volontariato internazionale, antirazzismo, pace, diritti
Code:NICE-24S-0427A
Where:Aomori, Japan
Number of volunteers:5
Language:English
Extra-Fee:9000 JPY
Age:18+
Preserving the beautiful beech forests and enjoy your stay in beautiful rural area where is famous for tasty sea foods!
Work will be carried out in two locations, Ajigasawa and Hiranai. In Ajigasawa, volunteers will remove the snow fence of Shirakami Nature School, putting up a plastic greenhouse, chopping firewood, and digging and transport new saplings at the nursery. In Hiranai, work is carried out to remove dead saplings and replant new ones. The contents of work might be changed due to weather condition, so volunteers need to be flexible! Volunteers will get knowledge of history and culture of Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage, and skills of conservation forests in Japan.
This project is actively working for SDG13 (Climate Action) and SDGs 15 (Life on Land), organized together with Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS), since 2006. The Shirakami Mountains is one of Japanese valuable preserved natural forests consisting primarily of beech trees, registered as a World Natural Heritage in 1993. SMPS aims to preserve the natural beauty of the Shirakami Mountains by nurturing seedlings of beech trees, planting them, training mountain guide, etc. SMPS hosts tree-planting ceremony every June for preserving beech forests and promoting the value. They also preserve the forests near the Mutsu-bay, famous as production of scallops. Due to climate change, the sea water temperature increased abnormally in 2010, the most of scallops were dead, so SMPS started to preserve the forest there to let nutrient water flow to the ocean.
Location:Volunteers will work in Ajigasawa town and Hiranai town in Aomori prefecture. Aomori is located on the northernmost tip of Honshu Island. Shirakami Mountains located in southwest and the Mutsu-bay nestles between the eastern Shimokita and western Tsugaru Peninsulas. This is the good season for cherry blossom-viewing there. In this workcamp, volunteers doesn't have chance to go to Shirakamisanchi world heritage place. Leisure: Enjoy rich nature around accommodation, taking a walk at morning, hot spring, etc.
Shared room in school dormitory. Sleeping bag is needed! Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns.
Volunteers should be prepared to work hard outside in good and bad weather and have high motivation for work in the forests actively with local people
The nearest international airport is Tokyo (NRT or HND) from which it takes 7 hours by bullet train and local train or 10 hours by night bus and local train to the meeting point in Aomori pref. Vols. need to arrive at NRT or HND by 18:00 on Apr. 26 and can leave there after 22:00 on May 03. It is better to book flight on or after May 04.
Code:NICE-24S-0605A
Where:Nagano, Japan
Number of volunteers:8
Language:English
Extra-Fee:9000 JPY
Age:18+
Organic farming and nature life in the beautiful and traditional mountain communities in Japan. No road for cars, the only way to reach there is by walk for 1.5 hours
We will help their organic farming (planting rice and vegetables, weeding in the vegetable fields, taking care of goats and chicken) and also carry the things from the town, renovate the trails, help their house work such as cooking, washing, clearing, etc. Be ready to work for quite a long time (05:30-18:00 with some brakes) and hard! It'd be surely good exercise to make your body more healthy! Similar type of communities in each country and their networking
This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), organized together with Kyodo Gakusha since 2000, a cooperative community where people with various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, people who are tired of city life, who want to learn farming, who want to live in the nature, etc. They have 5 communities in Japan incl. Maki and Tateya and grow animals and vegetables in ecological, organic way. Maki is located in a very isolated area (not accessible for cars and we have to walk 4 km in the mountains!), so it once became an abandon village in 1970s and then, was revived by Kyodo Gakusha. Over 10 people incl. 2 families were living till several years ago, but less and less in these years (almost nobody in the winter), so vols. are needed even more! *Outcome of this workcamp: In 2023, we had 4 short term workcamps and 1 LMTV project with 13 vols. who greatly contributed to their protecting the houses, farming and caring animals that was difficult to finish by the time they needed without volunteers! See the long-term goal of this project as Local SDGs made by the previous project leader at https://www.slideshare.net/niceworkcamp/2019-ep3-188767935 (only in Japanese, sorry, but you can still enjoy the pictures!)
Location: Maki is located in the beautiful place near “Japanese Northern Alps”, at about 900 meters asl. and there is something remained here that most of Japanese areas have lost in modernization. Leisure: Exchange program, Excursion on a free day (possibly to Hakuba, a famous tourism spot), etc.
