Nishiwaga (Iwate)

Japan Farming Environment Older people Farming Environment +1 Fixed dates

About the project

Nishiwaga (Iwate)

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

This project has been organized with Ono Agriculture Union in Nishiwaga (OAUN), since 2014. Nishiwaga is a rural town surrounded by beautiful nature such as forests and lake. On the other side, it faces serious aging society and depopulation, and over 45% of villagers are 65 years or older. More and more farmers have retired, and many farmers suffer from a shortage of successors. OAUN has tried to revive deserted cultivated lands and organized some projects for interaction between urban and rural areas to activate the community. In 2017, the project for biotope development newly started to promote sustainable organic farming

💼 What the programme involves

Volunteers will mainly work on 1) making a biotope and 2) helping elderly local farmers by cutting grass or harvesting. Volunteers may also 3) work in a facility for people with disabilities. The schedule of work can be changed due to weather condition, so please be flexible! Volunteers will ride a bicycle between accommodation and working place.

🏠 Accommodation on site

Volunteers will stay in shared room in an old house (newly-renovated). Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeping bag is NOT necessary.

📍 About the location

Nishiwaga town, center of Tohoku area (north part of Japan), and located in border between Iwate and Akita prefecture. It surrounded by beautiful mountains, and famous for hot spring (there is one even in a train station)!

⚠️ Requirements

Interest in community development, cultural exchange with a local community, and agriculture

ℹ️ Additional information

Other activities: Hot spring is available. Volunteers can also join for cultural exchange parties with locals as well as activity with nursery school kids.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.