- Pop bridge between local & global communities -
NICE Projects for 2008

 

M E N U
 What is NICE?                                      P  2
 What are International Workcamps?                  P  3
 Project 1: International Workcamps by NICE          P  4 - 28
    1) Introduction                      (P 4)
    2) How to Apply?                    (P 4)
    3) Summery List                     (P 5-6)
4) General Qualification              (P 7)
    5) Detailed Workcamps Information    (P 7-28)
 Project 2: International Workcamps in the world       P 29
 Project 3: Long And Middle term voluntary Programs  P 29 - 32
 Project 4: Weekend workcamps                      P 33
 Project 5: Group workcamps                         P 34
 Project 6: Other projects                             P 35	

< Organizing International/ Weekend/ Long term Workcamps >
NICE (Never-ending International workCamps Exchange)
Address  : 2-1-14-401 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022 JAPAN
Tel.      : 81-3-3358-7140 (Mon-Fri 10:00-12:30/ 13:30-18:00)
Fax      : 81-3-3358-7149

Web site           : http://nice1.gr.jp
General matters    : nice@nice1.gr.jp (Kai = KAIZAWA Shinichiro, President)
Incoming placement: in@ nice1.gr.jp (Eiji = UEDA Eiji)
Outgoing placement: out@nice1.gr.jp (Sue = TOYONAGA Haruka, YANO Toshie)
LMTV-Incoming    : LM@nice1.gr.jp (Tatsuya = TSUKAMOTO Tatsuya, Director)
LMTV-Outgoing    : LM-out@nice1.gr.jp (Yoshi = OZAKI Yoshihiro)
Group Workcamps          : GW@nice1.gr.jp (Miwa = ANAGAMA Miwa)
Senior & weekend workcamps: ww@nice1.gr.jp (Okki = OKINO Michiko)
Western regional office       : west@nice1.gr.jp (Hisano = YOSHII Hisano)
Promotion matters           : PR@nice1.gr.jp (Yanocchi = YANO Toshie)	

What is NICE!?

* NGO/ NPO to organize workcamps and other voluntary projects in Japan & east Asia
* Vice president of CCIVS at UNESCO and General Secretary of NVDA (Asian network)
* Enjoying to create a new global age by mentally young people!

 1) Brief History; 
NICE was founded on 4th Feb. in 1990 by 7 youth who had participated in workcamps abroad.
In Sep. 90, the first international workcamp in Japan was held at the foot of the Mt. Fuji.
It has been developing rapidly and variously with huge needs of projects & motivations of people!

 2) Aims; 
a) To create/ develop/ revive ecological, self sufficient and warm-hearted civilization.
We promote exciting voluntary actions by fresh ideas and mobility as a youth NPO, to shift the
world with too much competition and expansion into more healthy one for both nature and people.
b) To encourage activities of NGO/NPOs and activation of local communities
We create opportunities to meet new people and to start new actions by involving many locals.
We make bridges between isolated NPOs and local people, and invite youth to depopulated areas.
c) To promote global friendship, understanding and solidarity
We grow exchange naturally among world youth and local people through living, working, talking and 
laughing together.  They can improve global views/ sensitivity and language/ planning skills.

 3) Activities; 
To achieve the above aims, NICE run the following activities (main ones);
a) To organize international workcamps (1-3 weeks) mostly in Japan and sometimes, in Asia, etc.
  : 85 (648) projects in 14 (20) countries with 858 (7,694) international vols. in 2007 (and in 18 years)
b) To send volunteers from Japan to international workcamps abroad
  : 750 (7,935) volunteers to 58 (96) countries in 2008 (and in 18 years)
c) To organize weekend workcamps (1-3 days projects) in Japan
  : 125 (1,313) projects in 23 (33) prefectures with 1,338 (18,755) volunteers in 2007 (and in 15 years)
d) To organize LAMP (LMTV projects for 2-12 months) in Japan & send LM vols.
  : 20 (85) projects with 63 (248) vols./ sent 103 (495) vols. to 19 (24) countries in 2007 (and in 13 years)
e) Many other ecological/ social/ educational/ cultural actions such as Green Foster Parents, Sister
School Project, Actions against child abuse, Actions for refugees, Promotion of acrylic sponges, etc.

 4) Members & Partners; 
1,307 Full (72%:female, 71%:students) + 6,889 Associate + 6 Organizational members.
It's run by 10 professional & 10-15 regular voluntary staffs together with many active members.
The General Assembly/ Executive Committee of NICE is held twice/ six times in a year.
We are completely independent from any political, religious, economic power.  NICE is;
a) Vice President (the only Japanese member) of CCIVS at UNESCO since 07
b) General Secretary of NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia) since 08
c) The first Asian member of ALLIANCE of European Voluntary Service Organizations since 96
d) Exchange Partner of SCI (Service Civil International) and YAP (Youth Action for Peace). 
We also cooperate with a lot of local governments, NGO/ NPOs, media, foundations and people.

 5) Finance; 
a) Running cost (staffs, offices, etc.) is managed by the fees from members and volunteers. 
b) Project cost (food, accommodation, etc.) of international workcamps in Japan and LAMP are
mainly by local partners (their own budgets, local governments, sponsoring foundations, etc.)
c) Project cost of workcamps in other Asia and weekend workcamps are paid mainly by volunteers.
What are International Workcamps !?

International voluntary projects, where volunteers from all over the world live & work 
together with local people.  Mostly for 2-3 weeks/ in Jul.-Sep./ by 10-30 volunteers.

 1) Brief History; 
In 1920, the first one started in France by German & French youth as reconstructing the farms 
destroyed during the World War I.  Since then, it has been spreading to all over the world. 
In the 60s, many workcamps with construction works were organized in newly independent countries 
as well as peace projects between East & West in Europe.  Environmental ones have been increasing 
since 80s.  According to our research, about 3,000 projects in 100 countries were held in 2007.

 2) Voluntary Works; 
Normally for 6-8 hours in a day and 5 days in a week.  The types of works are varied;
a) Environment  : Cleaning rivers, planting trees, protecting animals, creating eco-villages, etc.
b) Agriculture   : Picking fruits or seeding in organic farms, reviving uncultivated fields, etc.
c) Construction  : schools, toilets, renovating castles, converting farms into youth centers, etc.
d) Social work   : With/ for children, refugees, mentally/ physically disadvantaged, elders, etc.
e) Arts/Education: Organizing festivals, performing play against AIDS in schools, archaeology, etc.
f) Others        : Making proposals of town planning, recycling & sending bicycles to India, etc.

 3) Accommodations & Free time activities; 
Usually youth centers, public halls, schools and sometimes tents or temples that are simple 
but even better for the group life!  Volunteers often cook by turns and enjoy global tastes.
The common language is English in most of workcamps though you had better to try local languages.
In some workcamps, the hosts or we volunteers organize discussions, excursions, and exchange 
parties with local people, school visit, sports programs, etc.  It is very important to note that 
workcamps should be made by all volunteers with local people.  Volunteers are not guests! 

 4) Workcamp Organizations (WOs); 
Most of WOs are non-governmental/ non-profit organizations (NGO/NPOs).
Most of WOs're affiliated with CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service)
founded by UNESCO, UN in 1948 to assist & promote workcamps in the world.  It publishes booklets 
and organizes conferences and a few workcamps where no workcamps are existed yet.  WOs are not 
branches of CCIVS, but the creators of this network!  Each WO independently & freely organizes 
workcamps mainly in their own countries with local governments or NGO/NPOs and cooperate with 
other WOs abroad.  They are organized locally, coordinated nationally and exchanged internationally!

 5) Finance; 
Many WOs manage the running finances by inscription fee from volunteers & some are supported
also by governments, foundations, etc.  Volunteers need to pay the travel cost to/from workcamps
and fee to WOs in their own countries.  Food & accommodations are provided by local partners,
though there are participation fee around 100-200 US$ in most workcamps of Africa, south Asia, etc.

 6) Common Aims; 
Although each WOs and workcamps have their own aims, the common aim is to achieve peaceful,
healthy, just and sustainable world by 
a) Creating/ supporting voluntary movements for ecology, human rights, self-sufficiency, etc.
b) Activating and involving new people to local communities and NGO/NPOs 
c) Promoting global understanding, friendship and solidarity

Project 1: International Workcamps by NICE

 1) Introduction; 
We welcome you to join our workcamps, sharing happy time and creating fresh new age together!
All campsites have nice nature and warm people, so you will discover colorful and vigorous figures
of Japan and others that is completely different from typical images you may have through media.

< The common points of all workcamps (unless mentioned in each project description) > 
a) Age limit        : From 18 (No maximum).  In some projects, we can accept kids with their parents
and also a bit younger volunteers (aged 16-17), exceptionally in some cases.
b) Language       : English (Japanese is not necessary, but we welcome your trying in Japan!)
c) Insurance       : We provide small insurance only for accidents during workcamps IN JAPAN. 
d) Accommodations: Mostly, there're showers, kitchens and toilets. Basic, but enjoyable enough.
e) Study Part       : All workcamps have it to learn, discuss and plan better local/ global future!	

 2) How to apply and join the projects!? 

A: Applying through the partners!!
If non-Japanese volunteers live outside Japan, they have to apply not directly to us, but through 
our partner Workcamp NGOs of their countries (if there are no such NGOs there, then they need to apply through NVDA (http://www.nvda-asiapacific.org/).  So, only if they live in Japan, they can apply to
NICE directly with sending the application forms and paying the fee to;
Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank, Shinjuku Branch, Ordinary account, Account no: 4958987, Name: NICE	

B: How much should volunteers pay?
Volunteers have to pay the travel cost to/ from workcamps & the following registration fee to
NICE while food and accommodation during the projects are provided by NICE & the local partners;
a) From organizations charging no fee to NICE vols.       : No fee 
b) From organizations charging some fee to NICE vols.     : 10,000 YEN per a workcamp (+)
c) Individual applicants who are living in Japan           : 27,000 YEN per a workcamp (++)	

* Most of European/ North American partners are a) and Asian/ African/ Latin American are b).
+ This depends on the agreement with each partner.  We usually charge the same amount as they do
while we can consider discount/ exemption for the partners in “less expensive” (developing) countries.
++ This includes fee of Annual membership and Pre-workcamp.  People originally from “less expensive” 
countries (GDP: below 5,000 US$) are discounted to 22,000 YEN.

C: The detailed information of the project
By 1-2 months before the projects, volunteers will receive ”Information Sheets” (details of 
the project, what to bring, the meeting point, how to get there, etc.) together with “Acceptance
Letter” and “NICE Volunteers’ Guide”, through the partner organizations.

D: Book the flights as soon as being accepted!
Don’t wait for the Information Sheets, otherwise you may miss economical flights!
In all the workcamps in Japan, volunteers will meet at the accommodations or the train stations, 
in the afternoon of the first day.  And they finish in the afternoon of the last day.
Some projects are located quite far from the airports and it takes a long time by cheap ways. 
So, we advise volunteers to arrive at/ leave Japan at least a few days before/ after the 
projects also because volunteers should not expect so much sightseeing during the projects.
(if you want to do it, please do it before/ after the workcamps!)
And it is quite possible to stay in the houses of Japanese volunteers in the same workcamps
or of other NICE members before/ after the workcamps! (For the details, wait for the info.sheets!)

 3) Summery List; 