Volunteers will sleep in a few rooms of the volunteers' house that is a very beautiful cultural heritage and equips the basic facilities such as water, electricity, toilets and a bath room! They will have meals, meetings and social life with Kyodo Gakusha members in the main building (just 30 meters far). Meals will be cooked by volunteers together with the members by turns. Sleeping bag is not necessary
Volunteers need to have high motivation and patience to keep the hard, long and important work in the very isolated, natural place and to respect the way of the local host. No special skills nor experiences are needed. Motivation letter is needed!
The nearest international airport is Tokyo (NRT or HND). From Tokyo to the meeting point near the project, it takes 5 hours by express bus. Volunteers need to arrive at the airport in Tokyo by the end of Jun. 04 and can leave there from the beginning of Jun. 17.
Code:NICE-24S-0614A
Where:Aomori, Japan
Number of volunteers:5
Language:English
Extra-Fee:9000 JPY
Age:18+
Let's preserve the beautiful forests in the World Natural Heritage!
Assisting in the preparation (preparation of saplings and tools, setting up tents, etc.) and operation of tree planting festivals in two locations in Aomori Prefecture (Ajigasawa and Hiranai). On the day of the festival, many participants, local students to those from all over the country, will gather to plant trees. 1) Preparing a beach nursery and organize a tool shed. 2) Preparation and operation of the treeplanting festival in Hiranai on June 16. 3) Preparation and operation for the tree-planting festival of SMPS in Ajigasawa on June 23 Volunteers will get knowledge of history and culture of Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage, and skills of conservation forests in Japan
This project is actively working for SDG13 (Climate Action) and SDGs 15 (Life on Land), organized together with Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS) since 2006. The Shirakami Mountains is one of Japanese valuable preserved natural forests consisting primarily of beech trees, registered as a World Natural Heritage in 1993. SMPS aims to preserve the natural beauty of the Shirakami Mountains by nurturing seedlings of beech trees, planting them, training mountain guide, etc. SMPS hosts tree-planting ceremony every June for preserving and promoting the value of it. They also preserve the forests near the Mutsu-bay, famous as production of scallops. Due to climate change, the sea water temperature increased abnormally and the most of scallops were dead. So SMPS started to preserve the forest there to let nutrient water flow to the ocean.
Location: Volunteers will work in Ajigasawa town and Hiranai town in Aomori prefecture. Aomori is located on the northernmost tip of Honshu Island. Shirakami Mountains located in southwest and the Mutsu-bay nestles between the eastern Shimokita and western Tsugaru Peninsulas. Leisure: Enjoy rich nature around accommodation, taking a walk at morning, hot spring, etc
Shared room in school dormitory. Sleeping bag is needed! Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns.
Volunteers should prepare to work hard outside in good and bad weather and have high motivation for work in the forests actively with local people.
The nearest international airport is Tokyo (NRT or HND) from which it takes 7 hours by bullet train and local train or 10 hours by night bus and local train to the meeting point in Aomori pref. Vols. need to arrive at NRT or HND by 18:00 on Jun. 13 and can leave there after 22:00 on Jun. 24. It is better to book flight on or after June 25.
Code:NICE-24S-0615A
Where:Wakayama
Number of volunteers:6
Language:English
Extra-Fee:9000 JPY
Age:18+
Let's preserve the beautiful forests in the World Natural Heritage!
Collecting plums that naturally fall from the tree onto the net. Harvesting and sorting of plums on trees by hand. Working to support plum processing operations. etc. Volunteers have opportunities learning about "Minabe-Tanabe Ume system", which is a World Agricultural Heritage Site. Homestay, discussion with local people, observation of charcoal making, making plum juice, etc.
This project is actively working for SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with Akitsugawa Promotion Group (APG) since 2024. Tanabe City and Minabe Town in Wakayama Prefecture are Japan's largest ume(plums)-growing areas. Over 400 years ago, firewood forests were left around plum groves and near ridges on steep slopes to support plum production by recharging water sources, supplying nutrients and preventing slopes from collapsing. The bees that inhabit the wood and coal forests also help pollinate the plums. In addition, the wood and charcoal forests produce "Kishu-binchotan", a top-quality charcoal made from Japanese oak logs, and a wood and charcoal forest management method called 'selective logging' has been devised, which can quickly regenerate logs and is not found elsewhere in the region. However, the region is also suffering from an ageing population and declining birth rate, and sustainable agriculture, particularly plum farming, is in danger due to a lack of manpower. An international workcamp was organized with the aim of communicating the plum and the region's attractions to volunteers from home and abroad, and connecting them to the next generation. In addition, rich Japanese food centered on rice. APG would like to think together about expanding the consumption of ume as a side dish.
