📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Koen Gakuin is a private mission school, having its origin in Mercedarias Misioneras de Bérriz (Spain). In 1952, they established junior high school, placing high school on the side. The school is small in size, with only 160 students (from 7th to 12th graders). They focus on religious field (Catholic) and English teaching. This is a joint program with Ato village coordinator. Volunteers have chances to deeply experience a rural Japanese school life in Yamaguchi area. CIEE Japan has started STV with Koen Gakuin back in 2008 and the joint program started in 2014.
💼 What the programme involves
[First Week] (July 16th- 24th)
-Prepare summer forest camp for elementary school children (fishing, nature observation, playing around the beach and playground)
-Participate actively in cross generational exchange events (may be Japanese tea ceremony SADO, or flower arrangement KADO)
-interact with local university students
-Do some manual work at a local share house in Mine
-Experience ZAZEN meditation
[Second Week]
-Prepare Summer English Program in the school (July 24th～29th)
-Join and help daily classes (such as culture, music, physical exercise, games, craft, cooking, field trip) to give students chances to speak English
-give a presentation about volunteer’s home country (5-10 minutes)
-may visit a city mayor to submit feedback of this program
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation:
[First Week]A Japanese traditional house (120 years old)
[Second Week]A school-owned facility
Facilities:
[First Week]Japanese style room, a washer, kitchen, shower, restroom, bathroom are available
[Second Week] Sleep on the floor with FUTON (or sleeping bag), a washer, kitchen, shower, restroom, bathroom are available
Meals:
[First Week] Fresh rice and vegetables will be provided by a local farmer and volunteers take turns and cook by themselves. A volunteer is expected to eat rice, miso soup, fish as well as meat (chicken, pork and beef) on a daily basis without any problem
[Second Week] Breakfast and dinner will be provided. Volunteers will have lunch at school
📍 About the location
Koen Gakuin School http://www.hagikoen.jp/
Mine Tourism guide (ENGLISH) http://english.karusuto.com/
Hagi is located in Yamaguchi prefecture, in the west part of Honshu, the Mainland of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan. It is a small local city with the population of 55,000.
Mine is also located in Yamaguchi prefecture. It is 30 minutes away from the hub station (新山口駅). The camp location is within the area of a mysterious Akiyoshido Cave(秋芳洞) and a beautiful Beppu Benten pond (別府弁天池). They became a popular touristic spot in recent years.
A volunteer needs at least 5,000 JPY in cash if she/he wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
⚠️ Requirements
A volunteer is expected to ride on a bicycle
What you should bring are one white shirt with collar and trousers (either black, navy or beige) for school event. Facial towels, toothpaste, brush, shampoo and conditioner, seasonings that represent your country (salt, garlic, paste, sauce or pepper)
※We are checking now to see if volunteers need to bring a sleeping bag/sleeping mat on their own (To be confirmed later)
ℹ️ Additional information
Volunteers will be requested to introduce their countries during English class. The topic can be hometown, food, sports, celebrity, architecture, landmarks, greetings and game)