* “Vols.” are the numbers of international volunteers to be recruited.
Code	Name	Location	Dates	Types	Vols.		
NICE/01	Shirakami 1	Aomori	05/01-14/01	ENVI	4	9th	
NICE-IWO/02	Olango	* Philippine	09/01-20/01	ENVI	-	4th	
NICE-VPV-SJV/22	The 7th TNW	* Vietnam	13/01-22/01	ENVI, KIDS	33	7th	
NICE/04	Tahara	Aichi	02/02-18/02	AGRI, ENVI	6	NEW!	
NICE-SJ/21	Beaumotte	* France	07/02-21/02	ENVI, RENO	-	NEW!	
NICE-IIWC/32	Jog Jakarta	* Indonesia	11/02-17/02	KIDS, RELIEF	-	NEW!	
NICE-UPA/05	Masaka	* Uganda	11/02-02/03	KIDS, SOCI, EDUC	-	NEW!	
NICE-MCE/06	Bilateral 1	* Mongolia	16/02-29/02	KIDS, SOCI, EDUC	-	45th	
NICE-MOVE/07	Julau 1	* Malaysia	17/02-01/03	CONS, MANU	7	8th	
NICE/08	Kurikoma 1	Miyagi	18/02-02/03	CONS, ENVI	3	7th	
NICE-MOVE/09	Klang 1	* Malaysia	24/02-08/03	KIDS, DISA	7	8th	
NICE-IIWC/29	Save the children 1	* Indonesia	26/02-06/03	MEDI	-	NEW!	
NICE-MOVE/10	Julau 2	* Malaysia	02/03-15/03	CONS, MANU	7	9th	
NICE-SJ-CFD/26	Woman in the war	* France	02/03-23/03	PEACE	5	NEW!	
NICE/11	Erabu	Kagoshima	03/03-23/03	AGRI	1	21st	
NICE-IIWC/30	Save the children 2	* Indonesia	05/03-11/03	MEDI	-	2nd	
NICE/12	Ikata	Ehime	08/03-22/03	AGRI, ARTS	5	NEW!	
NICE-VPV/13	Hanoi 1	* Vietnam	09/03-15/03	AGRI, KIDS, EDUC	-	NEW!	
NICE-SJ/27	Nagakute	Aichi	10/03-24/03	ENVI, ELDE	12	NEW!	
NICE/15	Iwami-Ginzan 1	Shimane	15/03-24/03	ENVI	4	2nd	
NICE-VPV/16	Hanoi 2	* Vietnam	16/03-22/03	AGRI, KIDS, EDUC	-	2nd	
NICE-MOVE/17	Klang 2	* Malaysia	16/03-29/03	KIDS, DISA	7	9th	
NICE/18	Minamata	Kumamoto	17/03-30/03	ENVI, AGRI	8	17th	
NICE/14	Kikuchi 1	Kumamoto	20/03-30/03	ENVI	8	4th	
NICE/19	Haki	Fukuoka	21/03-31/03	FEST, ARTS, KIDS	5	4th	
NICE/28	Iwaki	Fukushima	28/03-06/04	ENVI, ARTS	3	NEW!	
NICE-MCE/20	Greening Mongolia	* Mongolia	25/04-08/05	ENVI	5	46th	
NICE/33	Shirakami 2	Aomori	24/05-01/06	ENVI	4	10th	
NICE/31	Shirakawa-go	Gifu	30/05-12/06	ENVI	5	3rd	
NICE-MCE/34	Senior 1	* Mongolia	20/06-27/06	AGRI, EDUC, KIDS	?	2nd	
NICE/35	Shirakami 3	Aomori	22/06-30/06	ENVI	4	11th	
NICE/36	Maki 1	Nagano	25/06-08/07	AGRI	4	12th	
NICE/37	Special G8	Hokkaido	27/06-10/07	ENVI	7	NEW!	
NICE/38	Kurikoma 2	Miyagi	15/07-28/07	ENVI, AGRI, ARTS	3	7th	
NICE/39	Aya	Miyazaki	18/07-25/07	AGRI, ARTS	3	8th	
NICE/40	Kuromatsunai	Hokkaido	20/07-16/08	KIDS	3	7th	
NICE/41	Yasuoka	Nagano	20/07-31/08	KIDS	2	2nd	
NICE/42	Kodomo-mura	Oita	23/07-25/08	KIDS	4	15th	
NICE/43	Shirakami 4	Aomori	24/07-03/08	KIDS	4	12th	
NICE/44	Takane	Gifu	26/07-08/08	FEST, ELDE, AGRI	7	9th	
NICE/45	Showa-mura 1	Fukushima	27/07-09/08	AGRI	5	NEW!	
NICE/46	Ayagami	Kagawa	??/07-??/08	KIDS	5	2nd	
NICE/47	Un-nan	Shimane	01/08-10/08	AGRI, FEST	6	3rd	
NICE-VYA/48	Taishi 1	* Taiwan	01/08-15/08	EDU, ARTS, ENVI	5	2nd	
NICE/49	Ogata	Oita	02/08-16/08	AGRI, FEST, KIDS	5	6th	
NICE/50	Namino	Kumamoto	02/08-17/08	AGRI, FEST, KIDS	6	10th	
NICE-MOVE/51	Klang 3	* Malaysia	03/08-16/08	KIDS, DISA	7	10th	
NICE/52	Hanawa	Fukushima	04/08-18/08	FEST	8	15th	
NICE/53	Unzen	Nagasaki	04/08-17/08	KIDS, DISA, ELDE	6	15th	
NICE-SF/55	Sadhana Forest	* India	11/08-31/08	ENVI	7	2nd	
NICE/56	Shirakami 5	Aomori	12/08-20/08	KIDS	3	13th	
NICE/57	Kitakyushu	Fukuoka	12/08-25/08	KIDS	4	2nd	
NICE/58	Fuji	Shizuoka	14/08-28/08	KIDS, EDUC	10	4th	
NICE/59	Ogi	Niigata	14/08-31/08	ENVI, FEST	3	9th	
NICE/60	Taishi-Tonda	Osaka	15/08-29/08	ENVI	5	9th	
NICE/61	Hoshino	Fukuoka	16/08-29/08	ENVI, KIDS, EDUC	5	10th	
NICE-VYA/62	Taishi 2	* Taiwan	16/08-30/08	EDU, KIDS, CONS	5	3rd	
NICE-MOVE/88	Banting	* Malaysia	17/08-23/08	EDU, KIDS	6	New!	
NICE-MOVE/63	Julau 3	* Malaysia	17/08-30/08	CONS, MANU	7	10th	
NICE/64	Kamakura	Kanagawa	18/08-27/08	KIDS, SOCI	5	5th	
NICE-UNA/65	Kikuchi 2	Kumamoto	18/08-31/08	ENVI, KIDS	-	5th	
NICE/66	Hinode	Tokyo	20/08-31/08	DISA, FEST, ENVI	7	20	
NICE/67	Shiojiri	Nagano	22/08-06/09	KIDS, EDUC	8	3rd	
NICE/68	Wazuka	Kyoto	22/08-06/09	AGRI,CONC	8	8th	
NICE/69	Showa-mura 2	Fukushima	23/08-05/09	AGRI	5	2nd	
NICE/70	Satsuma	Kagoshima	23/08-06/09	ENVI	4	2nd	
NICE-MOVE/71	Klang 4	* Malaysia	24/08-06/09	KIDS, DISA	7	11th	
NICE-MOVE/72	Julau 4	* Malaysia	31/08-13/09	CONS, MANU	7	11th	
NICE/73	Onuma	Hokkaido	31/08-14/09	ENVI	6	5th	
NICE/74	Tokyo-ko	Tokyo	02/09-15/09	ENVI	6	8th	
NICE/75	Kutcharo-ko	Hokkaido	05/09-16/09	ENVI	5	NEW!	
NICE-UNA/76	Afan Forerst	* UK	06/09-21/09	ENVI	-	2nd	
NICE-MCE/77	Bilateral 3	* Mongolia	08/09-21/09	AGRI, EDUC, KIDS	-	48th	
NICE/78	Minami-Uonuma	Niigata	10/09-21/09	ENVI, KIDS, EDUC	5	14th	
NICE/79	Shintoku	Hokkaido	10/09-24/09	AGRI, ENVI, CONS	4	11th	
NICE-MCE/80	Bilateral 4	* Mongolia	13/09-26/09	AGRI, EDUC, KIDS	-	49th	
NICE/81	Hikawa	Kumamoto	13/09-27/09	ENVI	4	2nd	
NICE/82	Iwami Ginzan 2	Shimane	14/09-24/09	ENVI	4	2nd	
NICE/83	Showa-mura 3	Fukushima	16/09-30/09	AGRI	5	3rd	
NICE-BWCA/84	SSP	* Bangladesh	??/09-??/09	EDU	-	4th	
NICE/85	Kurikoma 3	Miyagi	01/10-14/10	ENVI, AGRI, ARTS	3	8th	
NICE/86	Maki 2	Nagano	15/10-28/10	AGRI	4	13th	
NICE/87	Shirakami 6	Aomori	28/10-04/11	ENVI	5	14th	
NICE/09-01	Shirakami 7	Aomori	02/01-13/01	KIDS	4	15th	

01, 33, 35, 43, 56, 87 & 09-01

75

37

14 & 65

15 & 82

08, 38 & 85

52

46

45 & 69 & 83

67

41

58

64

36 & 86 

81

78

79

47

73 

68

74

70

61

59

49

50

53

66 

33

57

60

44 

40 

31 

39

42

ARCH: Archaeology
AGRI: Agriculture
ARTS: Arts
CONS: Construction
DISA: Disabled
EDUC: Teaching, Awareness
ENVI: Environmental
ELDE: Work with Elderly
FEST: Festival
HERI: Cultural or Heritage
KIDS: Work with Kids
MANU: Manual
MEDI: Medical
PEACE: Peace
RELIEF: Disaster Relief
RENO: Restoration, Renovation
SOCI: Social
STUDY: Study, Research 

* "Social work" means work with other types of people besides ELDE, PHYS, MENT and KIDS
 (e.g. Refugee, Homeless) OR work with various types of such people with special needs.
 4) General Qualification; 

a) Best motivation for the voluntary work (special good skills and power are not necessary)
b) Responsibility to keep rules of NICE & the partners and cooperation to run the workcamps
c) Best efforts to understand and respect cultures both of the hosts and other volunteers
d) Open mind to make friends with trying to speak English (in the groups) and the local language
e) To adapt and enjoy simple conditions of the living such as food and accommodation	

Though it'd be very funny and dramatic time for you, if your motivation is only for enjoying
holidays, please don't apply and do just travel.  If it is more for voluntary service to make a
better world and friendship with local people and other volunteers, you are super welcome!!

 5) Detailed Workcamps Information; 

After the backgrounds (partners, aims and histories) of the workcamps;

W : Type of voluntary work
S : Study theme
A : Accommodation
L : Location
T : Terminal (The closest big international airport)
LA : Leisure Activities
SR : Special Remarks 
PF : Participation Fees

* For Accommodation, CV = Cooked by Volunteers   MP = Meals are Provided.
 SB! = Sleeping Bag is necessary  SBN = Sleeping Bag is Not necessary

NICE/01  Shirakami 1  (Aomori)  05/01-14/01  ENVI  8 vols. (4 int.)
Organized since 2006 together with Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS) founded in 93.  The Shirakami Mountains is a huge mountainous area and one of Japanese valuable preserved natural forests consisting primarily of beech trees.  It was registered as a World Natural Heritage in 1993 and SMPS wants to help preserving the natural beauty of the Shirakami Mountains, so we will try to revive it by the global voluntary power!
W: We will do the various works needed in the SMPS and area such as lowering the snow, making the firewood using scrap wood.  It will be physically hard.  We will do various activities with the locals including the children in this town.
S: Nature school in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: A simple house.  SB!  CV
L: The Shirakami Mountains, located in the northern part of Honshu Island, is a huge mountainous area (130,000 hectares on the border between Aomori and Akita Prefectures). 
T: Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus)
LA: Exchange parties, snowshoe hiking, snowmobile etc.
SR: Motivation to actively work in the forests with local people!

Trilateral teenager workcamp by Filipino/ Korean/ Japanese!!
NICE-IWO/02  Olango  (Cebu, Philippine)  09/01-20/01  ENVI  30 vols. (0 int.)
Organized together with International Workcamp Organization (IWO) Korea since 2005.  Olango is a beautiful island in the middle of the Philippine archipelago.  It is a protected wetland of international importance because of its high biodiversity and critical role as feeding and roosting site for birds fling the East Asia Migratory Flyway.  It is world famous not only for the migratory birds but also for its endemic flora and fauna.  We aim to improve the environmental situation in Olango.
W: We will plant Mangroves trees in specially designated area to expand fish territorial home, we will join “World Wetland DAY” organized by Olango nature center.  We will help their activities such as making the signboards, painting the walls.  We aim to help nature conservation by workcamps.
S: The youth issues and education in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Community Center in Olango Island, its traditional Philippine house in the beach.  SB!  CV 
L: Olango Island is just 20 minutes away by boat from Mactan, an island in Cebu where the Cebu International Airport is located.
T: Cebu, 1 hour by car and boat. 
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Only under 18 years old, Korean vols. from IWO and Japanese vols. from NICE

Special project open ONLY to leaders of i.v.s. NGOs in Asia!!
NICE-VPV-SJV/22  The 7th TNW  (* Vietnam)  13/01-22/01  ENVI, KIDS  30 vols.
Organized together with Solidarity Jeunesse Vietnam (SJV), Volunteers for Peace Vietnam (VPV) and Network for Voluntary network in Asia (NVDA).  NVDA organizes TNW (Training & Networking Workcamp) together with its General Assembly every 2 years where leaders from the NGOs in “new” countries can learn how to organize workcamps through direct experience of practical voluntary work and study parts while those who are not new also can improve their activities and cooperation.  
W: The group will be divided into 3 teams depending on interest; a) Environment (making water filters and acrylic sponges in the slam area), b) Disadvantaged children (organizing leisure activities for children of Hospital) and c) Education (teaching English and do maintenance at the primary school).
S: How to measure and maximize impact and any other matters of NVDA.  Bring some info.!
A: Office of VPV and the hotel.  SB!  MP, sometimes CV
L: In and around Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam
T: Hanoi (SJV and VPV will kindly pick volunteers up at the airport!)
LA: Global Volunteering Fiesta, meeting with the UNV officials, excursion in hanoi city, etc.
SR: Leaders of i.v.s. NGOs in Asia-Pacific who want to start workcamps and of NVDA member NGOs

NICE/04  Tawara  (Aichi)  02/02-18/02  AGRI, ENVI  12 vols. (6 int.)
Newly organized together with Huckleberry jam that is a rural NPO established in 2006 to promote organic farming, food education and activation of local communities.  They help farming and organize weekend program to have city children experience organic farming by young, motivated staff members!  NICE organizes weekend workcamps with them every 1-2 months since April 2007 mainly for farming.  We aim to create more and colorful impact by this longer-term, international project.
W: We will join organic farming such as reviving abandon rice fields, taking care of vegetables and making a fence for goats.  We will also take care of the forests such as making trails, signs, rest places, biotopes, etc.  Possibly, we may also help their activities with chillren. 
S: Organic faming in each country and future cooperation.  Bring some info.!
A: Long house which was converted from a vacant house.  SB!  CV
L: Center of Atsumi Peninsula, south east of Nagoya.  There are many vegetable farms in this area and the nearest city is Toyohashi (30 min. by train).
T: Nagoya (2 hours by train).  From Tokyo, 3 hours by bullet train or 6 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Exchange parties with organic farmers, excursion, etc.
SR: Motivation to organic farming and forestry work

Bilateral workcamp between FRENCH & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-SJ/21  Beaumotte  (* France)  07/02-21/02  ENVI, RENO  43 vols. (0 int.)
Newly organized together with Solidarity Jeunesse (SJ) and the Association of Centre De Beaumotte, a center for youngsters who have difficulties of their social background.  They aim to support people with less opportunities and encourage them to take the responsibility of their own lives and participate in actions which promote justice and solidarity.  The project wants to achieve a cohabitation and an exchange between people with different social and cultural backgrounds.
W: Different kinds of work will be undertaken; 1) Renovation of the centre (masonry, carpentry, etc.); 2) Preservation of the park, 3) Renovation of the local inheritance (fountains, ancient wash-houses, etc.) and 4) Environmental projects (preservation of the river, wood construction). 
S: Youth issue in French and Japan.  Bring some info.!
A: Youth Center.  SB!  CV
L: France Comte which is famous for wine and cheese.  The centre is located near the village named Beaumotte Aubertans (400 inhabitants) and 20 km from the city of Vesoul.
T: Busanson station
LA: Skiing, Visit Busanson, exchange party, etc.
SR: ONLY French vols. from SJ and Japanese vols. from NICE.  Youth from this village will join the workcamp in Japan (NICE-SJ/27) in March.

BE CAREFUL!!  Group workcamp between INDONESIAN & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-IIWC/32  Jog Jakarta  (* Indonesia)  11/02-17/02  KIDS, RELIEF  21 vols. 
Newly organized together with Indonesia International Work Camp team (IIWC) and Vissel Kobe.  There was a big earthquake in Jog Jakarta in May 2006 where over 5,000 people die.  Vissel Kobe is a professional football club in Kobe where the severe earthquake happened in 1995.  So, they want to support children who exist in the damage of the earthquake as a social action work.  They aim to promote friendship, mutual understanding and solidarity among volunteers and locals.
W: They will organize 1) School visiting (culture exchange, cleaning activities), 2) Sport and game with children to teach them how to play badminton and other sport and 3) Sport competition for the children (Badminton competition).
S: Community building by sports activities.  Bring some info.!
A: Home stay.  SB!  CV
L: Jog Jakarta, an old capital city of Indonesia with rich cultural heritages
T: Jog Jakarta  
LA: Excursion, home stay, exchange parties, etc.
SR: ONLY Indonesian vols. from IIWC and Japanese vols. from NICE (members of Vissel Kobe)

Bilateral workcamp between UGANDAN & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-UPA/05  Masaka  (* Uganda)  11/02-02/03  KIDS, SOCI, CONS  32 vols. (0 int.)
Newly organized together with COTFONE (Community Transformation Foundation Network) and one of workcamp organizations in Uganda (to be confirmed).  COTFONE, established in 2003, runs Children Center to provide education for 90 orphans aged 4-10.  It is registered by Masaka prefecture government and run by 3 staff members and other local vols.  A member of NICE working in this NGO as a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) volunteer for 2 years have proposed this project.
W: We will construct a classroom of the orphanage centre and also plant, mulch, water indigenous trees at the centre.  We aim to improve the educational welfare of orphans by developing a center as well as to create new cooperation among COTFONE (NGO) and vols. from Kampala/ Japan.
S: Situation of orphans in both countries and possible future cooperation.  Bring some info.!
A: COTFONE Children Center.  SB!  CV and MP
L: Bukoto-South district, 4 hours by bus from Kampala
T: Kampala
LA: Football, netball, exchange parties with organic farmers, excursion, etc.
SR: ONLY Indonesian vols. from IIWC and Japanese vols. from NICE

Bilateral workcamp between MONGOLIAN & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-MCE/06  Bilateral 1  (* Mongolia)  16/02-29/02  KIDS, SOCI, EDUC 18 vols. (0 int.)
Organized together with Mongolian workCamps Exchange (MCE) and Child Care Center of Mongolia (CCCM) since 2001.  From 1990, Mongolia transferred into free market economy and Mongolians started to study foreign, especially Japanese, histories and languages.  Also Japanese youth who are interested in Mongolia are increasing.  So, we will organize this cultural project that can give advantage to Mongolian to find jobs and also to exchange with each volunteers in the future
W: The main work will be to teaching English and Japanese languages with enjoying songs, etc.  We may also try to raise their vocational motivation and skills such as computing as well as doing some Asian common actions like eco-candles from used oils to be sold in Japan to support CCCM.
S: The future plan of international workcamps in Mongolia and the orphanage.  Bring some info.!
A: Youth hostel or volunteers rooms.  SB!  CV.  Shower will be available every some days.
L: Ulaanbaatar.  One third of population in the country (2.4 millions) live in this capital city.
Don't worry about the weather, we will work and live in a warm inside.
T: Ulaanbaatar (MCE will kindly pick volunteers up at the airport!)
LA: Cultural exchange program, excursions, etc.
SR: To like kids and be flexible/ adaptable.  NO VEGETARIAN!!

