📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Kunimi-En is a school and home for mentally challenged people, and was founded in 1996 as "A big home where everyone cares for others". The main aim of this school is to provide mentally handicapped people with a comfortable living space, treating them as individuals with dignity, so that they feel at home and enjoy their life. All staff is trying to focus on not only to enrich the services they are providing but also to introduce their welfare programs and activities to the local people. There are approximately 40 people staying and 20 staff assisting. While CIEE STV is in session, they call it as an “International Exchange Week” and they welcome volunteers around the world. Kunimi-en has been our partner since 1998 (it is actually the first year of CIEE’s incoming workcamp), and it is going to be 19th anniversary this summer.
💼 What the programme involves
August 28- September 2
-Assist handicapped people (from 25 to 75 years old) both indoor (hand craft, drawing) and outdoor activities (taking a walk, visiting an art exhibition)
-Help daily routines (cleaning the room and facility)
-Introduce volunteer’s home country (prepare your presentation in advance)
-Have a daily meeting with stuff in the morning/evening
September 2- September 3
-volunteers go out two days in the Buddhist temple to experience Japanese tea ceremony (called SADO) and read Buddhist sutras
September 4- September 9
-Assist seniors at day service center (About 20-30 seniors)
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation:
August 28- September 2 RYOKAN （Japanese style hotel) Volunteers commute to Kunimi-en by a car
September 2- September 3 GUEST HOUSE OWNED BY A TEMPLE
September 4- September 9 HOMESTAY (All Volunteers stay at one house)
Facilities:
Stay in rooms(both Japanese and Western) with Futon mattress, a washer, a Western-style lavatory and a shower room. Internet access and international phone are available. A small shop is nearby.
Meals:
Provided (or sometimes instructed where to buy) by staff 3 times in a day
📍 About the location
Kunimi-En is about half an hour by train from Kofu city in Yamanashi prefecture. You can enjoy the wide view of Mt. Fuji, registered as a world heritage, a highest mountain in Japan, with the Japan South Alps in the background. This area is also famous for a rapid Fuji river, and those landscapes are depicted in famous Japanese printing "Ukiyoe" by the artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760～1849).
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 has an interest or studies for welfare and social security are most welcome. You need to understand about developmentally handicapped people (autism disorder, down syndrome etc) and to have knowledge of basic nursing care.
2. A volunteer who has some interests in Buddhism. Please make sure it is not against what you believe in because there are some activities inside the Buddhist temple and you will spend one night there.
Bring work clothes (short sleeved T shirts, polo shirts, long pants) and sneakers. Dress conservative (skirt/short pants are not allowed). There will be an event to introduce your country (Food, books, CD, maps). Please prepare for this event. You can put the date in USB, please bring it with you.
ℹ️ Additional information
Basic Japanese skill would be very helpful to enjoy this project.