Oi 28 | NICE-24V-0714A | 2024-07-14 - 2024-07-19 | AGRI,CULT | Age: 18 - 99

This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with the local group since 2019. This village has been welcoming ohenro (pilgrims) who visit 88 temples in Shikoku since long time ago. The pilgrims walk through this village before visiting Kakurin-ji temple; the 20th temple out of 88 temples of the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage. However, there are problems which should be solved such as aging and depopulation of the community these days, and locals haven t been able to find solutions for those problems. On the other hand, since more and more people from overseas visit for the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage locals are trying to find new ways for omotenashi (hospitality). Volunteers who have been working on the project have come up with ideas for the reuse of vacant and abandoned land. Local host Oi have finally decided that they can freely renovate and modify the vacant houses. Moreover, the site is in a good location, with mountains, a river and fields. It is up to the volunteers from now on to decide how to develop the project. The aim is for the volunteer members to clean up the abandoned houses and village landscape and transform it into a village that people will want to visit to take photos, as it used to be a village where people came and went since ancient times.

Work: 1. Support harvesting and shipping Sudachi citrus at its season 2. Support harvesting and shipping Shikimi (Japanese star anise) 3. Help making brochures or signs for pilgrims from overseas throughout the village. 4. Cleaning up vacant houses, etc.

Accomodation and food: Home staying at local farmhouses. All meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeping bag is NOT necessary.

Location: Tokushima

Location and Leisure: Oi-cho, Anan city, Tokushima prefecture.

Airport: KIX

Train/Bus station: The nearest int l airport is Kansai (Osaka). From Osaka to the meeting point in Tokushima, it takes 3 hours by highway bus. Volunteers are recommended to arrive there one day before workcamp starts since the bus leaves early. Volunteers need to take local train from the meeting point to the campsite about 2.5 hours. Volunteers need to arrive at the meeting point by 13:00 on 1st day and can leave there after 13:00 on last day.

Requirements: Positive attitude, a willingness to work hard and communicate with local people! 9,000 JPY (60 USD by the rate on 2024 Feb. 16th) of NICE Volunteers fee need to be paid in advance either by Card or PayPal. This is used for the project preparation/ coordination such as the transportation of the camp leaders while the meals and the accommodation are provided by the local host by free.

Tokushima station

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 9000 JPY

Study theme: Finding ways for sustainability of a depopulated village, Pass down the osettai culture to the next generation, Helping senior citizens to host foreigners Other activities: Welcome party by locals, visiting Kakurin-ji temple. Other: Video about Kakurin-ji temple https://youtu.be/V2vX5Ik4ASM