NICE-MOVE/07  Julau 1  (* Malaysia)  17/02-01/03  CONS, MANU  15 vols. (7 int.)
Organized since 2005 together with Chabu Long House and Malaysian Organization of Voluntary Exchange (MOVE) Sarawak.  The area and the indigenous people, Iban, have very rich nature and culture by collective life in long houses, but young people go to he cities by lack of jobs and also by that their richness is not valued in this modern civilization.  The workcamps have been welcomed by the local people very much and we aim to activate this depopulated mountain communities with them!
W: We will mainly complete to pave the road in front of the long house that was started by the workcamp in Aug. 2007 (carrying sands and stones, mixing cement, etc.).  We will also sometimes join the work of our host families such as cultivation of pepper fields and rubber tapping.
S: Future plan of the long house.  Bring some info.!
A: Home stay in the long houses (1-2 vols. in each family) with bathing in the river.  SB!  CV
L: A small village in the jungle of Sarawak Island.  45 minutes by 4W car from the nearest town and we can enjoy to exchange with local cheerful people of minority race.
T: Kuching (6 hours by boat and car)
LA: Exchange parties with Iban dance and drink, jungle trekking and barbeque, school visit, etc.
SR: Volunteers need to arrive at Kuching by the night before the starting day and can leave there after 21:00 of the last day.
PF: 400 RM (about 100 US$) to be paid on your arrivals

NICE/08  Kurikoma 1  (Miyagi)  18/02-02/03  CONS, ENVI  5 vols. (3 int.)
Organized together with Kurikoma Plateau Nature School (KPNS) since 2006.  KPNS reviews relations of humans and nature, and is offering the place where happier life can come.  They provide various nature-oriented courses, eco-tour, kids programs and independence support of the students who have difficult backgrounds.  They have the eco-village plan, and environment-friendly life is practiced there for the sustainable society.
W: We will do the various works needed in the KPNS and area such as lowering the snow, making the firewood using scrap wood.  It will be physically hard.  We will do various activities with the youth in KPNS, who have problem such as withdrawals. 
S: Unique nature school in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Log cabin.  SB!  CV
L: Center of Tohoku area, north part of Japan.  It is specified for the quasi-national park and you can enjoy the beech wood and the alpine plant in all seasons.  There is a snow of 2 meters in Feb & Mar.
T: Tokyo (3 hours by bullet train or 9 hours by bus)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.
SR: Motivation to actively work in the cold area and with youth!  There’ll be no workcamp leader while we will have a local coordinator.  No vegetarian and cigarette smokers.

NICE-MOVE/09  Klang 1  (* Malaysia)  24/02-08/03  KIDS, DISA  15 vols. (7 int.)
Organized together with Malaysian Organization of Voluntary Exchange (MOVE) and a spastic school for mentally challenged kids since 2005.  The school where the leader of MOVE works did not want to host volunteers since Malaysian medical students are reluctant to have close contact with the kids, but changed the idea after seeing behaviors of Japanese vols. in 2005!  We aim to stimulate on their life and improve their communication skills as well as supporting the teachers.  Kids are so cute!
W: We'll assist the teachers in the school by helping their lessons as well as organizing to songs, games, drawing, swimming, handicraft, excise, etc.  We may also help maintenance of the school such as improving the vegetable garden made by the past workcampas.
S: Situation of mentally challenged kids and Sister Special School Project.  Bring some info.!
A: Room in the School.  SB!  CV
L: Port town, not far from Kuala Lumpur where there are many Indian population
T: Kuala Lumpur (1 hour by train)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, swimming in the pool, home stay in the local house nearby, etc.
SR: Those who likes children and has high motivation to work with them.  You also need to respect local cultures and ways.  Experience of workcamps and similar type of voluntary service are welcome!
PF: 400 RM (about 100 US$) to be paid on your arrivals

Bilateral workcamp between INDONESIAN & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-IIWC/29  Save the children 1  (* Indonesia)  26/02-06/03  MEDI  20 vols. (0 int.)
Newly organized together with Indonesia International Work Camp team (IIWC) and NOVIB IDO which concerns in the prevention of STI and HIV/AIDS.  It will be the first project for IIWC to highlight the mental side of the children in the prostitution area as well as the prevention of STI and HIV/AIDS by reproduction health for the children.  We will support the prevention of HIV/AIDS for the children by giving them reproductive health education.
W: The work will be dealing with female sex commercial workers and children living around the place. We will distribute leaflets and condoms, questionnaires about STI and HIV/AIDS, having skill development classes, organizing activities for the children.
S: HIV/AIDS.  Bring some info.!
A: The office of NOVIB IDO.  SB!  CV
L: Suburb of Semarang city, a capital city of Central Jawa
T: Semarang (1 and a half hour by bus)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.
SR: ONLY Indonesian vols. from IIWC and Japanese vols. from NICE (living in Kansai area)

NICE-MOVE/10  Julau 2  (* Malaysia)  02/03-15/03  CONS, MANU  15 vols. (7 int.)
Same as NICE-MOVE/07

Trilateral workcamp between FRENCH, GERMAN & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-SJ-CFD/26  Woman in the War  (* France)  02/03-23/03  PEACE  15 vols. (0 int.)
Newly organized together with Solidarity Jeunesse (SJ) & Christlicher Friendensdienst e.V. (CFD). Women are the eternal victims of war.  For a long time, the lesson of the readiness to make sacrifices and of courage given by women during the Second World War has been restricted.  By this project, we aim to give justice to the women by better getting to know their role while that period.  It should also enable reflexions and exchanges regarding the nature of recent conflicts and the kind of women involved.
W: We will prepare an exhibition about “Women in the war of 1939-1945” in the first two weeks by arranging the info. prepared by some special agencies, visits of significant places and meetings with witnesses proposed by ANACR et ONAC.  The exhibition will be presented in the third week.
S: Women in the war of 1939-1945.  Bring some info.!
A: A rural summer cottage, La Feniere, 3.2km from the village Pavie.  SB!  CV 
L: Pavie, 5km from the city Auch
T: Toulouse (90 min. by train) or Paris
LA: Sports, games, walking-tours, themed and festive evenings with the villagers, etc.
SR: ONLY French vols. from SJ, German vols. from CFD and Japanese vols. from NICE

Farm-stay program requiring Japanese language!!
NICE/11  Erabu  (Kagoshima)  03/03-23/03  AGRI  12 vols. (2 int.)
Organized together with some farmers and the local government since 95.  Feb.-Mar. is the busiest period for flower farming, the main industry of the island.  So, they face the shortage of even temporary paid workers and we volunteers will support them!  This is NOT a typical workcamp, BUT rather a farm-stay program except last 4-5 days on which the volunteers stay and do some activities such as cleaning the beach and visiting elders home together.
W: We will be divided into 2-3 persons and work with farmers in each farms, mainly harvest and shipment of chrysanthemum.  It will be not so hard but for long hours with same type of simple works, so your motivation to share the life & work with them is very important!!
S: Future plan of the island.  Bring some info.!
A: Each farm.  SBN.  MP but you may need to help.
L: 536 km south of Kagoshima.  Nice nature, culture and people, not polluted by tourism.  Quite warm (average in a day is 20 degree in winter).  One of the safest places in the world!?
T: Naha (6 hours by ship).  From Tokyo, it takes 3 days by the slow train and ship for the cheapest way.
LA: Sports with local youth, excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Very good Japanese language (there will be phone interview).  Camp language will be JAPANESE!  Vols. can get some pocket money, but don’t expect so much!

Bilateral workcamp between INDONESIAN & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-IIWC/30  Save the children 2  (* Indonesia)  05/03-11/03  MEDI  18 vols. (0 int.)
Same as NICE-IIWC/29

NICE/12  Ikata  (Ehime)  08/03-22/03  AGRI, ARTS  10 vols. (5 int.)
Newly organized with a local group, Kikuya Community Group, which local young people formed to think of the future of their small village.  Ikata town is famous for oranges that is the main industry there.  But the town has been facing the depopulation, lack of workers since most of young people leave the town.  Number of abandoned orange farms is increasing and the town is losing traditions and customs.  They want to work with volunteer to animate the town and revive orange farms.
W: We will be divided 2-3 persons and work with farmers in each orange farm, mainly harvesting and take care of orange trees that is not rely on agrichemical and chemical manure.  So, it is good for health and nature.  We will also clean up the town and find good site points of this town. 
S: Organic farming and rural development.  Bring some info.!
A: Volunteers house in the town.  SB!  CV
L: About 350 km northwest of Osaka.  Satamisaki Peninsula in Ehime prefecture .
T: Osaka (8hours by bus and train).  From Tokyo, 8hours by bullet train or 14hours by midnight bus. 
SR: If you can speak some Japanese, it will be good!

Bilateral workcamp between VIETNAMESE & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-VPV/13  Hanoi 1  (* Vietnam)  09/03-15/03  AGRI, KIDS, EDUC  10 vols. (0 int.)
Newly organized together with Volunteers for Peace Vietnam (VPV)and Vietnam Friendship Village.  VFV is a treatment/ care centre for Agent Orange victims such as children and veterans, opened in 1993.  Organic Gardening Project was launched in 2004 to create islands of a harmonious approach to agriculture within areas of environmental and human devastation.  Now, the farm is providing 60% of the village’s consumption of vegetable.  We expect to cover all the needs and even for sale to raise fund.
W: We will help to maintain their organic farm and the facilities (clearing a fish pond, preparing soil, weeding, planting vegetables and trees, redecorating the flowers in the garden, moving bricks for construction or collecting garbage) and also exchange with the children, local volunteers and farmers. 
S: Agent Orange.  Bring some info.!
A: Domitory near the Friendship village.  SB!  CV and MP
L: Ha Tay Province, very close to the extreme western limit of Hanoi Capital 
T: Hanoi (VPV will kindly pick volunteers up at the airport!)
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: ONLY Vietnamese vols. from VPV and Japanese vols. from NICE

Group workcamp between FRENCH & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-SJ/27  Nagakute  (Aichi)  10/03-24/03  ENVI, ELDE  19 vols. (0 int.)
Newly organized together with Solidarity Jeunesse (SJ) and Gojikara Mura (GM).  GM is an organization working to promote exchanges among different generations.  They have a kindergarten which focuses on nature education, care house, daycare center, institution for the aged, college for welfare and nursing.  Recently, trees in the bush around this area are dying because of harmful insects.  So, GM started to maintain and work on the brush and welcome volunteers to do it together. 
W: We will mainly maintain the trees in the bush with local people such as carrying trees.  We will also have a lot of chance to meet and talk with the children and the aged people in Gojikara mura.  It is very rare for them to see the people from other countries.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Conservation Forest.  Bring some info.!
A: KOMINKA (traditiional house) which is 150 years old.  SB!  CV
L: A valuable forest surrounded by the housing area, east part of Nagoya
T: Nagoya (40 minutes by train)
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: ONLY French vols. from SJ and Japanese vols. from NICE

NICE/15  Iwami Ginzan 1  (Shimane)  15/03-24/03  ENVI  8vols. (4 int.)
Organized since 2007 together with Organization of Green and Water (OGW) that was founded in 92 to appeal about the importance of a prairie and forest.. Their working field is Iwami Ginzann that has been designated as a World Heritage since 2007.  It will attract a number of people.  Before spring sightseeing season, they want to take care of the forests.  Once we use the forests, it is better to keep taking care of them.  Otherwise, the heritage will be destroyed by increment of bamboo forests.  
W: We will do various work to take care of the forests such as cutting bamboos and grasses, maintaining the footpath, etc.  Local people burn off the field for landscape conservation of prairie once a year, so we will also help to fire protection.  Physically hard.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: To protect nature and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.
A: National Mikame youth's house and the local house.  SB!  MP and CV
L: About 250 km northwest of Osaka.  Near Japan sea.
T: Osaka (9 hours by train).  From Tokyo, 6 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus. 
LA: Exchange parties, home stay, etc. 
SR: Interest in nature conservation and to exchange with people.

Bilateral workcamp between VIETNAMESE & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-VPV/16  Hanoi 2  (* Vietnam)  16/03-22/03  AGRI, KIDS, EDUC  10 vols. (0 int.)
Same as NICE-VPV/13

NICE-MOVE/17  Klang 2  (* Malaysia)  16/03-29/03  KIDS, DISA   15 vols. (7 int.)
Same as NICE-MOVE/09

NICE/18  Minamata  (Kumamoto)  17/03-30/03  ENVI, AGRI  14 vols. (8 int.)
Organized together with Minamata International Friendship Association (MIFA) since 92.  Though there was a big tragedy of public pollution 40 years ago, it’s completely safe now and Minamata is pioneering to be ecological town by distinguishing garbage into 21 categories, etc.  The workcamps have been creating a forest on the reclaimed land to bear new lives as a symbol of revival, with strong wish of the patients as well as doing various community works to activate local communities.
W: We will activate the community by helping farming such as harvest of onions and oranges.  We will also maintain the workcamp forest by transplanting the seedlings and collecting fallen leaves to fertilize the soil for a few days and clean the beach/ sea.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Future plan of Minamata and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.!
A: Public hall (we will barrow the bathrooms of neighbors that creates nice exchange.  SB!  CV.
L: South west in Kyushu island.  People are cheerful and many of man like to drink sake!!  If lucky, you could enjoy parties under cherry flowers! 
T: Fukuoka (3 hours by train).  From Osaka, 6 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Home stay, exchange parties and visit to the junior high school
SR: Interest to protect nature and to exchange with people.

First international FAMILY workcamp in Asia!!
NICE/14  Kikuchi 1  (Kumamoto)  20/03-30/03  ENVI  22 vols. (8 int.)
Organized together with “Kirari Suigen Mura” a local NGO, since 2005.  In spite of a wonderful natural heritage, depopulation of youth is serious here as well as many other villages in Japan.  They are tackling community improvement by using an abandon wooden school and planning to organize green-tourism so that many people come and know nature beauty in this area.  NICE has organized 5 weekend workcamps for families successfully since 2005 and it will be the first international one!. 
W: We will maintain natural farming experience zone (environmental protection) and also help to explore family programs.  There will be some Japanese volunteers who may take care of children while their parents will work.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Future plan of KSM and family projects.  Bring some info.!
A: A building in the center.  You may share rooms with others.  SB!  CV and MP
L: Kikuchi is located in Kyushu island and near the border with Oita and Fukuoka prefectures.  1 hour from Kumamoto city by bus.  It is famous for hot springs and its nature beauty.  
T: Fukuoka (2 hours by car)
LA: Exchange parties, excursions, etc.
SR: Motivation to work and exchange with local people!  We specially welcome families from any parts of the world.  The age of the children should be 2-12.

NICE/19  Haki  (Fukuoka)  21/03-31/03  FEST, ARTS, KIDS  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together since 2004 with “Kodomo-Art” (Society of Children's Theater Works and Community Development) established in 1972.  They have held the international child art festival for several years.  They want to activate this area through art and cultural promotion in the future for kids and build the fruitful network of a child and a cultural art organization.  We aim to involve local people to promote global understanding, friendship and solidarity through this festival.
W: We will help to prepare the festival, such as site management and decoration.  We will promote this festival to local kids through the visiting the kindergarten and the nursery school.  We do the activity for children to spend the festival with a lot of fun.
S: Unique art festival.  Bring some info.!
A: Local house.  SB!  CV
L: Small town in the mountains, 60 km south of Fukuoka.  Good access by highway bus from Fukuoka.
T: Fukuoka (1.5 hours by bus).  From Osaka, 5 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.
SR: Interest in art and Kids!!

