature School (KPNS) since 2006.  KPNS provide various nature-oriented courses, eco-tour, kids programs and independence support of the students who have difficult backgrounds. In the winter season, 2 meters of snow is piled up in Kurikoma, tourists is decreased due to the influence of snow. However they want to activate the town through a snow sculpture and international volunteer power.

W: We will do the various works needed in the KPNS and area such as lowering the snow and making the firewood using scrap wood. It will be physically hard. We will also build the snow statue with the youth in KPNS.

S: Activate the isolated community and good practices in your country.  Bring some info.!

A: Log cabin. CV. SB!

L: Center of Tohoku area, north part of Japan. It is specified for the quasi-national park and you can enjoy the beech wood and the alpine plant in all seasons.  Very cold in Feb & Mar.

T: Tokyo (3 hours by bullet train or 9 hours by bus). You need to arrive at Narita airport by 07:30 on the first day and can leave there after 20:00 on the last day.)

LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.

SR: Motivation to actively work in the cold area and with youth! There’ll be no camp leader while we will have a local coordinator. No vegetarian and cigarette smokers.

NICE-16-010  Ozuchi 2  (Ishikawa)  02/07-02/20  MANU, EDU  6 vols. (3 int.)

Organized together with Shizentaiken Ozuchi 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!

W: 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 visit elementary school for international exchange and do some other work for the community.

S: Best practice to revive depopulated areas in each country and their networking. Bring some info!

A: Renovated house (traditional house!). CV. SB!

L: The southwest part of Ishikawa prefecture. Ozuchi village is surrounded by mountains, so very isolated, but beautiful place. Charcoal making was main industry.

T: Osaka (Kansai) airport (3.5 hours by express train). From Tokyo, 5 hours by express train/ 8 hours by highway bus (For Narita airport, you need to arrive by 13^th afternoon/ can leave there after 24^thnoon.)

LA: Exchange parties with local people etc.

SR: 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!

NICE-16-016  Kurogi 2  (Fukuoka)  02/18-03/08  ENVI, AGRI  7 vols. (5 int.)

Organized together with Sanson-Juku since 2008 (starting with 80 days workcamps and then, did the short term workcamps after a few years). They maintain the forest and rice fields by the exchange programs between cities and the country side since 1994. In spite of the town’s natural heritage, depopulation (especially of youth) is a serious problem here similarly to many other parts of the country side in Japan. We aim to help with nature conservation and to activate the area through workcamps.

W: We will make the footpath in the forest park. We will work in the forests doing activities such as helping mushroom farm and cutting bushes in maintenance of the forest by which we can contribute to nature conservation through global voluntary power.

S: Effective cases of activated depopulated areas in each country. Bring some info..!

A: Building in abandoned school. CV. SBN

L: Southern part of the Fukuoka prefecture. The Kurogi town is 135,49 km2. There are so many tee trees and terraced paddy fields.

T: Fukuoka airport (3 hours by express train. You need to arrive by 11:00 on Feb. 18^th and leave there after 15:00 on Mar. 08^th). From Osaka, 6 hours by bullet train and 12 hours by midnight bus (you need to arrive at Kansai airport by 19:00 on Feb. 17^th and leave there from 12:00 on March 9^th)

SR: Interest in nature protection & exchange with a community. Adaptability to enjoy a simple lifestyle!

NICE-16-019  Iwami-ginzan 1  (Shimane)  02/29-03/12  ENVI, EDU  8 vols. (4 int.)

Organized with Organization of Green and Water (OGW) since 2007. OGW was established in 1992 to advocate the importance of prairies and forests in our ecosystem. Iwami Ginzan, a silver mine, was registered as a World Heritage site in 2007. However, the recent lack of maintenance of satoyama forests has caused the unwanted spread of bamboo forests which could destroy stone walls and degrade the scenery. In the last workcamp cut down bamboo trees and had international events for local people.

W: We will undertake various kinds of work such as maintenance of the bamboo forest around the Iwami Ginzan (cutting down trees and converting into chips), cutting grasses in the local mountain to conserve biodiversity, preparing the local art event held at Iwami Ginzan, and visiting elementary schools to organize classes for international interact.

