Handicapped Child Care #1 /SHIGA
Japan
People with disabilities
Children
People with disabilities
Children
Fixed dates
About the project
Handicapped Child Care #1 /SHIGA
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
TENKI-MURA was established in 1987 (registered as NPO in 1994) to improve the surroundings of children in Kusatsu area. 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. Their activities also help parents have closer relationship within the community. Since 2015, TENKI-MURA start putting more focuses on childcare for disabled children and their parents. Most activities are taking place indoors but they sometime take children to a camp. From 2014, we host 2 days workcamp leader orientation at this location. Camp leaders learn how to cook from a scratch, does many case-study/feedbacks with TENKI-MURA staff. CIEE have very close relationship with this organization.
CIEE Japan started STV with TENKI-MURA in 2004 and it will be 12th anniversary this summer.
💼 What the programme involves
1. Day camp with children
Volunteers help day camp for elementary school children (6 to 12 years old, about 20 children in total). Volunteers are expected to act as their leaders. You will cook, play in the river and make a secret basement with children while making sure that they are all safe.
2. Care for children with disability
TENKI-MURA has played an active role to support those who have disabilities. When school is session, they open afterschool called “SORAMAME club”. During summer time, they help homework, play sports, do crafts, and teach dances in daytime. With TENKI-MURA stuff, volunteers help 10 SORAMAME club children.
3. Two days summer camp at “ZUTTO”
Not only day camp but also summer camp you take children for 2-3 days in an isolated village. ZUTTO is an old Japanese-style house it has been there for 150 years. During the camp, you will pick up vegetables on the mountain, play games around the Hosokawa River and cook fresh pizza hand-made stone oven. You will have a chance to go experience a hot spring nearby.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation:
Japanese house (Tatami room) and ZUTTO when camping
Facilities:
Both Japanese house and ZUTTO have a washer, a kitchen, a Western lavatory. A bathroom is available in Japanese house and volunteers can go hot spring in the neighbor when camping
Meals:
Volunteers are expected to cook by themselves, sometimes with children. During two days summer camp, volunteers use a stone stove outside to cook pizza or steam rice.
📍 About the location
Shiga prefecture is in the central part of Japan and is famous for Lake Biwa, which is the biggest 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. It takes about 20 minutes by train to get to Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan with lots of historical sites, and about 2 hours by express trains to get to Kansai International Airport. A volunteer needs at least 10,000 JPY in cash if she/he wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
⚠️ Requirements
A sleeping bag, swimwear, work clothes suitable for outdoor activities (Long-sleeved shirts, T-shirts, pants, long-socks and sneakers), a hat(or cap), toiletries, bath towels and other things you need for your daily life. TENKI-MURA stuff encourages you to introduce outdoor games that are popular among children in your home country. Make sure you prepare to teach them to Japanese kids.
ℹ️ Additional information
Japanese skill (intermediate level) is recommended to communicate well with children who participate day camp. Handicapped children can not communicate well verbally so a volunteer is expected to be patient and generous. This camp is suitable for people who can enjoy being around the nature and taking care of children. It would be great if a volunteer is physically strong and healthy.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
CIEEJ1605
21/07/2016 → 02/08/2016
Volunteers registered
0 / 7
♂ 0/3
♀ 0/4
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–40 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Shiga, Japan
Japan
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Japan Yen (JPY / ¥)
Exchange rate
1 JPY = 0.005641 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
Japanese