NICE/28  Iwaki  (Fukushima)  28/03-06/04  ENVI, ARTS  8 vols. (4 int.)
Newly organized together with Iwaki International Exchange Information Center is a rural NPO established in 2007 to promote international understanding in Iwaki area.  They organize the events concerning the art and international exchange, etc to achieve regional development.  There is one of the biggest cherry blossom trees in Iwaki, it’s a sightseeing spots.  They have the cherry blossom festival every April for local revitalization.  We will support it by the international voluntary power.
W: We will support the cherry blossom festival.  We will mainly cut bamboo trees to make lanterns with the local people.  This work will be good also to maintain the bamboo forests since the bamboo trees are grown too fast and make the forests too crowded unless we take care of it.
S: Unique festivals in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Local house  SB!  CV
L: Iwaki City is located on the southeast edge of Fukushima Prefecture, and the south end bounds to Ibaraki Prefecture. 
T: From Tokyo, 2 hours by bullet train
LA: Exchange parties with locals, excursion, etc.
SR: Motivation to activate the village.  

NICE-MCE/20  Greening Mongolia  (* Mongolia)  25/04-08/05  ENVI  20 vols. (5-10 int.)
Organized together with Mongolian workCamps Exchange (MCE) and supported by Greening Asia Fund of NICE since 2002.  The forests problem is serious also in Mongolia.  Before 1990, the forests were covered with 10% of land, but 7% today, caused by cutting trees without any controls and forest fire.  It takes a long time here to grow trees and the current and water level of river has been decreased.  Summer workcamps of MCE keep watering the plants, so the forests have been grown quite well.
W: We will plant trees in MCE project site and some other places.  There are increasing activities by some organizations to plant trees but it takes a hundred or more years to be grown, so we should also join this movement by global power!   May is the best season to plant trees.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: The future plan of international workcamps in Mongolia and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.!
A: GER (Mongolian traditional tent) and Youth hostel.  Very warm sleeping bag is needed!  CV 
L: Buhug river, located 45km far from Ulaanbaatar.  The temperature will be about 10-20 C, but be careful sometimes weather will be changed lot.  Sunny, sometimes rainy and windy.
T: Ulaanbaatar (MCE will kindly pick volunteers up at the airport!)
LA: Cultural exchange program, excursions, visit to the orphanage in Ulaanbaatar, etc.
SR: To like planting work and simple nomadic life.  Mongolian speakers are welcome!  For more info. and applications, please contact with MCE: mce-mn@magicnet.mn
PF: 140 Euro to be paid on your arrivals

NICE/33  Shirakami 2  (Aomori)  24/05-01/06  ENVI  7 vols. (4 int.)
Organized together with Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS) since 06.  The Shirakami Mountains is a huge mountainous area and one of Japanese valuable preserved natural forests consisting primarily of beech trees.  It was registered as a World Natural Heritage in 1993 and SMPS aims to help preserving the natural beauty of the Shirakami Mountains, so we try to maintain this forest by the global voluntary power!
W: We will do various types of nature conservation works such as 1) Cutting glasses to improve ecological richness of the forest and 2) Maintain the forest with the villagers.  We will also help local farmers.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Similar kind of activities in each country and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.!
A: A simple house.  SB!  CV
L: The Shirakami Mountains, located in the northern part of Honshu Island, is a huge mountainous area (130,000 hectares on the border between Aomori and Akita Prefectures). 
T: Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.
SR: volunteers must be prepared to work outside in good and bad weather and have motivation to actively work in the forests with local people!

NICE/31  Shirakawa-Go  (Gifu)  30/05-12/06  ENVI  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with Toyota Shirakawa-Go Eco Institute (TSEI) since 2006.  This NPO is run by some environmental NPOs, the local government and TOYOTA since 2005.  It has 172 ha of land and organize various types of nature protection, cultural activities and nature discovery programs.  They expect voluntary power and fresh wind to the workcamp, for example, to improve the sanctuary (edible glass garden) for endangered Gifu butterflies by enabling flowers grown more easily.
W: We’ll do various types of conservation such as 1) Cutting glasses to improve ecological richness of the forest, 2) Planting trees with the villagers to recover the forest in the hill of soils which was produced by the big road construction and 3) Improving the sanctuary for the butterflies.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Merits and demerits as the World Heritages and future plan of TSEI.  Bring some info.!
A: A house with a steep rafter roof (World heritage!!) and Employee’s lodgings.  SB!  MP
L: A small, mountain village famous for its beautiful and traditional buildings registered as the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1995.  96% of the land is forest here!  2 hours from Takayama.
T: Nagoya (3 hours by express train & bus).  From Tokyo, 7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus.
LA : International cooking parties, excursions, etc.
SR: Motivation to nature protection

Second senior workcamp in Asia!!!
NICE-MCE/34  Buhug (* Mongolia)  20/06-27/06  AGRI, EDUC, KIDS  10 vols. (@ int.)
Organized together with Mongolian workCamps Exchange (MCE) since 07.  CCM (Childcare Center of Mongolia) is an orphanage where about 300 children live and study together and has a big farm.  NICE would like to open workcamps not only youth, but also to elders in order to re-motivate their life as well as to make better use of their experience in the society.  The first project was done with MCE in 2007 successfully, so we will do it again!
W: We will work together with the orphans aged 12-15 to remove the weeds in the field where they produce vegetables such as carrots, radish, onions, etc.  The vegetables are very purely organic and very tasty and kids are very nice!  You don't have to work same hard as normal workcampers.
LA: Cultural exchange program, excursion, visit to the orphanage, etc.
A: Ger (Mongolian traditional tents) for each male and female.  SBN  CV with help of local staff
L: Buhug, 45 km from Ulaanbaatar, in unbelievably beautiful, typical Mongolian plain.
T: Ulaanbaatar (MCE will kindly pick volunteers up at the airport!)
SR: Aged 50 or more (their children are welcome to join together!) with physical and mental health
PF: To be confirmed (possibly between 200 and 300 Euros).

NICE/35  Shirakami 3  (Aomori)  22/06-30/06  ENVI  7 vols. (4 int.)
Same as NICE/33, but there is an additional point as follows;
W: We will also support to organize a symposium about the Shirakami Mountains.

NICE/36  Maki 1  (Nagano)  25/06-08/07  AGRI  8 vols. (4 int.)
Organized together with Maki Farm of Kyodo Gakusha (KG) since 00.  KG is a NPO running 5 organic farming communities in Japan where people with various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, those who want to learn farming, etc. in order to change our society from competitive to cooperative.  Maki Farm has 5-10 members and is located in a very isolated area (not accessible for cars and we have to walk 4 km in the mountains), so once it became an abandon village in 1970s.
W: We will help their organic farming (weeding in rice and vegetable fields, planting vegetables, taking care of goats and chicken) and also carry the things from the town, renovate the trails, help their house work, etc.  Be ready to work for quite a long time (05:30-18:00 with some brakes) and hard.
S: Similar type of communities in each country and their networking.  Bring some info.!
A: Building for volunteers in the farm.  CV.  SB!  There are some gas, electricity and water!
L: Very isolated, but beautiful place near “Japanese Northern Alps”.  About 900 meters asl.
There are something remained here that most of Japanese areas have lost in modernization.
T: From Tokyo, 4 hours by express train or 8-10 hours by bus and train.
LA: Visit to the elementary school, foot ball and baseball (optional), exchange party, etc.
SR: Physically strength.  Agricultural or architectural skills are welcome!  Motivation letter is needed!

Special project ONLY for 	G8 countries!!!
NICE/37  Special G8 Workcamp  (Hokkaido)  27/06-10/07  ENVI  10 vols. (7 int.)
Newly organized together with Hokkaido International exchange Foundation (HIF), CCIVS, NVDA in strong cooperation with UNESCO and many others.  G8 Summit will be held in Toyako, Hokkaido in 07-09 July and this is a special project to the summit 7 years after the similar practice in Italy.  We aim to promote actions to prevent climate change all over the world and international voluntary service by utilizing this opportunity.  Tanabata is a Japanese traditional custom to hang wish on bamboo trees.
W: We will mainly promote WTA (World Tanabata Action) to plant seeds/ seedlings and write “my action” on the papers, in elementary schools, Indigenous people’s Summit, Alternative Summit by NGOs, etc. and make an art by the papers collected from all over the world to be submitted to G8/ UN leaders..
S: Global warming.  Bring some info.!
A: Mountain hut, forest center, public building, etc.  Be ready to simple conditions!  SB!  Often CV
L: Some places of Hokkaido (Toyako, Nibutani, Noboribetsu, etc. and possibly Sapporo for one day).
We will move a lot that is hard, but also can enjoy many sights.
T: Sapporo (3 hours by bus or train from Toyako)
LA: Exchange parties with indigenous people/ NGO activists/ youth, hot spring, etc.
SR: ONLY vols. from G8 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, USA).
Participants need to be ready to enjoy a very hard schedule to move the places (sometimes by bicycle!) and try to promote WTA in their countries beforehand with their sending organizations.
Active members of Workcamp Organizations are specially welcome!  Motivation letter is needed!

NICE/38  Kurikoma 2  (Miyagi)  15/07-28/07  ENVI, AGRI, ARTS  4 vols. (3 int.)
Organized together with Kurikoma Plateau Nature School (KPNS) founded in 1996 since 06.  KPNS reviews relations of humans and nature, and is offering the place where happier life can come.  They provide various nature-oriented courses, eco-tour, kids programs and independence support of the student who has difficult background.  They have the eco-village plan, and environment-friendly life is practiced there for sustainable society.
W: We will do the various works needed in the KPNS and area such as farming and construction work.  It will be physically hard work.  We will prepare/ run/ clean the local summer festival.  Volunteers will help with activities with the youth aged 18-25 years who has difficult background.  
S: Unique nature school in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Log cabin.  SB!  CV
L: Center of Tohoku area, north part of Japan.  Kurikoma specified for the quasi-national park can enjoy the beech wood and the alpine plant in all seasons.  There is a snow of 2 meters in Feb & Mar.
T: Tokyo (3 hours by bullet train or 9 hours by bus)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.
SR: The site is a no smoking area.  Volunteers should not have any remarks on diet.  They are have very motivated to work with youth.

NICE/39  Aya  (Miyazaki)  18/07-25/07  AGRI, ARTS  6 vols. (3 int.)
Organized together with a local group formed for this project that mainly consists of the local organic farmers and staffs of Center to Promote Organic since 99.  This town is quite famous for promoting organic farming.  In spite of such wonderful natural heritages, the population has been decreased, especially children are very few, so the main problem of Aya today is aging.  We aim to activate the area by workcamps.
W: We will be divided into 2-3 groups, help local farmers such as cutting bushes and harvesting vegetables.  We will prepare/ run/ clean the local summer festival.  There are possibilities to do some other community works.
S: Attractive city planning.  Bring some info.!
A: Public hall.  SB!  CV.
L: South east of Kyushu Island.  About 190 km of Fukuoka.  This town is quite famous for promoting organic farming and eco-tourism by leadership of the mayor and some others.
T: Fukuoka (6 hours by bus).  From Osaka, 11 hours by bullet train or 16 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Sports, exchange program with kids, etc.
SR: Interest in Japanese local community.  Volunteers need to be able to ride a bicycle, and should not have any remarks on diet. 

NICE/40  Kuromatsunai  (Hokkaido)  20/07-16/08  KIDS  6 vols. (3 int.)
Organized together with Buna-no-mori Shizen Gakko (nature school with beech forests) since 03.  BSG was started in 1998 to promote quality and quantity of ecological education for kids and run various kinds of kids programs.  They have a summer vacation program around 27/07-15/08 with about  20-25 kids aged 8-15 where they enjoy canoe, playing in the coast and river, camping, etc. and want to put global colors which should grow understanding and passion to different cultures in those kids.
W: We will help to run this summer program by playing with kids, running cultural programs such as teaching your dance, songs, arts, sports, games, cooking, etc. and helping house works such as cleaning and cooking with professional staffs and other vols.  You won’t have much free time.
S: Life of kids in each country to be introduced to the kids there.  Bring some info.!
A: Old school (you will sleep in the same rooms with the kids by turns).  SB!  CV
L: South west of Hokkaido island.  Full of beautiful nature with national reserve of beech forests, a river and wetland.  Main industry is cattle farming.  
T: Sapporo (2 hours by express train).  From Tokyo, 13 hours by bullet train or 32 hours by ship.
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.
SR: High motivation to work with kids all day and to run outdoor activities even in rain.  Similar  types of experience and Japanese speaking skill are welcome!  Motivation letter is needed! 

NICE/41  Yasuoka  (Nagano)  20/07-31/08  KIDS  5 vols. (2 int.)
Organized together with Green Wood (GW) since 07.  GW is a local NPO established in 1993 to promote education of children by experience in nature.  They run a school for students from cities, first aid classes, kids exchange projects in the northeast Asia and various types of children’s nature experience camps for community planning.  They have many staff members and also short term volunteers (for several days), but need a few longer term volunteers to run the summer program stably.
W: We will assist to run various types of 3-10 days children’s summer camps such as playing with kids, managing safety, food and other stuffs, helping kids to cook, preparing and cleaning the places.  We will be separated to each program to work with local staff, so don’t expect to be there as a group.
S: Kids play scheme in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Tents in the camping site.  SB!  CV with kids and the staff.
L: The south edge of Nagano prefecture and 80% of the village land is forests.  40% of 2,000 inhabitants are aged 65 or more.  They have rich nature and a lot of fruit farms!
T: Tokyo, 5-6 hours by highway bus and slow train
LA: Various enjoyable programs with children, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Very high motivation to work with kids all day and run outdoor activities even in rain.  Good Japanese language and a motivation letter is needed!  You are welcome to come even earlier.

NICE/42  Kodomo-mura 1  (Oita)  23/07-25/08  KIDS  12 vols. (6 int.)
Organized since 98 together with Kodomo-mura Project. They run Summer Vacation Kids Program called " Kodomo-mura" (Kids Village = KV) with 30 kids aged 8-15 every year where they play, cook and live in the nature as they plan to grow their independence, sensitivity, group cooperation, and want to put global colors which grow understanding and passion toward different cultures.  We need to be ready to spend 24 hours with them for this period except some free days. 
W: We will first have an orientation to understand the aims and the objectives.  Then, we will help and 
live together with kids in KV such as supporting activities, teaching songs, sleeping and showing your 
culture.  The kids will try to plan the schedule by themselves, so you will need to respect their ways!
S: Life of kids in each country and its activities.  Bring some info.!
A: A community center and Tents.  SB!  CV but sometimes MP
L: Small village in the mountains, in the very center of Kyushu Island.
T: Fukuoka.  From Osaka, 9 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Volunteers should love kids and speak/ understand some Japanese language.  Responsibilities, group cooperativeness and motivation are necessary!  Specialist of games, songs, cooks & similar types of experience is very welcome.  Motivation letter is needed!

NICE/43  Shirakami 4  (Aomori)  24/07-03/08  KIDS  7 vols. (4 int.)
Organized together with Shirakami Nature School (SNS).  For the background of Mt.Shirakami, 
please see NICE/33!  They have a summer vacation program with 25 kids aged 7-12 where they play, 
cook and live in the nature as they plan to grow their independence, sensitivity, group cooperation, and 
want to put global colors which grow understanding and passion toward different cultures.  We need to 
be ready to spend 24 hours with them during this period except some free days. 
W: We will first have an orientation to understand the aims and the objectives.  Then, we will help and 
live together with kids all the time in the summer program, such as supporting activities, teaching 
songs, sleeping and showing your culture, performance.  You need to respect their ways!
S: Life of kids in each country and its activities.  Bring some info.!
A: A very simple house.  SB!  CV
L: The Shirakami Mountains, located in the northern part of Honshu Island, is a huge mountainous area
(130,000 hectares on the border between Aomori and Akita Prefectures). 
T: Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus)
LA: Excursion of Mt. Shirakami, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Volunteers should love kids and speak/ understand some Japanese language.  Responsibilities, group cooperativeness and motivation are necessary!  Specialist of games, songs, cooks & similar types of experience is very welcome.  Motivation letter is needed!.

