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 project: In each of 2020 and 2021, one volunteer stayed for 6 months and greatly contributed to their 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!)
İş Tanımı
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!
Konaklama ve Yemek
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.
Konum ve Serbest Zaman
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.
Notlar
- 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.
- Participation fee
12,000 JPY (90 USD by the rate on 2022 Dec. 23rd) per month till the 3rd month and 6,000 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.
- Other
The first/ last 2 days are On Arrival/ Evaluation Seminars in Yokohama. The popular documentary film for this place was broadcasted in 2015 at arayashiki-movie.jp/en/. Those who are not fully vaccinated for COVI-19 (booster) will need to have POR test on the arrival with paying the cost (2,500 JPY).
Konuşulan Diller
English
En Yakın Terminal
The nearest airport is Tokyo (NRT or HND) from which it takes 7 hours to the project by train and bus. Volunteers need to join On Arrival and Evaluation Seminars in Yokohama, so firstly should arrive at Tokyo airport by 08:00 on the starting day and can leave Tokyo airport after 18:00 on the ending day.