Shared house in community center. Sleeping bag is not needed! Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns.
Volunteers should prepare to work hard outside in good and bad weather and have high motivation for work in the forests actively with local people.
The nearest airport is Osaka (KIX) . To the meeting point, it takes 2-3 hours by Express train from the airport. Vols. need to arrive at KIX by 07:00 on Jun. 15 and can leave there after 19:00 on Jun. 25.
Language: English (Japanese is also welcomed!)
Code:NICE-24S-0725A
Where:Fukui
Number of volunteers:16
Language:English
Extra-Fee:9000 JPY
Age:6+
International FAMILY workcamp in the mountain village of great nature and beautiful houses! Meaningful work, super clean water and Dinosaur museum are waiting!!
Volunteer will help to 1) maintain the old houses by cleaning up, drying many sleeping mats, etc., 2) do farming (weeding in the green tea field that was abandon, cultivating, planting and harvesting potatoes) and 3) do other community work (e.g., construction, chopping woods, trail maintenance). Children sometimes work with adults and other times play in the nature (river, etc.) by the assistance of some parents (by turns) and supporting vols. Local SDGs (2030 goals) of Ohara
"This project is actively working for SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with Ohara Eco Project (OEP) since 2009. There were 600 inhabitants in Ohara village with 90 houses 100 years ago, but now only 1 elder! OEP was founded by the local people in 2006 and has rehabilitated 7 houses of cultural heritage. They maintain and revive the trails and fields, organize the workcamps with NICE and run various eco tours, so got the best prize in the award of Creating Home Town by the national government in 2016! The family workcamp started since 2013 (President of NICE keeps joining as a leader with his kids) and hosted a lot of families from Japan, Asia, Europe and Americas with great success. *Outcome of this workcamp: In 2023, 14 vols. from 5 families joined and made great contribution to have dried over sleeping mats, weed in the tea field (see the pictures), made natural clay for walls, cleaned the village road, etc. Please see the presentation made by the volunteer for the IVS contest in Japan; https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/e5-55193721 (only Japanese for the moment, but you can at least enjoy the pictures!) "
200 km north east of Osaka. Katsuyama is an agricultural city and famous for dinosaurs discovery. Ohara village is located at 500 m a.s.l. and surrounded by the mountains with very rich nature (e.g., the spring water is drinkable and very tasty!). Exchange parties, Excursion on a free day including the famous Dinosaurs Museum and its experience program of fossil excavation, etc.
A few rooms of the traditional renovated house! Meals will be cooked by turns. Sleeping bag is not necessary. Simple shower rooms. Clean toilets. You can see how the village looks like at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzGZvho8fVQ
Only families (Children should be 6-12 years old) can join this program. Basically up to 4 persons (2 adults) per family. High motivation to work and cooperate. Respect to the local culture and way of the organization! Speaking Japanese language is welcomed!
The nearest airport is Komatsu for domestic and Osaka (KIX) for international flights. From Osaka/ Tokyo to the meeting point, it takes 3/ 5 hours by the bullet train and 5/ 11 hours by bus. If Tokyo, vols. need to arrive at the airport in Narita or Haneda by 05:00 on Jul. 25 and can leave there after 23:00 on Jul. 31.
Lunaria - Associazione di Promozione Sociale
Via Buonarroti 51, 00185 - ROMA
+39 06 88 41 880
+39 06 84 24 2 487
+39 06 88 41 859
CF 96192500583
P.Iva 06139821000
Lunaria ha ottenuto nel 2021 i label di organizzazione accreditata nell'ambito dei programmi Erasmus+ e Corpo Europeo di Solidarietà. E' stata premiata come Best Practice europea nel 2015 e nel 2017 per i progetti di Capacity Building con paesi partner. Né la Commissione Europea né le le sue Agenzie sono responsabili del contenuto del sito dell'associazione.