S: Similar kinds of activities of forest care and protection in each country. Bring some info.!

A: Private community center (Yukimiru). CV. SB!

L: About 250 km north west of Osaka. Near the Sea of Japan

T: 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.

LA: Visiting the historical sites, exchange party, sports, mingling with the elders at the nursing home, etc.

SR: Interested in nature conservation

NICE-16-022  Ikata  (Ehime)  03/02-03/19  AGRI  12 vols. (6 int.)

Organized together with Kikuya Community Group (KCG), formed by the local young people to think of the future of their small village, since 2008. Ikata is famous for oranges farming, but has been facing depopulation, lack of workers and aging society since most of young people leave the town. So, the number of abandoned orange farms is increasing and the town is losing its tradition, life, custom and scenery. KCG strongly hopes to host vols. to work together to animate the town and revive the farms.

W: We will help orange farming such as harvesting, taking care of trees, cutting grass etc.We will separate into 5-6 groups to help different farms. Work is physically hard from early morning to evening. We will also visit school to organize class for international interact.

A: Old traditional house. CV.

L: In the edge of Sata Peninsula, surrounded by the sea, so fishing is also famous. There are only 30 houses in this community. The climate is relatively warm though it can be cold in winter.

T: Matsuyama (2.5 hours by bus). From Tokyo, 12-13 hours by highway bus.

LA: Onsen(hot spring), exchange party

SR: Interested in agriculture, high motivation to speak Japanese with local people

NICE-16-023  Koshi  (Fukuoka)  03/05-03/31  FEST, KIDS  9 vols. (6 int.)

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.

W: 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 ).

S: Activate the isolated community and good practices in your country. Bring some info.!

A: Public hall. CV. SB!

L: Small town in the mountains, 20 km north of Kumamoto. Good access by bus from Kumamoto.

T: Fukuoka airport (3 hours by express train. You need to arrive by 09:00 on first day and can leave there after 17:00 on last day).

LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.

SR: Interest in art and Kids!!

NICE-16-026  Akame 3  (Mie)  03/14-03/28  ENVI, ELDE  10 vols. (5 int.)

Organized with “Akame no Mori wo Sodateru kai“, a local environmental NPO for conservation of forest since 1999. Being located near from 2 big cities Osaka and Nagoya, there were some plans to build a golf field and waste disposal site, but local people have stopped them by “Woods Trust” movement. They founded this group in 1996 to collect donations to buy and protect lands, to own a eco-resort hotel to enjoy nature, to maintain forests, to create a pond for dragonflies, to host national copse meeting, etc.

W: We will cut down trees in the forest and carry them out. We sometimes need to use blades and machineries with lecture how to use. Work is quite hard from morning to evening even in rain if it’s not so heavy. Sometimes, we may have exchange with mentally challenged children who are working here.

A: Eco-resort Akameno-mori (Log house). CV.

L: About 60 km east of Osaka. There are famous falls nearby many hikers visit.

T: Osaka or Nagoya (1 hour by train from both. You need to arrive at Kansai int. airport by 10:00 on the first day and can leave there after 19:00 on the last day)

LA: hiking, cultural exchange parties, etc.

SR: Strong motivation and Physical strength are highly needed.

NICE-16-030  Minamata  (Kumamoto)  03/18-03/31  ENVI  14 vols. (7 int.)

Organized together with Minamata International Friendship Association (MIFA) since 1992. Though there was a big tragedy of public pollution 40 years ago, it’s completely safe now and Minamata is pioneering to be ecological town by distinguishing garbage into 21 categories, etc. The workcamps have been creating a forest on the reclaimed land to bear new lives as a symbol of revival, with strong wish of the patients as well as doing various community works to activate local communities.

W: We will mainly work for renovation of the bamboo gate in Eco House and making bamboo charcoals. We also join and support international festival in Minamata. We will cook your international dishes by ourselves in this event. We will sell that dishes to local people and enhance the mood in this event etc.

S: Eco life and Greening Asia. Bring some info.!