NICE/44  Takane  (Gifu)  26/07-08/08  FEST, ELDE, AGRI  15 vols. (7 int.)
Organized together with a local government since 00.  As well as many other mountain villages, depopulation is serious here.  The population has been decreased to only 650, so they started to organize “the biggest bonfire festival in Japan“ in late 90s but lack people to help preparation and running, so the workcamp has been appreciated as inevitable voluntary power for it.  Also, elders who still maintain the landscape nearly alone in each area have been so happy to our activities with them!
W: We will 1) mainly help to prepare/ run/ clean the biggest bonfire festival (we may also make acrylic sponges and sell them to support other Asian countries!), 2) help elderly people by cutting fire woods and by working in the day-care center and 3) work in the corn fields, one of new special products.
S: Best practice to revive depopulated areas in each country and their networking.  Bring some info.!
A: Village center.  You will enjoy a hot spring every day near the center!  SB!  CV.
L: About 450 km west of Tokyo.  The nearest town is Takayama, a popular tourist town with traditional streets and architectures.  World heritage of Shirakawa-go is also not too far.
T: Nagoya (3 hours by express train).  From Tokyo, 5 hours by bullet train or 8 hours by bus.
LA: Exchange parties with the local youth group, visit to the junior high school. excursion, etc.
SR: Motivation to activate the village

NICE/45  Showa-mura 1  (Fukushima)  27/07-09/08  AGRI  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with Terakoya-Hojyosha.  They run an alternative school where they host kids who could not go to school because of many different reasons.  This Showa-mura is a rural village and surrounded by rich nature, but has been facing on serious depopulation, and the number of vacant house and abandoned farms has been increasing rapidly.  So, this group has been trying to restore and animating this area.  
W: Helping local farms, flower farms, planning, preparing.  They cultivate abandoned farms and repair abandoned school buildings, they want to develop these activities with volunteers.  Participating in several local events.
S: Organizing nature activities.  Please bring some information of nature school in your country. 
A: Building in abandoned school.  Cooking with other volunteers by turn.  
L: Showa village, a small village in forest area, the population is about 19,000.  There is a hot spring in the village. 
T: Tokyo ( 5 hours from Tokyo by bus)
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Interest in agriculture and the project of the workcamp

NICE/46  Ayagami  (Kagawa)  end of Jul - end of Aug  KIDS  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with local NPO “Ayagami Kodomo no sato, international school” since 2007, People moves to big cities, reduced birthrate and aging of population are serious problem especially small town. There were several elementary schools in this town, but schools were elimination and consolidation, some of them were closed. So they restart new style school that kids can have experiences in a natural environment, farming, taking care of animals etc…
W: Making three house that is 300 years old, supporting and taking care of kids programs like swimming in the river, taking care of animals, studying. Farming in the school garden and cooking with local food. Please brig your national game that can play with Kids. 
S: Similar kind of activities about free school in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: School. CV, SB!
L: 160 km south west of Osaka, It is Shikoku area
T: Osaka(6 hours by train). From Tokyo, 4 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Exchange parties, Nature experience, etc.
SR: Those who like kids and are very motivated to work with kids and run outdoor activities

Teenager workcamp!!
NICE/47A  Un-nan A  (Shimane)  01/08-10/08  AGRI, FEST  13 teen vols. (3 int.)
Organized together with a local group formed for this project since 06.  We started an international 
teenage workcamp in Japan since 05, aiming to give them chances to understand about different cultures  and build international friendship.  In this area, the population has been decreased and especially, children are very few, so the main problem today is aging.  We aim to activate this area by the global voluntary power!  
W: We will help the local farmers by such as cutting bushes, harvesting vegetables together with them.  We will also prepare/ run/ clean the local summer festival.  There are possibilities to do some other community work.
S: The youth issues and education in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Public house.  SB!  CV
L: Un-nan is located in the east part of Shimane prefecture, the area of highlands about 100 km from Matsue-city.  It is a small city with the population of about 50,000.
T: Osaka (5 hours by train).  From Tokyo, 8 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Exchange parties, excursions, sports festival, etc.
SR: Only 15-18 years old
PF: The additional fee of 20,000 yen should be paid on your arrival directly.

NICE/47B  Un-nan B  (Shimane)  01/08-10/08  KIDS, AGRI, FEST  5 adult vols. (3 int.)
Same as NICE/47A Unnan A.  We would like to involve international adult volunteers as staff to make smoothly communication and exchange between teenager participants.
W: We will first have an orientation to understand the aims and the objectives.  Then, in the workcamp, the adult volunteers will help and live together with teenager all the time such as supporting activities and showing your culture and organizing some of activities for intercultural learning.
S: The youth issues and education in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Public house.  SB!  CV
L: Un-nan is located in the east part of Shimane prefecture, the area of highlands about 100 km from Matsue-city.  It is a small city with the population of about 50,000.
T: Osaka (5 hours by train).  From Tokyo, 8 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Exchange parties, excursions, sports festival
SR: Only over 20 years old.  Volunteers should like teenager and are very motivated to work with them all day.  Similar type of experience is welcome!  Motivation letter is needed!

NICE-VYA/48  Taishi 1  (* Taiwan)  01/08-15/08  EDU, ARTS, ENVI  15 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with Vision Youth Action (VYA).  The very first project was held in 2007 in Taishi successfully, so local residents advised VYA turn it into a regular activity.  VYA, NICE, Taishi Artist Association and Taishi Junior High School will go hand in hand to continue the projects this year..
We aim to add new tourism attractions in Taishi town, to promote friendship/ understanding/ solidarity among local people and volunteers and to enrich and improve learning environment for school children. 
W: We will 1) teach English and play with children in the school, 2) draw streets and walls of a fishing village with local youth and artist to create a ”Global Street” for a public space for community and also 3) join community environmental events to help cleaning a beach (Taiwan straits).
S: Development process and future prospect of their motherland.  Bring some info.!
A: Local district civil hall/ home stay.  SB!  Often MP and CV in some cultural exchange events.
L: A small fishing village in Yun-Lin County, locating on the middle-western coast of Taiwan (see below)
T: Tao-Yuan international airport.  4 hours of bus away from Taishi (about NTD$ 400, passengers may need to transfer in Taichung to get to Taishi or take bus from Taipei directly)
LA: Excursion, exchange parties with local people, eco-tourism (optional), night market, etc.
SR: High motivation for learning and respect to local culture.  Chinese language and artistic skills are welcomed but not necessarily required!

< Additional information about Taishi >
Taishi, located in the countryside of Yun-Lin County is a small, serene town in the middle of the western coast of Taiwan.  Free from disturbance, Taishi is rich in marine resource such as oyster and shells.  For seafood lovers, this is definitely a heaven.  However, with the industry transformation, the economic structure in Taishi are facing challenges, population drain resulting from unemployment deepens the rural-urban divide.  Besides, a large number of local residents are married to mail-order wife due to the poor social/economical status, and the amount keeps increasing in recent years.  Because of the scarcity and unequal distributions of resource, children have limited access to education, especially English learning environment.  Confronted with the conflicting situations, the community people still lack of understating toward their own culture and social values.  Therefore, through the workcamp held in Taish, we wish to promote global understanding, trigger the learning interests of children and enhance their capacity of English through in-depth interactions between local residents and cross-national youths.  Empowering the young generation to think globally, act locally, we introduce Taishi to the world with a brand new perspective

NICE/49  Ogata  (Oita)  02/08-16/08  AGRI, FEST, KIDS  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with a local group formed for this project by various people, such as local governmental staff, organic farmers and many local people since 02.  Ogata town is famous for the tulip and the population was 6,500, which is incorporated as Bungo-ono city.  In spite of such wonderful natural heritages, the population has been decreased, especially children are very few, so the main problem of Ogata today is aging.  We aim to activate the area by workcamps.
W: We will 1)be divided into 3-4 groups, help local farmers such as cutting bushes and harvesting Vegetable 2) join a kids’ activity which is held for few days and 3) help to prepare, run and clean “the Kodai festival” that is a very traditional festival.
S: Effective cases to activate depopulated areas in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Public hall.  SB!  CV
L: Ogata is a very beautiful town.  There is a big waterfall that is called “the Oriental Niadara falls”.  It is located near the border with Oita and Kumamoto prefectures.
T: Fukuoka (5 hours by train & bus).  From Osaka, 9 hours by bullet train or 13 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Exchange program with local people, hot spring, etc.
SR: Interest in nature, agriculture and the project of the workcamp.

NICE/50  Namino  (Kumamoto)  02/08-17/08  AGRI, FEST, KIDS  12 vols. (6 int.)
Organized together with a local group formed for this project by various people, such as local governmental staffs, craft man and farmers, since 98.  The terrible religious Group "Oom", who caused a poison gas crime in Tokyo in 95, had try to live here BEFORE 95 though local people had been very against.  Now, here is COMPLETELY SAFE, all of they have left away but the area is still damaged by a bad image, so they want to revive an activated community by utilizing international workcamps!
W: We will be divided into 4-5 groups, help local farmers such as cutting bushes and harvesting vegetable.  We will prepare/ run/ clean the local summer festival.  We will also join Kid’s camp, which will be held in this village for few days.
S: Activation of local communities by utilizing former school.  Bring some info.!
A: Walking Center (base for environmental education).  SB!  CV
L: Namino is a very beautiful village and in the center of Kyushu Island about 110km southeast of Fukuoka.  It is located near the border with Oita and Kumamoto prefectures.
T: Fukuoka (5 hours by train).  From Osaka, 9 hours by bullet train or 13 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Home stay, hiking on the mountain, hot spring, etc.
SR: Interest in agriculture and the project of the workcamp.

NICE-MOVE/51  Klang 3  (* Malaysia)  03/08-16/08  KIDS, DISA  15 vols. (7 int.)
Same as NICE-MOVE/09

NICE/52  Hanawa  (Fukushima)  04/08-18/08  FEST  14 vols. (8 int.)
Organized together with KOBOSHA, a local NPO for community planning since 96.  We joined the summer festival called “TORO NAGASHI” that is a memorial service for an ancestor by making a lantern and floating to a river.  It is one of the traditional festivals in JAPAN.  We will make large TORO (2 x 2 meters) for the festival in this workcamp.  We aim to activate the area by workcamps.  Locals have been encouraged to improve and to be proud of their community through past workcamps!
W: We will mainly help and join the festival by making four big lanterns “TORO” (2 x 2 meters) and hundreds of small lanterns together with local students.  You can design big “TORO” with your ideas for this festival.  It will be physically hard work.
S: Unique festivals in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Public Sports Center.  SB!  CV
L: It is located at the south part of Fukushima (about 150 km north from Tokyo), small town, 80% of which are forests, about 150 km north of Tokyo.  
T: Tokyo, 5 hours by slow train
LA: Home stay, sports, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Interest in making big lanterns “TORO”, Japanese culture and working with locals!!

NICE/53  Unzen  (Nagasaki)  04/08-17/08  KIDS, DISA, ELDE  12vols. (6 int.)
Organized together with Unzen Social Welfare (a kind of half-governmental) Association since 94.  The workcamp used to be "Minami-takaki (with the next town)", until we started only in Kunimi town independently, which is incorporated as Unzen city.  The past workcamps were quite successful to encourage Summer Volunteer School (SVS) that are held for 3 days to promote volunteering and international friendships with 100 kids aged 10-18, and also helping a local summer festival since 00.
W: We will 1) work with the volunteer club of the 20 local girls and boys within the ages of 10 to 15 by helping for the elderly and disadvantaged people such as wheelchair users, etc., 2) care for elderly people at nursing-care facility and 3) work together with local volunteer groups.
S: Current volunteer activities by kids in your country.  Bring some info!
A: Social Welfare Center where we also have day-care facility.  SB!  Mostly MP
L: Small town, about 80 km east of Nagasaki, a very famous symbolic place against nuclear war.  This town is very famous for football in Japan.
T: Fukuoka (3 hours by train/ ferry).  From Osaka, 7 hours by bullet train or 13 hours by midnight bus
LA: Home stay for a few days, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Motivation to work with them.  If you can speak some or good Japanese, it will be good!

NICE-SF/55  Sadhana Forest  (* India)  11/08-31/08  ENVI  16 vols. (7 int.)
Organized together with Sadhana Forest (SF) since 07.  SF started its ecological revival and sustainable living work in 03.  The dream is to ecologically transform 70 acres of severely eroded land into a vibrant Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF).  This forest type is found only in Southern India and Sri Lanka and provides a rare biological richness due to its very high species abundance (over 1000 species of trees, shrubbery, and liana).  We had the first, successful project in 07.
W: We will plant, mulch and water indigenous trees.  TDEF is now close to total extinction, as only 0.01% survives.  The main action areas are planting the TDEF, water conservation, soil erosion control, and sustainable living education.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: The future plan of SF and global cooperation.  Bring some info.!
A: Huts and under large tents constructed from natural, local materials.  SB!  CV (vegan)
L: Auroville, an international community near Pondicherry, South India
T: Bangalore
LA: Cultural exchange program, swimming, daily yoga class, cycling, meditation, tai-chi, shiatsu, etc.
SR: Respect to the local way and culture.  The international middle term workcamp will be also organized for 2 months of August and September.
PF: The additional fee for actual food cost (about 50 US$) should be paid on your arrival.

NICE/56  Shirakami 5  (Aomori)  12/08-20/08  KIDS  5 vols. (3 int.)
Same as NICE/43

NICE/57  Kitakyushu  (Fukuoka)  12/08-25/08  KIDS  8 vols. (4 int.)
Organized together with Kitakyushu Seinen Mirai Juku (KSMJ) since 07.  Since the first Japanese large-scale steel manufacture factory was completed in Kitakyushu, the population has been increased and the town has developed since 1901.  However, today the city centers is getting lifeless because of decline of the local industries.  KSMJ would like to activate the town by youth and global voluntary power.  The workcamp will be coordinated by the local youth, especially an active member of NICE. 
W: We will join a Kid’s camp for a few days and help and live together with kids all the time such as supporting activities and showing your culture, performance.  We will also try to involve a lot of people and hold an event for activation of the shopping street.
S: Activation of the shopping street.  Bring some info.!
A: Shinto shrine.  SB!  CV
L: The north part of Kyushu where the population is one million people.
T: Fukuoka (1 hour by train).  From Osaka, 3 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Volunteers should love kids and speak/ understand some Japanese language.  Responsibilities, group cooperativeness and motivation are necessary!  Specialist of games, songs, cooks & similar types of experience is very welcome.  Motivation letter is needed!

NICE/58  Fuji  (Shizuoka)  14/08-28/08  ENVI, AGRI  20 vols. (10 int.)
Organized together with Chuo National Youth House (CNYH) since 05.  CNYH is a social education facility, which aims to educate youth through a variety of group activities, experiences and study.  It is located in the foot in Mt. Fuji that has been a popular tourism spot for a long time ago.  However, a beautiful virgin forest that exists widely in Mt. Fuji has been lost by garbage that the tourist leaves and the illegal disposal.  We will activate this project as a fresh wind.
W: We will do cleaning activity of Mt. Fuji with a local group that consists of 30 Japanese university students and local motivate people and construct volunteer House to promote voluntary activities.  We will also help local farmers near the workcamp site.
S: The future plan of beautiful mountains in the world and their networking.  Bring some info.!
A: Volunteer House.  SB!  CV
L: Mt. Fuji is 3,776m high and is the highest mountain in Japan situated at the border of southeastern Yamanashi and Shizuoka.  It is the world famous symbol of Japan.
T: Tokyo (90 min by bullet train or 3 hours by slow train)
LA: Mt.Fuji climbing, exchange parties, sports, etc.
SR: Motivation to actively work and with local people!

