📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
This project is organized together with Ono Agriculture Union in Nishiwaga(OAUN), since 2014. Nishiwaga is a rural town surrounded by the beautiful nature such as forests and lake. On the other side, it has been facing serious aging and depopulation problems. Over 45% of villagers are over age of 65, and the number of retired farmers are increased. OAUN has been trying to revive the abandoned cultivated lands and organizing some projects for interaction between urban and rural areas for activating the community. Since 2017, they have been starting to make a biotope for promoting sustainable organic farming.
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers will mainly support to make a biotope and help for elderly local farmers to work on their farm such as cutting glasses or harvesting. Volunteers also work in a facility for the people with disabilities. The schedule of work will be changed due to weather condition, so you need to be flexible! Volunteers will ride rented 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 agricultural works.
ℹ️ Additional information
Other activities;Hot spring!! Volunteers can also join for cultural exchange parties with locals, and activity with nursery school kids.