Yoichi | NICE-24L-YC03 | 2024-01-27 - 2024-03-10 | ENVI,MANU | Age: 18 - 99

This project is actively working for SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDGS15 (Life on Land), organized together with Hokkaido Eco-village Promotion Project (HEPP) since 2015. They started to promote sustainability of our lifestyle and community, to create better environmental and social model for next generation in Hokkaido since 2012. They want to produce necessities that are needed for our daily life (foods, energy, etc.) by themselves as much as they can, and want to share them to the local area. They provide various chances to learn comprehensive skill and knowledge about sustainable development by organizing training programs and events for the local adults and kids. They also aim at connecting urban area and rural area, producers and consumers and to contribute local revitalization. They restarted to welcome the international volunteers from 2022 summer and 2 vols. from UK did nice job for one month! *Outcome of this project: In 2023, 6 mid term vols. from UK greatly contributed for one month to their farming and other activities as well as the mental empowerment of the host!

Work: Volunteers will work for 20-30 hours a week mainly to 1) Clear the snow and maintain the facilities, 2) Assist to host the school journeys, international tourist groups and the events, 3) Guide the visitors of the guest house and communicate with the local people and 4) Help food production such as miso, picles and wine.

Accomodation and food: Single room of HEPP. Cooking with the local and members by turn, vegetarian food is possible. There is limited wifi.

Location: Hokkaido

Location and Leisure: Located next to the city of Otaru, Yoichi is a place where one can fully enjoy Hokkaido tourism, from history and nature tourism to fruit fields and fresh seafood. There is the famous Nikka Whiskey factory. Joining the local festivals, exchange with local people, short trip (hot springs, famous places)

Train/Bus station: The nearest airport is New Chitose (CTS) in Hokkaido from which it takes 2 hours to the project by train and bus. However, volunteers need to join On Arrival (in Yokohama for YC01, 02 and Osaka for YC03) and Evaluation Seminars (in Yokohama for YC02, 03 and Osaka for YC01), so firstly should arrive at/ leave NRT or HND if the seminar is in Yokohama and KIX if it is in Osaka, by 08:00 on the starting day and can leave there after 18:00 on the ending day.

Requirements: Motivation letter is needed. Good level of speaking for the daily conversations of English or Japanese is needed. Skills of driving a car (valid in Japan), maintenance of the agricultural machines, experience of work in the tourism/ hotels are not needed, but useful! Having work experience is desirable. Strong physical health, open mind to actively exchange with others, good cooking skills, PC skills and loving team work/ collective life are also welcomed!

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 36000 JPY

Theory and various practices of the sustainable living style