NICE/59  Ogi  (Niigata)  14/08-31/08  ENVI, FEST  6 vols. (3 int.)
Organized together with “Morito”, a local voluntary group in Sado Island since 01.  They take care of the school forest called “Furusato-no-mori Park” in Ogi town, the south part of the Island.  It gives local people many opportunities to enjoy themselves in the forest at each season.  Now, they are trying to focus on caring for the forest with local people.  They expect youth and foreign volunteers to activate the area mentally and physically.
W: We will participate in the art festival called “Earth Celebration” and sell soba (Japanese noodle) with local people.  Also, we will work in the school forests by such as cutting bushes and create recreation program for local kids to experience in local forest.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Unique festivals in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Tents.  SB!  CV
L: 300 km north-east of Tokyo.  Sado Island is famous for gold and Japanese crested ibis.  Ogi is in the southern part beside from the beach, so you can enjoy fishing and hot spring there! 
T: Tokyo (6 hours by bullet train and ferry from Naoetsu port)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, fishing, etc .
SR: Some Japanese language skills since the camp language will be JAPANESE!  Those who have experience to join nature programs with kids are welcome. 

NICE/60  Taishi-Tonda  (Osaka)  15/08-29/08  ENVI  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with local NPOs, “Association to protect nature in Tondabayashi” and“ Hamuro club”.  Though 70% of Japanese lands are forests, huge forests are wasted since imported wood is much cheaper.  Once we take care of forests, it’s better to take care of it for various ecology than just to leave it.  As most members of this NPO are middle-aged, they expect our participation in itself. We will try to revive it in the global voluntary power! 
W: We will work at 2 different forests. In “NICE Forest” where we also often have weekend workcamps, we will cut and clear trees, make trails, cut grasses and make a steps for footpath in an abandon rice field.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Similar kind of activities about forest in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: Very simple renovated house, last 7 days very simple log house which local people made by themselves. Cooking with firewood. SB!  CV
L: 60 km south of Osaka, but full of nature near the workplace
T: Osaka
LA: Exchange parties, experiencing Japanese cultures, home stay, etc.
SR: Interest to protect nature and to exchange with people.  Adaptable to enjoy simple life!

NICE/61  Hoshino  (Fukuoka)  16/08-29/08  ENVI, KIDS, EDUC  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with a local group formed for this project by various groups such as a forestry cooperative, a local youth group etc.  This village has got the 1st prize at the national contests for beautiful stars in the sky and for shelves of rice fields.  In spite of such wonderful natural heritage, depopulation of especially youth are serious here as well as many other country sides in Japan.  We aim to help nature conservation and to activate the area by workcamps.
W: We will work in the forests by such as cutting bushes.  As we will contribute to nature conservation in Hoshino with global voluntary power, our movement will eventually lead to a greener world.  We will also visit schools to raise awareness to protect nature!  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Effective cases to activate depopulated areas in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: A community center.  SB!  CV
L: Small village surrounded by mountains, about 50 km southeast of Fukuoka.  There was a national Summit (conference) for protecting beautiful shelves of rice fields in 2000.
T: Fukuoka (2 hours by train & car).  From Osaka, 6 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Home stay, watching stars, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Interest to protect nature and to exchange with people.  Adaptable to enjoy simple life!

NICE-VYA/62  Taishi 2  (* Taiwan)  16/08-30/08  EDU, KIDS, CONS  15 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with Vision Youth Action (VYA) and Taishi Hong-En charity Organization.  The very first project was held in 2007 in Taishi successfully, so local residents advised VYA turn it into a regular activity.  Hong-En offers a free afterschool tutoring project for local children from single-parent, Asian wife and grand parenting families since 2002.  These children are socially and economically disadvantaged, short of financial aids and learning resources.
W: We will help to organize some activities (such as English teaching, music class or sport playing) and cook lunch for children.  We will also renovate Hong-En’s office building by coloring the wall, cleaning up and cutting the grass around the buildings, and redesign the space allocation for kids. 
S: Development process and future prospect of their motherland.  Bring some info.!
A: Local district civil hall/ home stay.  SB!  Often MP and CV in some cultural exchange events.
L: A small fishing village in Yun-Lin County, locating on the middle-western coast of Taiwan
* For the additional information about Taishi, see NICE-VYA/48!
T: Tao-Yuan international airport.  4 hours of bus away from Taishi (about NTD$ 400, passengers may need to transfer in Taichung to get to Taishi or take bus from Taipei directly)
LA: Excursion, exchange parties with local people, eco-tourism (optional), night market, etc.
SR: High motivation for learning and respect to local culture.  Chinese language and artistic skills are welcomed but not necessarily required!

NICE-MOVE/88  Banting  (* Malaysia)  17/08-23/08  EDUC, KIDS  15 vols. (7 int.)
Newly organized together with Malaysian Organization of Voluntary Exchange (MOVE) and a local Tamil School.  In Malaysia, Malay people are advantaged and schools for Indian/ Chinese get support from the government only for 50% of their income.  So, they don’t have much resource to broaden the eyes of the students and this school is located in the rural area, so have rare access to foreigners.  The uncle of President of MOVE lives in this town and has agreed to host a workcamp for the first time!
W: We'll help the school and their education by teaching English and cultures of the countries from where volunteers come from (songs, dance, games, handicraft, etc.), so they will widen their views to different cultures in a informal and active way!
S: Situation of children in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: To be confirmed.  SB!  CV
L: Rural area on the coast side (1,5 hours from Klang)
T: Kuala Lumpur (2.5 hours by train and bus)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, home stay in the local house nearby, etc.
SR: Those who likes children and has high motivation to work with them.  You also need to respect local cultures and ways.  Experience of workcamps and similar type of voluntary service are welcome!
PF: 400 RM (about 100 US$) to be paid on your arrivals

NICE-MOVE/63  Julau 3  (* Malaysia)  17/08-30/08  CONS, MANU  15 vols. (7 int.)
Same as NICE-MOVE/07 except the following points;
W: We will help to improve infrastructure of the long house (possibly paving the drainage which was dug by the past workcamps and/ or reconstructing the animal houses for chicken and pigs).  We will also sometimes join the work of our host families such as cultivation of pepper fields and rubber tapping.

NICE/64  Kamakura  (Kanagawa)  18/08-27/08  KIDS, SOCI  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with Happy Kids Team (HKT) in NICE and an orphanage, Kamakura Children Home (KCH) since 04.  HKT was started in 2004 since Child abuse was getting more serious years by years, so they organize weekend workcamps 1) every month in KCH, 2) 1-2 times a year for families (to prevent further abuse) and 3) 3-4 times for the foster family association by playing with their children while the parents are joining the seminars.  They have monthly meeting in the office to study the issue.
W: We will work in KCH mainly to prepare/ run/ clean up their bon dance festival (you will also practice and show some performance together in the stage!) and also do some other things like farming/ playing/ studying with the children many of who are ex. abused kids.
S: Child abuse situation and activities in each country and global cooperation.  Bring some info.!
A: Church.  SB!  CV.
L: 30 km from Yokohama.  Kamakura is an old capital city of Japan in the 13th-15th centuries and has
a lot of attraction like old temples, green hills and a beach.
T: Tokyo (60 min by slow train)
LA: Exchange parties, one night home stay, excursions, etc.
SR: High motivatito work with the children with special background.  Similar types of experience is welcome!  Motivation letter is needed!. There are some possibilities to organize an optional weekend workcamp for families near Kamakura on 16-17 Aug. (to be informed in the information sheets)!

Bilateral workcamp between BRITISH & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-UNA/65  Kikuchi 2  (Kumamoto)  18/08-31/08  ENVI  16 vols. (0 int.)
Same as NICE/14, but a bilateral workcamp with British (Welsh) vols. from Afan Forest Park!

NICE/66  Hinode  (Tokyo)  20/08-31/08  DISA, FEST, ENVI  10vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with Hinode Taiyo no Ie (HTI), Home for mentally disadvantaged since 92.  As HTI has been isolated from the local community since its beginning in 87 due to their prejudice, it actively opens the place to the people through the festivals, ceramic art, etc. and NICE also has been acting as a "bridge" between locals & HTI through weekend and international workcamps and LAMP.  They also try to be an ecological institution and the surrounding mountains need to be maintained.
W: We will 1) work with mentally disadvantaged in the fields or the building for 2-3 days, 2) maintain the forests(we may make bamboo charcoals, Part of Greening Asia) and 3)exchange program with local kids to eradicate the prejudice. 
S: Participation of disadvantaged people in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: "Samurai House", the historically valuable for volunteers in HTI.  SBN.  CV.  If you like traditional style of Japanese architecture, this will make you happy every day.
L: Mountain side with natural surroundings, about 50 km west of Tokyo.
T: Tokyo (90 min by slow train)
LA: Exchange parties, hot spring, ceramic art, etc.
SR: Motivation to work with mentally disadvantaged people. If you can speak some or good Japanese, it will be good!  We also recruit volunteers for LAMP (Long And Middle term voluntary Programs).

NICE/67  Shiojiri  (Nagano)  22/08-06/09  KIDS, EDUC  12 vols. (8 int.)
Organized together with Educational Committee of Shiojiri city government since 06.  The staff of 
the Committee has joined some workcamps and is an active member of NICE.  The elementary schools 
in this city hold some classes for simple English conversation, but the children have rare opportunities to
exchange with foreigners, especially non-native speakers of English.  Also, we aim to introduce 
cultural diversity of the world as well as children’s life in each country.
W: We will visit and organize the programs in 7-10 elementary schools (mostly, one day for each school) 
like introducing each culture, children’s life, games/ music/ dance/ craft/ cooking, social issues, etc.  
We may be often spilt into some groups though we will do it sometimes all together.
S: Education in each country and future cooperation like Sister Schools Project.  Bring some info.!
A: Public building.  SB!  CV
L: Center in Nagano prefecture(north west of Tokyo)!  High land surrounded by Japan Alps 
mountains and producing many kinds of fruits such as apple, grape, pear.  Not so hot in summer.
T: Tokyo (3-4 hours by highway bus).
LA: Exchange parties, sports, etc.
SR: Strong motivation in education and those who likes kids very much.

NICE/68  Wazuka  (Kyoto)  22/08-06/09  AGRI, CONC  16 vols. (8 int.) 
Organized together with a society for the study of producing organic Japanese tea in Wazuka since 01.  They are farmers some of who produce completely organic ones while the others do partly, but want to activate this area by tea in the future.  The situation of organic farming in Japan is still difficult.  We will understand tea, help them and try to involve more local people!  Last year, we  started to make a tea park that might become a symbol of Wazuka town in the future.
W: We will work to take care and think about tea garden, help their farming separated into some farm houses and organize a big one day event in Wazuka, which will involve local people in their redevelopment movement.
S: The proposal to the future plan of Wazuka and tea garden.  Bring some idea!
A: Comfortable public house.  SB!  CV
L: The most southern part of Kyoto, where is near the center of Kyoto and Nara which both are very historical and beautiful places.  You should come here to see a lot of beautiful tea gardens!!
T: Osaka (2 hours by train).  From Tokyo, 3 hours by bullet train or 9 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Sports, exchange, parties, school visiting, Japanese tea ceremony, excursion, tea guessing game, etc.
SR: We aim to learn and tell about Wazeka tea and activate the area by tea.  To be flexible/ adaptable

NICE/69  Showa-mura 2  (Fukushima)  23/08-05/09  AGRI  10 vols. (5 int.)
Same as NICE/45

NICE/70  Satsuma (Kagoshima)  23/08-06/09  ENVI  8 vols. (4 int.)
Organized together with Eco Link Association (ELA).  ELA wants to create a sustainable society through environmental preservation and achieving harmonious coexistence of nature and humans.  They manage a forest equestrian club by utilizing the advantages of rich nature.  They have a horse-riding classroom for various people such as local kids and disadvantage people.  They want to activate this town by using this facility, so we will try to give our global voluntary power!
W: We will do the various works needed in the ELA and area such as making nature trail and construction work.  We will also do some forest work such as cutting trees, cutting branches.  We will join the horse riding activates.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Local participation to protect nature and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.!
A: Local house and pension. SB! CV.
L: South part of Kyushu island with rich nature.  People are cheerful and many man like to drink sake!!
T: Fukuoka (3 hours by train).  From Osaka, 6 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Interest to protect nature and to exchange with people.

NICE-MOVE/71  Klang 4  (* Malaysia)  24/08-06/09  KIDS, DISA  15 vols. (7 int.)
Same as NICE-MOVE/09

NICE-MOVE/72  Julau 4  (* Malaysia)  31/08-13/09  CONS, MANU  15 vols. (7 int.)
Same as NICE-MOVE/63

NICE/73  Onuma  (Hokkaido)  31/08-14/09  ENVI  10 vols. (6 int.)
Organized together with Onuma Milestone 22, a new local NGO made by President of Fishermen’s Cooperative and Director of international exchange association since 04.  Though Onuma lake has been a popular tourism spot for a long time because of its beautiful scenery, it has been polluted by over use of agricultural chemicals in cattle farming and erosion from abandoned forests with non-native trees.  President of Cooperative has bought a forest and wants to revive it to original nature with native trees!
W: We will mainly cut alien trees that disturb growth of other plants and animals.  We will also put some stones along the bank of a few islands in the lake to protect from the waves made by motor boatsfor tourism as well as check the pollution with some specialists.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: 100 years plan of the forests and sustainable town planning.  Bring some info.!
A: Cabin.  SB!  CV
L: South of Hokkaido island, in a national park near Hakodate city which is famous for romantic view in the night, especially for sweet couples!  
T: Sapporo (3 hours by express train).  From Tokyo, 10 hours by bullet train or 30 hours by ship.
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, one night home-stay, school visit, sports, etc.
SR: Motivation to actively work in the forests and with local people!  There will be also a 3 months workcamp in 20 Jul.-11 Oct. with 4 volunteers who will join this one.

NICE/74  Tokyo-ko  (Tokyo)  02/09-15/09  ENVI  12 vols. (6 int.)
Organized together with Green Volunteers of Tokyo Port (GVTP), since 98.  Because construction plan was delayed, a reclaimed land became one of valuable natural place in Tokyo Bay with some ponds and many plants, so various kinds of birds gather there.  It became a park in 1989 and GVTP has been improving ecological conditions and guide visitors to promote ecological awareness.  NICE is working with them very successfully by international and weekend workcamps!
W: We will mainly remove mud from the pond, so their functions can be more active and more fish/ plants/ insects can live there.  This work needs to be done in a short time by many volunteers that cannot be done only by the members of GVTP most of who have their jobs.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Global environment and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.!
A: Office building in the pack.  SB!  CV
L: Near Haneda (not Narita!) Airport in the central part of Tokyo.  Though the park was originally artificial nature, has become valuable place for many birds and plants!
T: Tokyo
LA: Exchange parties with GVTV members (maybe, barbeque!), excursions, etc.  
SR: Motivation to work hard for nature

NICE/75  Kutcharo-ko  (Hokkaido)  05/09-16/09  ENVI  10 vols. (5 int.)
Newly organized together with Kutcharo-ko Eco-workers, a new local NGO. Kutcharo-ko is beautiful lake in the north of Hokkaido registered in Ramsar Convention.  It should be protected lake of international importance because of its high biodiversity and critical role as feeding and roosting site for Bird flying toward Siberia.  However, the lake begins to be dirty by the change in a surrounding environment.  We aim to revive this lake by international volunteer power.
W: We will do various types of conservation works such as cutting glasses to improve ecological richness of the forest, planting trees with the villagers for the water quality purification.  We will also help to prepare, run, join and clean up the Student Environmental Summit.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: 100 years plan of the forests and sustainable town planning.  Bring some info.!
A: Public community center.  SB!  CV
L: North of Hokkaido island, in a national park North Okhotsk. -20 degree in winter and 20 in summer.
T: Sapporo (5 hours by bus).  From Tokyo, 13 hours by bullet train or 32 hours by ship.
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, one night home-stay, etc.
SR: Motivation to actively work in the forests and with local people!

