This project is organised together with Unzen Social Welfare Association, a semi-govermental organisation. Every year they organise a Summer Volunteer School for 3 days with 100 children (aged 10-18). Volunteers will work together with the children as they assist disabled people. They will also help at an elderley person's home and join with local volunteers. A home stay is also planned.
Accomodation:
In a Social Welfare Centre. Sleeping bag required.
Location:
A small town about 80km east of Nagasaki.
Terminal:
Fukuoka (3 hrs by train/ferry) or Osaka (7 hrs by bullet train or 13 hrs by overnight bus)
Special requirements:
Motivation to work with children, the elderley and disabled. Japanese ability welcome! The group will be made up of 6 Japanese and 6 international volunteers.
This project is organised together with Hinode Taiyo no Ie (HTI), a home for the mentally disabled. HTI has been isolated from the local community due to prejudice and so actively seeks to open up the home through international volunteer projects. Volunteers will work with the mentally disabled residents, maintain local forests and join an exchange programme with local kids. A trip to a hot spring is also planned.
Accomodation:
In a traditional "Samurai House".
Location:
In a mountainside location, about 50km west of Tokyo.
Terminal:
Tokyo - 90 mins by slow train
Special requirements:
Volunteers should be motivated to work with the mentally disabled. Japanese ability is welcome. The group will be made up of 4 Japanese and 5 international volunteers.
« I had not appreciated that so few people come out in the East Asian countries that my telling them was something extraordinary. This was also the most interesting aspect of the workcamp in terms of trying to expand the awareness of other ways of living, and there was never any hostility or problems because of it. »
