📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
After working as a professional tax accountant, Mr Sakagami has moved into this village and named “Flower village for altruist”. The area is seriously depopulated and there are only about 10 elderly living. Instead of spending an affluent second life, he decided to revitalize the area by making a village (about 4.7 acre) more attractive for urban citizens so that many people can come and visit the area on vacation. They host events such as trail walking and musical recital too. It is going to be 4th anniversary CIEE Japan cooperated STV project with this village.
Flower village for Altruist Homepage http://ritamura.com/index.html
Facebook (Japanese) https://www.facebook.com/RITA.Village/photos_stream
The village and the couples were broadcasted on TV program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkS5hQ1L3Vs (PART1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDVfFzgkqnM (PART2)
💼 What the programme involves
If the weather is good, help environmental/agricultural activities needed for the community such as mowing the land, painting fences and wall, waxing the area.
-Cleaning task at the lodge, drying up the futon mattress, chopping the wood to make firewood.
-Making lantern for the lantern festival (August 9)
-Attending tanabata festival at the local temple
-Cultivating and cutting the farm
-Planning for an event where 20 Japanese people get together(mainly local partner’s family and relatives)
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation:
A western-style lodge
Facilities:
4 rooms with futon mattress, washer, restroom, bath room with bathtub, kitchen, Internet access is available. Convinience store and supermarket are 15 minutes away by car.
Meals:
Volunteers cool by themselves. Food materials will be provided by the host. Sometimes volunteers go grocery together.
📍 About the location
In 16th century, the battle called “The siege of Kozuki Castle” was held in this area. A memorial tower and ancient architectures still remains. Mr Sakagami has constructed 3 km of walking trails in cooperation with the local volunteers. He is now eager to host a musical recital for younger generations.
On day-offs, activities such as trail walking and experiencing watermarking paper called KAMISUKI may be possible. You may have chance to visit HIMEGI city (1 hour by train) for sightseeing. A volunteer needs at least 10,000 JPY in cash if she wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
⚠️ Requirements
1. A volunteer has to be between 18 and 27 years old
2. A volunteer is expected to be punctual and organized (Those are village rules)
3. It is important that a volunteer is confident of his/her physical strength and engaged in the manual work.
4. A volunteer who is allergic to wild animals and birds cannot be accepted
5. A volunteer who has an allergy (or preference) in wheat, meat or fish can not be accepted because those are often in a Japanese meal and a group does not prepare ingredient by individual request.
6. A volunteer is also expected to eat rice, miso soup, fish (sometimes raw) as well as meat (chicken, pork and beef) on a daily basis without any problem
7. A motivation letter (more than 5 sentences long) is required. Please include your interest, motivation, experience and strength of yourself in English or Japanese.
Bring clothing suitable for agricultural work (long sleeved), working gloves, rubber boots, hat, medicine, sun protection cream (or spray), toiletries, bath towels and sanitary goods. Insurance policy documents, Volunteers are requested to introduce their own countries by showing photos, maps, books, musical instruments and recipe, bring at least 20,000 JPY in cash for spending your personal item.
ℹ️ Additional information
Recommended to learn some Japanese greetings and idioms before coming to the workcamp