This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), organized together with Kyodo Gakusha since 2000, a cooperative community where people with various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, people who are tired of city life, who want to learn farming, who want to live in the nature, etc. They have 5 communities in Japan incl. Maki and Tateya and grow animals and vegetables in ecological, organic way.
Maki is located in a very isolated area (not accessible for cars and we have to walk 4 km in the mountains!), so it once became an abandon village in 1970s and then, was revived by Kyodo Gakusha. Over 10 people incl. 2 families were living till several years ago, but less and less in these years (almost nobody in the winter), so vols. are needed even more!
*Outcome of this workcamp: In 2023, we had 4 short term workcamps and 1 LMTV project with 13 vols. who greatly contributed to their protecting the houses, farming and caring animals that was difficult to finish by the time they needed without volunteers! See the long-term goal of this project as Local SDGs made by the previous project leader at https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/2019-ep3-188767935 (only in Japanese, sorry, but you can still enjoy the pictures!)
Volunteers mainly work for organic agriculture (cultivation, seeding, weeding, harvesting, taking care of goats, cows and chicken, making their feeds) and also carrying the things from the town to Maki, renovating the houses and trails on the way, constructing a hut, helping the house works especially cooking, etc. It's important and necessary to actively join the daily meeting and actively share the collective life. Be ready to work for quite a long time (05:30-18:00 with some brakes) and hard. It'd be surely good exercise to make your body more healthy!
Motivation letter is needed! Volunteers need to have some Japanese speaking skill (manage to have basic daily conversation) and high motivation and patience to keep hard, long and important work in the very isolated, natural place, to respect the way of the local host and to learn and speak Japanese language is needed. No special skills nor experiences are needed.
Volunteers will live in the main house that is a very beautiful cultural heritage and equips the basic facilities such as water, electricity, kitchen, toilets and a bath room! Single room can be provided. They will have meals, meetings and social life with Kyodo Gakusha members. Meals will be cooked by volunteers together with the members by turns. Sleeping bag is not necessary. There is limited wifi.
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70 nationalities are exempted to get visa within 3-6 months stay! So, only those who are from other countries or those who will stay for a longer time will need to get visa.
Check the updated info. at this site (https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000921.html#section2) and this site (https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html) of MOFA, Japanese embassies and any others.
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18,000 JPY (110 EUR by the rate on 2023 Nov. 18th) per month till the 3rd month and 9,000 JPY per month from the 4th month of "NICE Volunteers" fee need to be paid in advance either by Card or PayPal.
This is used for the project preparation/ coordination such as the transportation of the camp leaders while the meals and the accommodation are provided by the local host by free. Odd days are counted as one month (e.g., 170 days are counted as 6 months).
- Study theme
Similar type of communities in each country and their networking
- Other activities
Exchange program, Excursion on a free day (possibly to Hakuba, a famous tourism spot), etc.
- Location
Maki is located in the beautiful place near “Japanese Northern Alps”, at about 900 meters asl. and there is something remained here that most of Japanese areas have lost in modernization.
- Terminal
The nearest airport is Tokyo (NRT or HND) from which it takes 7 hours to the project by train and bus. However, volunteers need to join On Arrival (in Yokohama for MK06-09, 13-14 and Osaka for MK01-05, 10-12, 15) and Evaluation Seminars (in Yokohama for MK01, 03, 05, 07, 09, 10, 12, 14, 15 and Osaka for MK02, 04, 06, 08, 11, 13), so firstly should arrive at/ leave NRT or HND if the seminar is in Yokohama and KIX if it is in Osaka, by 08:00 on the starting day and can leave there after 18:00 on the ending day.
- Language
Japanese and English (a few of the local host can speak basic English)
- Other
The first/ last 2 days are On Arrival/ Evaluation Seminars in Yokohama or Osaka. The popular documentary film for this place was broadcasted in 2015 at arayashiki-movie.jp/en/.
- Find a project that interests you in our Open Projects
- Find your local organisation in your country of residence using our branch locator
- Get in touch with them with details about the project(s) you want to apply to. They will become your sending organisation.
- Any issues? Contact us!