Bilateral workcamp between BRITISH & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-UNA/76  Afan Forest  (* UK)  06/09-21/09  ENVI  16 vols. (0 int.)
Organized together with United Nations Association (UKA) Exchange and Afan Forest Park (AFP) since 07.  This is a part of Sister NGOs Project to promote learning and cooperation among NGOs in different countries but in the same theme (in this case, forest protection).  AFK is the largest urban park in Europe (11.000 ha) and UNA has organized international workcamps there for many times.  Last year’s cooperation was quite successful, so we will continue it this year!
W: We will do various types of conservation works such as maintenance of the mountain trails by cutting the glasses, leveling the soil, etc., so the nature can be well protected by the visitor.  As some of Japanese vols. will come from the conservation group, they can also exchange practical know-how.
S: Future plan of each organization and mutual cooperation.  Bring some info.!
A: Community center in the park.  SB!  CV
L: Neath Port Tablot, South Wales, which environment was polluted before, but recovered by the wonderful efforts of AFP and their cooperating organization/ volunteers!
T: Cardiff or London
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, cycling, etc.
SR: ONLY British (Welsh) vols. from UNA and Japanese vols. from NICE

Bilateral workcamp between BANGLADESH & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-MCE/77  Bilateral 3  (* Mongolia)  08/09-21/09  AGRI, EDUC, KIDS 16 vols. (0 int.)
Organized together with Mongolian workCamps Exchange (MCE) since 01.  For the background of MCE, see NICE-MCE/06.  From 1990, Mongolia transferred into free market economy.  Also from that, we Mongolians started to study foreign, especially Japanese, histories and languages.  Also, Japanese youth who are interested in Mongolian are increasing!  So, we will organize this cultural exchange workcamp between two countries!
W: We will organize various works such as teaching Japanese language course, history and exchange ideas.  In the second week, we will help harvest of vegetables with CCM orphanage!  For CCM and their farm, see NICE-MCE/06 and NICE-MCE/34.
S: The future plan of international workcamps in Mongolia and the orphanage.  Bring some info.!
A: Student house.  SB!  MP
L: Buhug (45 km from Ulaanbaatar) and Ulaanbaatar.
T: Ulaanbaatar (MCE will kindly pick volunteers up at the airport!)
LA: Cultural exchange program, excursions, etc.
SR: ONLY Mongolian vols. from MCE and Japanese vols. from NICE

NICE/78  Minami-Uonuma  (Niigata)  10/09-21/09  ENVI, KIDS, EDUC  10 vols. (5 int.)
Organized together with Japan National Trust since 95.  JNT was founded in 1968 and buys lands to protect nature and cultural heritage such as old temples and trains, beautiful beaches, etc.  It has been conserving Mt. Makihata (1,967m) for 30 years where wild life & landscapes have been damaged by tourists though still very beautiful.  We have activated this project as a fresh wind (e.g. some local climbers were surprised to see foreign volunteers' working and joined cleaning.)
W: We will collect seeds, maintain natural trails, revive ponds etc. on Mt. Makihata.  Part of Greening Asia.  We will also visit schools to raise awareness and actions for the local kids to protect nature in their own area and help local farmers such as harvesting vesitables one day.
S: Protection of mountains in each country and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.!
A: Tents or a mountain hut in the 1st week and a community center in the 2nd.  CV.  SB!
L: Mountainous, agricultural town about 170 km north of Tokyo.  Famous for the best sake and rice!  The top you stay in the 1st week is a kind of paradise with millions of stars!
T: Tokyo (2 hours by bullet train or 4 hours by slow train)
LA: Exchange parties, excursion, etc.
SR: You need to be physically tough enough to climb up the mountain and also to like kids.

NICE/79  Shintoku  (Hokkaido)  10/09-24/09  AGRI, ENVI, CONS  8 vols. (4 int.)
Organized together with Kyodo Gakusha since 98, a cooperative community where people with 
various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, people who are tired of city life, who wants to 
learn farming or just want to live in the nature.  They have five communities in Tokyo, Nagano and 
Hokkaido and grow animals and vegetables in ecological, organic way with utilizing bacterium.  Their 
cheese got the 1st prize in the global contest!  We will encourage their practice and share the spirit.  
W: We will maintain a forest trail and a camping site and help construction of men’s dormitory with 
the supervision of the specialists.  They need us since they are too busy for daily works.  We will also 
work in vegetable and Japanese noodle fields (taking weeds, planting and harvesting).
S: Similar types of communities in each country and networking.  Bring some info.!
A: The community (female and male are separated).  CV together with the people.  SB!
L: Agricultural country side, 120 km east of Sapporo.  -20 degree in winter and 20 in summer.
T: Sapporo (2 hours by express train).  From Tokyo, 13 hours by bullet train or 32 hours by ship.
LA: School visit, foot ball with local teams, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Interest and motivation to work and live in this type of community.  Respect to their life.
They also recruit volunteers for LAMP (Long And Middle term voluntary Programs).

Bilateral workcamp between BANGLADESH & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-MCE/80  Bilateral 4  (* Mongolia)  13/09-26/09  AGRI, EDUC, KIDS 16 vols. (0 int.)
Same as NICE-MCE/77

NICE/81  Hikawa  (Kumamoto)  13/09-27/09  ENVI  8 vols. (4 int.)
Newly organized together with Satoyama Club Dongorosu (SCD).  Though 70% of Japanese lands are forests, huge forests are wasted since imported wood is much cheaper.  Once we take care of forests, it’s better to take care of it for various ecology and keeping water than just to leave it.  And the Hikawa town is getting depopulation, they expect our participation and also to involve more local.  We will try to revive it in the global voluntary power! 
W: We will do various works to take care of the forest such as cutting trees, cutting branches, maintain the footpath, etc.  Physically hard.  As we will contribute to the nature conservation with global voluntary power, our movement will eventually lead to a greener world.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: Local participation to protect nature and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.!
A: Local house.  SB!  CV
L: South west in Kyushu island.  People are cheerful and many of man like to drink sake!! 
T: Fukuoka (3 hours by train).  From Osaka, 6 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus.
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, etc.
SR: Interest to protect nature and to exchange with people.

NICE/82  Iwami Ginzan 2  (Shimane)  14/09-24/09  ENVI  8 vols. (4 int.)
Organized together with “organization of green and water” founded in 1992 since2007. This organization establishes in order to appeal about the importance of a prairie and forest. Their working field is Iwami Ginzann(metalliferous mine　for silver). It is registered into world heritage since 2007. they want to take care of the forests and prairie. Once we use the forests, it is better to keep taking care of them. Otherwise, the heritage will be destroyed by increment of bamboo forests.  
W: We will do various work to take care of the forests such as cutting bamboos and grasses, maintaining the footpath, etc.  Local people burn off the field for landscape conservation of prairie in march, so we will help to take care of it. Physically hard.  Part of Greening Asia.
S: To protect nature and Greening Asia.  Bring some info.
A: National Mikame youth's house.  SBN  MP 
L: About 250 km northwest of Osaka.  Near Japan-sea 
T: Osaka (9 hours by train).  From Tokyo, 6 hours by bullet train or 12 hours by midnight bus. 
LA: Visiting school, exchange parties, home stay. 
SR: Interested in nature conservation 

NICE/83  Showa-mura 3   (Fukushima)  16/09-30/09  AGRI  10 vols. (5 int.)
Same as NICE/45

Bilateral workcamp between BANGLADESH & JAPANESE!!!
NICE-BWCA/84  SSP  (* Bangladesh)  2 weeks in Sep.  EDU  16 vols. (0 int.)
Organized together with BWCA (Bangladesh Work Camp Association) since 05.  BWCA was founded in 1958 organizing various types of workcamps.  As a part of Sister NGOs Project of NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia), SSP (Sister Schools Project) team of NICE started to promote friendship and understanding among kids of different elementary schools in both countries since 03.  They have decided to do it by a workcamp style from 2005 to develop the project more widely.
W: We will visit two elementary schools in Dhaka and Chittagong Hill to introduce Japanese schools and culture like games and cooking as well as passing the gifts from Japanese kids and making gifts for Japanese kids with them.  SSP team do the same things in Japan before/ after the workcamp. 
S: Future plan of SSP.  Bring some info.!
A: Home-stay and dormitory.  SB!  CV and MP
L: Dhaka is a capital city.  Chittagong Hill is in the southeastern part with minority race.
T: Dhaka (Local staffs will kindly pick volunteers up at the airport!)
LA: Exchange parties, sports, excursions, etc.
SR: ONLY Bangladesh vols. from BWCA and Japanese vols. from NICE

NICE/85  Kurikoma 3  (Miyagi)  01/10-14/10  ENVI, AGRI, ARTS 4 vols. (3 int.)
Same as NICE/38 except the following points;
W: We will do the various works needed in the KPNS and area such as farming and construction work.  It will be physically hard work. Volunteers will help with activities with the youth aged 18-25 years who has difficult background.  

NICE/86  Maki 2  (Nagano)  15/10-28/10  AGRI  8 vols. (4 int.)
Same as NICE/36 except the following point;
W: We will help their organic farm by cutting thatch, threshing rice, selecting beans, taking care of goats 
and chicken and also carry the things from the town, renovate the trails, help their house works, etc.  
Be ready to work for quite a long time (05:30-18:00 with some brakes) and hard.

NICE/87  Shirakami 6  (Aomori)  28/10-04/11  ENVI  8 vols. (5 int.)
Same as NICE/33

NICE/09-01  Shirakami 7  (Aomori)  02/01/2009-13/01/2009  ENVI  5 vols. (3 int.)
Same as NICE/43 except the following points;
SR: Volunteers should love kid and have responsibilities, group cooperativeness and motivation!  Specialist of games, songs, cooks & similar types of experience is very welcome.

< We also recommend workcamps in Mongolia & Indonesia! >
We can strongly recommend the following organizations since they are full of motivations to make a better world by international voluntary projects!  For more information and applications, please contact directly to them!!

MCE (Mongolian workCamps Exchange)  E-address: mce-mn@magicnet.mn
IIWC (Indonesia International WorkCamp team)  E-address: iiwcindonesia@hotmail.com

Project 2: International Workcamps all over the world

 1) Who can apply (through NICE)? 
1) Japanese citizen  2) Other citizens who are living in Japan for a long time
If you are NOT in the above criteria, you need to apply through the organizations in your country.
* If your countries have no workcamp organizations, you can/ need to apply through NVDA
(Network for Voluntary Development in Asia) http://www.nvda-asiapacific.org/

 2) How can I apply and how much? 
Ask NICE (out@nice1.gr.jp) for more info., then we will send you the guidance and the form.  

 3) Where and When needed? 
NICE introduces about 2,800 workcamps in 98 countries organized by partner organizations.
The projects are held all through the year (Majority is Jun.-Sep.).

Project 3: LAMP
(Long & Middle term voluntary Programs)

 1) What is LAMP? 
* Voluntary service program for 2-12 months in centers for social welfare, environmental NGOs, etc.
  Most of programs are for individual volunteers but some are group programs.
* Some of project sites are partner organizations of international workcamps.
* Help their daily activities and also preparation/ running international workcamps.

 2) Why is LAMP organized? 
a) To promote continuous and specialized voluntary works to improve the local activities
b) To provide opportunities for volunteers to learn/ enjoy local life and to exchange with people
c) To activate not only hosts, but also local communities especially in depopulated areas

 3) Who can apply? 
General qualifications are same as international workcamps.
Volunteers need be even more responsible, cooperative, flexible, adaptable and, patient to stay for 
much longer periods in different culture/ life style and with many unfamiliar persons.
Workcamp experience is also welcome since all the hosts will hold international workcamps.

 4) How can I apply and how much? 
All applicants need to send application forms with motivation letters and personal histories
through our partner organizations in their countries (unless you are in the above criteria of Project 2
“Who can apply through NICE”).  And then, you need to call to NICE office (and if needed, also host 
organization) for the interview to ask and confirm some points.  Time will be appointed by NICE.
* Food and accommodation are provided by the hosts
* There is no salary, but in some cases, some pocket money is provided by the hosts
* Travel cost to/ from the projects have to be paid by volunteers by themselves.
  If you have questions, please mail to LM@nice1.gr.jp 

< Training/ Evaluation Program >
All volunteers for LAMP need to participate in this program before/ after the project;
Dates  	:We will inform you later
Place   : All Training/Evaluation Programs will be held in Tokyo or around Tokyo
Program: *Volunteer work experience, *Learning Japanese culture & language, and life.
         * Studying about host organization & LAMP program, *Welcome & Farewell party, etc

 5) About VISA in Japan 
Unfortunately, we do not have any visa category for volunteer activities, so you need to come to program as tourist status or tourist visa, which you can stay in Japan for 3 months.  So, you can apply for a program for 3 months at maximums.  But, for some nationality, you can stay in Japan for 6 months without any visa and in some countries, you have working holiday visa.  If you are that nationality or you can get working holiday visa, you can apply for the program up to 6 months.

 6) Programs   We may organize some more later and inform our partner organizations!

After the backgrounds (partners, aims and histories) of the workcamps;

W : Type of voluntary work
S : Study theme
A : Accommodation
L : Location
T : Terminal (The closest big international airport)
LA : Leisure Activities
SR : Special Remarks 

* Number of volunteers = the number the host organization needs at the same period.

NICE/LM 01  Shintoku (Hokkaido)  3 months from Jun., Sep.  CONS, AGRI, DISA 2 vols.
Host organization is Kyodo Gakusha shintoku farm, a cooperative community where people with 
various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, people who are tired of city life, who wants 
to learn farming, etc.  They have five communities in Tokyo, Nagano and Hokkaido and grow animals 
and vegetables in ecological, organic way with utilizing Bacterium.  Their cheese got the 1st prize 
in the national contest!  They are hoping to build new houses for residents this year. 
W: Constructing houses (making basement, constructing frameworks, etc.), various agricultural works 
(planting, weeding, cultivating, harvesting, to make organic vegetables taking care of animals), etc.
S: Similar types of communities in each country and future networking.  Bring some info.!
A: Share room of Kyodo Gakusha, cooking as a group by turn (Vegetarian is possible!)
L: Agricultural country side, 120 km east of Sapporo.  -20 degree in winter and 20 in summer.
T: Sapporo (2 hours by express train).  From Tokyo, 13 hours by bullet train or 32 hours by ship.
SR: Speaking some Japanese, strong motivation.  Skills of agriculture or construction can be useful!

