📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
TENKI-MURA (meaning Sunny Village in Japanese) was established in 1987 (registered as NPO in 1994) to improve the surroundings of children in Kusatsu area. They support children, parents, elderly and handicapped people through their social business. Since their slogan is The earth is a playground they have been hosting many hands-on programs and organizing many outdoor events in the forest, lakeside and playground.euroCIEE Japan started STV with TENKI-MURA in 2004.TENKI-MURA official homepage: http://www.biwako.ne.jp/-nt-tenki/ TENKI-MURA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nt.tenkimura
💼 What the programme involves
The main role of Volunteers is to help day camps for elementary school children (6 to 12 years old, about 20 children in total). Volunteers are expected to act as their leaders. Volunteers cook, play in the river (sometimes fish catching) and make a secret basement while making sure that children are all safe.The work will also include:-Taking care of handicapped children -Meeting elderly people and having communication
🏠 Accommodation on site
The accommodation is a Japanese traditional house which TENKI-MURA owns next to their office.Facilities: Japanese Tatami room (bedding is provided), laundry machine, kitchen, toilet, bathroom with a bathtub, free wi-fi. A convenience store and supermarket is 5 minutes away on foot. Volunteers go to supermarket or convenience store together with a camp leader for grocery. Dinner will be prepared by the host organisation. NOT available: vegetarian food, arrangement for food allergy and any other food restriction
📍 About the location
Shiga prefecture is in the central part of Japan and is famous for Lake Biwa, which is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. The lake occupies one sixth of the total area of the prefecture. Kusatsu city is located in the south of the lake and has about 130,000 residents. Trips to the Lake Biwa museum and other spots in Kusatsu city is planned by the host organizer during the workcamp. It takes about 20 minutes to travel to Kyoto by train, the ancient capital of Japan with lots of historical sites, and about 60 minutes by train to get to Nara, which is even older capital city of Japan where you can find many UNESCO World Heritage site. A volunteer should bring at least 10,000 JPY in cash if she/he wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
ℹ️ Additional information
- Prepare for a presentation of your home country for children and staff at TENKI-MURA.- Handicapped children cannot communicate verbally so each volunteer is expected to be patient and generous.- Plan outdoor games that are popular among children in your home country. Make sure you prepare to teach them to Japanese kids. - Should bring: Long sleeve shirts and long pants to cover your arms and legs, a hat or a cap, water bottle, sports shs, swim wear, sunscreen, beach sandals, bath towels, facial towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, detergent for your laundry, anti-mosquito bites spray, medicine you need.- Please pay attention on what you wear in from of children. Clothes which are too tight, transparent, too short, showing your underwear or private body are NOT ALLOWED.