📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Higashi Shirakawa Village Board of Education offers this program in cooperation with Nagoya University of Commerce & Business (NUBC) and the local NPO “AOZORA KENBUN JYUKU” Since 2014.The aim of this project is to have children in Higashi Shirakawa Village to build an international friendship and to widen their views, since most children have no opportunity to interact with people from foreign countries. Through this project, they will have chance to experience other culture and see the world differently. Around 15 students of Nagoya University of Commerce & Business stay with international volunteers in accommodation and work and together. CIEE Japan has been involved with this STV project since 1998.
Nagoya University of Commerce & Business: http://www.nucba.ac.jp/en/
NPO AOZORA KENBUN JYUKU Official (JAPANESE) http://www.aozora-kenbun.com
NPO AOZORA KENBUN JYUKU Facebook (JAPANESE) https://www.facebook.com/aozorakenbun
Higashi Shirakawa Village https://www.vill.higashishirakawa.gifu.jp/
💼 What the programme involves
International volunteers and about 10 Japanese students of NUBC work together in English Village Camp for local children.
- Teaching English to children and residents of the village
- Cultural exchange through communication in English
- Preparation for the local summer festival
- Maintenance work of facility
- Agricultural and forestry work
- Visiting nursery school and pension house
- Presentation of a meal representing your home country
🏠 Accommodation on site
A facility which was used as Japanese style accommodation. It is no longer used publicly as hotel but kept as a place for visitors. International volunteers and students of NUBC stay in the facility. Volunteers share rooms (room for male and female are separated) and need a sleeping bag (sleep on tatami mattress). It has kitchen, bathroom with a bathtub, toilets (both Japanese and a western style), laundry machine, wi-fi.
Volunteers take turns to prepare meals by themselves. Vegetarians are acceptable.
📍 About the location
Higashi Shirakawa-Village is located in the central part of Japan, near the Hida Mountains which are very famous for its beautiful scenery among mountain climbers and tourists. It has rich forests and beautiful clear stream and visitors will see traditional Japanese country life. Residents are very friendly to visitors. Elevation is high, and the population is about 4,000. Most villagers take part in forestry and cultivate tea tree. Shirakawa tea is famous around the area. If volunteers like to visit landmarks such as Shirakawa go (a newly registered World Heritage) or Gero Onsen (famous hot spring), please plan your trip after the workcamp (the transportation is very limited during the program). A volunteer needs at least 10,000 JPY in cash if he/she wants to go sightseeing on free-day (such as Takayama city) but you can stay at the camp location if you do not want to go out with a big group.
⚠️ Requirements
- Being active for playing with children and interactive.
- Love for the nature and slow village life.
- Interests and understanding of Japanese culture and social manner.
- Must submit a motivation letter or description of motivation in the application form. Please include your self-introduction, interests on the project, experience, motivation in English or Japanese (if possible).
- Submit a confirmation slip (Travel information) online after your application is accepted by CIEE Japan.
ℹ️ Additional information
-Prepare presentation of your home country including recipe of meals representing your home country. Bring seasonings which you can’t get in Japan.
- Should bring: A sleeping bag, cotton gloves, clothes for volunteering (you might get dirty working outside), long sleeve shirts and long pants to cover your hands, arms and legs, a hat or a cap, water bottle, sunscreen, sports shoes, swim wear, flipflop, bath towels, facial towels, anti-mosquito bites spray, medicine you need.