NICE/LM 02  Monyongoro Mura  (Tochigi)  3 months from Apr., Jul., Oct.  
ENVI, AGRI, DISA  2 vols.
Host organization is a local NPO Monyongoro village, where 4 mentally disadvantaged people live 
and work together. This group is not only working for social works but also community development, 
promoting organic farming and environment conservation. Through these activities they aim to 
develop and maintain the kindest village in world. We NICE organize a governmental youth support 
program, Wakamono-Jiritsujuku, which support youth at difficulties so called NEET. 
W: Organic farming (planting, weeding, cultivating, harvesting, to make organic vegetables blue-berry, 
reviving abandoned rice fields).  Forest works (cutting grasses, branches and trees), Empowering 
NEET youth (Communication with them, they can get confidence by the experiences of communicating 
foreign people, organize language class) for 2 or 3 days a week.
A: A building of the village.  You’ll have your own room. There is NO pocket money.
S: About Youth Empowerment, organic farming, group home. Bring some info.
L: Agricultural countryside, about 100 km north of Tokyo. The population is about 12,000.
T: From Tokyo, about 3 hours by train and bus
SR: Speaking some Japanese, interested in social works (especially youth issue), cooperative, kind and 
open mind. This is very difficult program, so we need your strong cooperation !

*** About Wakamono-Jiritsujuku ***
Wakamono-Jiritsujuku is a governmental project for young people who are so called 
N.E.E.T(Not in Employment, Education or Training).  This is a big social problem in Japan that 
the number of youth who do not want to work or who cannot work has been increasing rapidly. 
They have different reasons to become N.E.E.T situation, like no motivation to work, mental 
problem, spoiled, hardship of communication with others, bad social situation of employment, 
change of employment system… etc.  We empower them for their better life through this 3 months 
program.  About 10 Japanese youth will be involved in this program every term.

NICE/LM03  Kawaba  (Gunma)  15/06-30/08  AGRI, ENVI  1 vol.
Host organization is Aruking-club, an NPO, working on the theme of “making good relationship between nature and human beings”.  Their aim is to make people know different face of nature… beautiful nature, strong nature, strict nature and generous nature.  As a bridge between people and nature, they organize a lot of outdoor activities, like 2 weeks summer camp for kids, nature walking, nature watching, outdoor sports, etc.  Also they have organic vegetable fields and domestic animals (cow, sheep, etc).  They run it and also make opportunities for people to experience agriculture.  In addition, they have a lodge and camp site and host a lot of people through a year.
W: Working in the organic farm, taking care of domestic animals, supporting to organize outdoor 
activities and summer camps, cleaning and maintaining the lodge and its area.
A: Single room of lodge.  Cooked by yourself with other volunteers.  Pocket money is not decided yet.
S: Interesting program for nature camp, family camp, etc. Bring some info.
L: North of Tokyo.  About 150 km of Tokyo.  81% of the village is occupied by the forest and there are 5 
clean rivers are going through.  Aruking club is very isolated but in very beautiful area.
T: From Tokyo, about 2 hours by train & bus
SR: ASIAN VOLUNTEER ONLY.  Speaking some Japanese and some English.  Strong interests and 
motivation working in nature.  Willing to stay in the isolated area.

NICE/LM07  Kikuya  (Ehime)   3 months from Apr. Jul. Sep.  AGRI, ARTS  2 vols.
The host organization is, Kikuya Community Group, which local young people formed to think of the 
future of their small village.  Ikata town is famous for Oranges and the main industry of the town has 
been making oranges.  But the town has been facing the depopulation, lack of workers and ageing 
society since most of young people leave the town.  So, the number of abandoned orange farm is 
increasing and the town is losing its tradition, life, custom and scenery.  The group is strongly hoping to 
host volunteers and working together to animate the town and revive orange farms.
W: Helping orange farm (harvesting, taking care of trees, etc. this is a main work), organizing culture, 
language class for local people and kids, supporting old people who live in alone (being with them, 
talking with them), organizing new activities to animate the town (planning & organizing activities)
S: Organic farming and rural development. Bring some info.!
A: Volunteers house.  Single room.  Cooked by yourselves.  Pocket money is 20,000 yen/ month.
L: The town is located in Satamisaki Peninsula in Ehime prefecture.  It is surrounded by the sea, so 
fishing is also famous as well as oranges.  There are only 30 houses in this community.
T: Matsuyama. From Matsuyama, about 2 hours by train and bus
SR : Speaking good Japanese, strong motivation for the host.  Respecting local custom and life.  Open mind and flexibility is important.

NICE/LM 09  Abukuma  (Fukushima)   Apr.-Sep.  ENVI  1 vol.
Host organization is Abukuma Nature School Network which theme is to learn from soil and nature and to live together.  To make it into practice, they organize many programs and activities for ranging from kids to adults (for example, a nature school, classes for farmer, foresters and organic farming group, visiting local school, 2 weeks nature camp for kids, etc.)  They are hoping to make these programs more active and make better relationship between local community and organization.
W: planning, preparing, and organizing above events, programs with other staffs.  Agricultural works, 
forest woks are also very important. 
S: Organizing nature activities.  Please bring some information of nature school in your country. 
A: Single room of nature school.  Pocket money of 20,000 yen per month
L: Small village in forest area, the population is about 5,000. the village is surrounded by rich nature. 
T: Tokyo (2 hours and half from Tokyo by bus)
SR : Speaking some Japanese, strong motivation.  Experience of similar types of work is welcome!

NICE/LM 11  Showa-mura  (Fukushima)  Jun.-Oct.  ENVI  2 vols.
Host organization is Terakoya-Hojyosha. They run an alternative school where they host kids who could not go to school because of many different reasons. This Showa-mura is a rural village and surrounded by rich nature, but has been facing on serious depopulation, and the number of vacant house and abandoned farms has been increasing rapidly.  So, this group has been trying to restore and animating this area.  They plan and organize nature camp for kids, eco-tour for people living in the city. Also they cultivate abandoned farms and repair abandoned school buildings, they want to develop these activities with volunteers. 
W: Helping local farms, flower farms, planning, preparing, and organizing nature camp, environmental education program for kids. International workcamps will be held in the same place 3 times and you will support to organize and run it. Participating in several local events.
S: Organizing nature activities.  Please bring some information of nature school in your country. 
A: Building in abandoned school.  Cooking with other volunteers by turn.  
L: Showa village, a small village in forest area, the population is about 19,000. There is a hot spring in the village. 
T: Tokyo ( 5 hours from Tokyo by bus)
SR : Speaking some Japanese, strong motivation for the host.  Experience of similar types of work 
is welcome!

NICE/12  Shirakami  (Aomori)  05/22-21/08  ENVI  1 vols. 
Host organization is Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS), founded in 1993. The Shirakami Mountains is a huge area and one of Japanese valuable preserved natural forests consisting primarily of beech trees.  It was registered as a World Natural Heritage in 1993 and SMPS wants to help preserving the natural beauty of the Mountains.  They run a nature center where visitors can learn about Shirakam and its nature and want to develop the center and its program with volunteers.  International workcamps will be also held 4 times (See NICE/33, 35, 43 & 56) there during the program.
W: Preparing and running International workcamps as a workcamp leader.  We’ll do various types of nature conservation works such as cutting glasses and planting trees with the villagers.  We will also have a Kids camp during the workcamp.  Supporting Center’s program and guide for visitors. 
S: Nature school in each country.  Bring some info.!
A: A stuff house.  Cooking with other staffs.
L: The Shirakami Mountains, located in the northern part of Honshu Island, is a huge mountainous area
(130,000 hectares on the border between Aomori and Akita Prefectures). 
T: Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus)
SR: Asian Volunteer only. Speaking Good Japanese and English.  Workcamp experience.  High motivation for environmental works and being camp leader.

Middle term Workcamp
NICE/MWC01  Onuma  (Hokkaido)  20/07-11/10  ENVI  4
Organized together with Onuma Milestone 22, a new local NGO made by President of Fishermen’s 
Cooperative and Director of international exchange association since 04.  Though Onuma lake has been 
a popular tourism spot for a long time because of its beautiful scenery, it has been polluted by over use of 
agricultural chemicals in cattle farming and erosion from abandoned forests with non-native trees.  
President of Cooperative has bought a forest and wants to revive it to original nature with native trees!
W: We will cut alien trees and planting native trees to create better forest around the lake.  As raising 
awareness of locals is important, we will also work along the lake by putting stones, check the 
pollution and making charcoals to purify the water.  Also, volunteers will organize environmental 
activities to involve local people in this lake conservation movement.
S: The future plan of beautiful lakes and sister lakes in the world.  Bring some info of lake conservation!
A: A house near the lake. SB!  CV
L: South of Hokkaido island, in a national park near Hakodate city which is famous for romantic view
  in the night, especially for sweet couples!  
T: Sapporo (3 hours by express train).  From Tokyo, 10 hours by bullet train or 30 hours by ship.
LA: Excursion, exchange parties, home-stay, farming experience, school visit, sports, etc.
SR : Motivation to actively work in the forests and with local people!

* There will be a mid. term workcamp also in Sadhana Forfest (see NICE-SF/55) in India in Aug.-Sep.

Project 4: Weekend Workcamps

 1) What are Weekend Workcamps? 
* Voluntary service program for 1-3 days in centers for social welfare, environmental NGOs, etc.
* In many cases, working in the partner organizations of international workcamps.
* The numbers each time are 5-20 mainly of NICE members though non-members are also welcome!
* Planed and organized by voluntary teams of NICE members in each project

 2) Why are Weekend Workcamps organized ? 
a) To promote continuous and flexible voluntary works to improve the local activities
b) To provide opportunities for volunteers to learn/ enjoy local life and to exchange with people
c) To activate not only hosts, but also local communities especially in depopulated areas
d) To provide stages for members to realize their dreams by planing and organizing easier projects 

 3) Who can apply? 
General qualifications are same as international workcamps (See Page 5).

 4) How can I apply and how much? 
You can apply DIRECTLY to NICE (the project leaders).  There is no application form.
For the program info. and the contact phone or e-mail address of the project leaders,
a) The best way may be to check our web.  But unfortunately we provide info. there only in 
Japanese language, but you can still try to find friends who can read it.  
b) Or if you know any member of NICE, ask her/ him since s/he get it through our monthly newsletter.
c) Otherwise, you can also call NICE office (please avoid e-mails since the info. are a bit complicated 
to explain by writing and updated quite often) especially when you are in Japan. 
* The participation fee is usually 2,000 - 3,000 yen for food and accommodation per one night.
* There is no salary nor pocket money paid.
* Travel cost to/ from the projects have to be paid by volunteers by themselves.
* We usually do NOT provide any insurance except for NICE members.

 5) Where and When needed ? 
* We have projects most of all weekends somewhere all through the year.  
* Majority is held in/ around Tokyo/ Osaka.
* The project is often planned 1-2 months before.
* Many of them are held in the same places and with the same local partners as international
 workcamps.  The followings are just examples;
* We also put the English program info. on our web. though it sometimes cannot be updated quickly…

A) Playing with kids at Koyama orphanage in Tokyo, every month
B) Playing with kids at Kamakura orphanage in Kanagawa, every month
C) Maintaining NICE Forest in Tondabayashi, Osaka, every month
D) Playing with kids at Haruka-Gakuen orphanage in Osaka, every month
E) Protecting sea turtles and wild birds in Hamamatsu,Shizuoka, 3-4 times a year

Project 5: Group Workcamps
- Let's organize together! -

 1) What are Group Workcamps? 
Workcamps organized for specific groups like schools, NGOs, student groups, companies, governments, local communities, etc.
Contents (types of works, places, periods, finance, types/ numbers of volunteers, etc.) just depend on the needs of the groups and hosts.

 2) Why are they organized ? 
There are huge demands to input
workcamp elements (voluntary works and 
collective life) in (mostly, existing) programs in 
the society such as school/ company trips, 
training of new workers, seminars and 
language classes.
We need good training/ preparation
especially for those who were not so motivated
in the beginning, but then why not to improve
those programs by utilizing our know-how and
networks for the better world!  And we can
involve new kinds of people who never apply
alone or have no opportunities where else.
This can also be fund raining project if the
group can use a lot of money for it! 

 3) Who can join/ send/ host? 
Volunteers of the sending or both sides are
recruited as a group (not individually from 
different routes) though there are two cases
that all members of the groups automatically
join and some of the groups do optionally.
Usually, workcamp NGOs in both sides
plan/ organize together and provide each leader.
It is also possible to do by 3 (or more) countries!

 4) How to organize? 
1) Sending org. makes draft plan with a group.
2) Sending org. propose it to hosting org.
3) Hosting org. finds the local partners, modify 
 the plan with them and answer to sending org.
4) Hosting & sending org. make an agreement.

* There can be the other way that hosts plan
 first and then, we try to find the group.

 5) Where and When organized ? 
As above mentioned, just up to agreements
on both sides (hosts and coming groups).
It can be any time & length of a year.
Anywhere if the groups & the hosts like!
We can also host your groups in Japan.

++Examples!
1) 8 days in Apr. since 2002 near Sydney in Australia where 15 students of the vocational 
school worked in the aboriginal community
(organized together with IVP Australia)

2) 6 days in Aug. 2004-06 in the wild bird park 
of Tokyo, Japan with 12 physically challenged 
people from US as a part of their 3 weeks stay
(with Mobility International USA)

3) 4 days in Jul. 2004 in Mongolia where 70 adult  workers from Osaka, Japan worked in the farm and built a house for the orphanage.
(with MCE Mongolia)

4) 7days in Feb. 2008 in Jog Jakarta, Indonesia where 15 youth from the foot ball club organized sports activities for the children
(with IIWC Indonesia)

5) 15 days in Mar. 2008 in Nagakute, Japan where 12 youth from the village of France protected the forest with the local people
(with SJ France)

So, we want to hear from you;
1) Are you interested to do it with us!?
2) Do you have any possible local hosts?
  If so, where, who and what kind of works?
3) Do you have any possible groups to Japan?
  If so, what kind of groups and plans?

    Please don't hesitate to contact to;
Miwa: GW@nice1.gr.jp	

Project 6: Other types of projects

NICE organizes many kinds of other activities mainly by its members!

7-1) Sister School Project 
This is to promote cultural understanding 
and exchange among students internationally.
The project team has visited elementary schools 
in Japan and Bangladesh since 2003 to introduce
each culture/ schools and make gifts to each other.

7-2) Actions against child abuse 
This is one of most serious social problems in
Japan and the team has organized international/ weekend workcamps to help the orphanages, a group of foster families, events of specialized 
NGOs, etc. as well as studying the issue deeply.

7-3) Actions with refugees 
There are very fewer refugees in Japan than  
Europe, but they are treated quite badly, so the 
team organize some events for raising public 
awareness, visit their “prisons”, play football 
games with them, study the issues, etc.

7-4) Organizing school lessons 
A staff runs 3 kinds of classes related to 
voluntary service in one university regularly.  
Another team organize various kinds of programs
(environmental/ cultural education, promoting 
volunteerism, etc.) in elementary schools.

< Promotion to use acrylic sponges >

 6a) Why? 
 Make water environment cleaner by reducing washing soap to be flushed
 Raise awareness on importance to protect nature and promote concrete actions!
 Save cost to buy washing soap/ time to wash dishes/ your health from chemical soaps

 6b) What? 
Step 1. You will make sponges by acryl during the workcamps, seminars, wherever!
Step 2. Then, you will use it to wash dishes without washing soap in the workcamps.
Step 3. Volunteers and local people can keep using and promote it after the projects!
* You need only acryl (you can easily get it from the shop) and stick to make them!

 6c) Achievement 
2003: Started as one of actions for International year of Freshwater
* Over 40 workcamps (about 400 vols. & 1,000 locals) in NICE Japan, IIWC Indonesia, MOVE Malaysia and 
LEG Italy have joined.  12 special workshops have been organized with over 150 participants. 
* In the mountain village of Borneo island of Malaysia where people flush water from their daily life directly to the river, volunteers from Japan made, gave and promoted to use acrylic sponges to the local people who use them now!

* This action was approved as one of two official common actions in NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia) for 2008-09, at its 6th General Assembly in Vietnam on 20-21 January 2008.