📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Host organization offers outdoor activities for both adults and children, which include making woodwork, basket wares, building wooden houses and painting, etc. in an environment abundant in nature as big as 20 hectares. Staff in this organization are all senior Japanese volunteers and they work with a philosophy of “A forest sustains people, people sustain a forest”. During summer, many children and families visit this place and join the program of various outdoor activities. CIEE Japan started this STV back in 2008 and it will be 10th anniversary in this summer.
Fureai-no-Mori Nandemo Kobo (JAPANESE)
http://www.kanko-shunan.com/saihakken/fureaikobo/fureaikobo.html
💼 What the programme involves
- help children, families and elders with cooking (pizza, udon and somen noodles etc), making crafts, and so on. Age of participants will range from 5 to 80 years old.
- Attend cultural exchange lesson with local elementary school students (such as Singing English songs and Q&A time)
- Participate in Japanese traditional summer festival called ”Matsuri”, together with local students.
- Maintenance of Fureai-no-Mori (mori means forest in Japanese) forest park and some facilities.
※Since there are many outdoor activities, work may differ if it rains.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation:
A traditional Japanese house.
Facilities:
Japanese TATAMI room with futon mattress, washer, kitchen, Western lavatory, shower. No internet access, Convinience store and supermarket is 5 minutes by car.
Meals:
Volunteers take turns and cook by themselves. Volunteers are asked to go to the store and do groceries.
📍 About the location
Shunan-city is located in south-eastern part of Yamaguchi Pref., between the beautiful Seto Inland Sea and hillside. It takes four and a half hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen or one and a half from Yamaguchi Ube Airport by train. During the day-offs, volunteers may participate in a traditional summer “MIKOSHI (portable shrine)” festival with local children. A volunteer needs at least 10,000 JPY in cash if she/he wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
⚠️ Requirements
1. A volunteer who enjoys cooking. All foods should be prepared by volunteers.
2. Volunteers need to be a self-starter. Those who are open-minded and eager to learn Japanese language and culture are welcome
3. There is no internet around this area. Bring pocket wifi if you are in need.
4. A motivation letter (more than 5 sentences long) is required. Please include your interest, motivation, experience and strength of yourself in English or Japanese.
Clothing suitable for outdoor activities, volunteers will take care of children in the river too (swimwear, shorts pants, T-shirts, sneakers are must) Slippers and sandals are prohibited. Seasonings and some recipes from your country (Please be ready to introduce your home country cuisine to local Japanese people and other international volunteer members), pictures and materials or something you can introduce your hometown, culture, language etc.