A: Public hall (we will barrow the bathrooms of neighbors that creates nice exchange). CV. SB!

L: South west in Kyushu islands. People are cheerful and many of man like to drink sake!! If lucky, you could enjoy parties under cherry flowers!

T: Fukuoka airport (3 hours by express train. You need to arrive by 10:00 on Mar. 18^th and can leave there after 16:00 on Mar. 31^st). From Osaka, 6 hours by bullet train and 12 hours by midnight bus (you need to arrive at Kansai airport by 19:00 on Mar. 17^th and leave there from 11:00 on Apr. 1^st).

LA: Home stay, exchange parties, elementary school visit, etc.

SR: Interest to protect nature and to exchange with people.

NICE-16-033  Appi-kogen  (Iwate)  03/24-03/30  SOCI, KIDS  20 vols. (10 int.)

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.

W: We will help out and live together with kids in the Ski/Snowboard Kids camp supporting ski/snowboard 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!

S: Best practice to revive disaster areas in each country. Bring some info.!

A: Youth center. CV

L: 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.

T: 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.)

LA: Excursion and trekking, etc.

SR: Ski Snowboard Intermediate or more!! High motivation to work for disaster area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization! Motivation letter is required.

NICE-16-037  Kuromatsunai 1  (Hokkaido)  04/21-04/30  ENVI  8 vols. (5 int.)

Organized together with Buna-no-mori Shizen Gakko (nature school with beech forests) since 2003 (since for this work). BSG was started in 1998 to promote ecological education for kids and run various kinds of kids programs. They have started to create an organic, community farm where various kinds of people can gather and heal their bodies and mind. They are planting berries and vegetables and creating biotope along a stream in 20ha of the land and need a lot of voluntary power to develop!

W: We will mainly help to develop the farm and the biotope by cutting bamboo and other glasses, digging the soils, etc.). We will also help to maintain the nature school (e.g., cutting glasses, prepare the camp site) as well as to run their “Open School” program where families and adults will enjoy the nature.

S: Community farms in each country. Bring some info.!

A: Dormitory building of the school (Quite comfortable!). SBN CV

L: South west of Hokkaido island. Full of beautiful nature with national reserve of beech forests, a river and wetland. Main industry is cattle farming.

T: Sapporo (2 hours by express train. You need to arrive at Shin-Chitose airport by 06:00 on Apr. 21 and can leave there after 18:00 on Apr. 30). From Tokyo, 13 hours by bullet train or 32 hours by ship.

LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.

SR: High motivation to work for the community farm. Similar types of experience and Japanese speaking skill are welcome!

NICE-16-040  Maki 1  (Nagano)  06/15-06/26  AGRI, MANU  8 vols. (4 int.)

Organized together with Maki Farm of Kyodo Gakusha (KG) since 2000. KG is a NPO running 5 organic farming communities in Japan where people with various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, those who want to learn farming, etc. in order to change our society from competitive to cooperative. Maki Farm has 5-10 members and is located in a very isolated area (not accessible for cars and we have to walk 4 km in the mountains), so once it became an abandon village in 1970s.

W: We will help their organic farming (weeding in rice and vegetable fields, planting vegetables, taking care of goats and chicken) and also carry the things from the town, renovate the trails, help their house work, etc. Be ready to work for quite a long time (05:30-18:00 with some brakes) and hard.

S: Similar type of communities in each country and their networking. Bring some info.!

A: Building for volunteers in the farm. Very beautiful cultural heritage! CV. SB!

L: Very isolated, but beautiful place near “Japanese Northern Alps”. About 900 meters asl. There are something remained here that most of Japanese areas have lost in modernization.

T: Tokyo (4 hours by express train or 6-8 hours by bus and train. You need to arrive at Narita airport by 04:00 a.m. on Jun. 15^th and can leave there after 24:00 on Jun. 26^th.)

LA: Visit to the elementary school, foot ball and baseball (optional), exchange party, etc.

SR: Good Japanese language is not necessary, but still welcomed. You need to be physically strong and flexible to respect the way of the local host. Motivation letter is needed!