Activate attractive Hakodate town and revive the beautiful lake as 100 years ago through our small, but valuable step by forest maintenance and cleaning up!

Hakodate & Onuma(Hokkaido) / More than 1 month from Apr. 1 to Oct. 31

Volunteer information
Code NICE-LW-ON21
Project name Hakodate & Onuma
Location Hokkaido
Periond More than 1 month from Apr. 1 to Oct. 31
Type Environment/Agriculture
Capacity Max. 2 volunteers (Only women)
Background This project is actively working for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDGs 15 (Life on Land), organized together with Onuma Milestone 22 (a local NGO) and newly with Hokkaido International Foundation (HIF) since 2004. Though Onuma lake has been a popular tourism spot for a long time because of its beautiful scenery, it has been polluted by cattle farming and erosion from abandoned forests. Workcamps have made great impact to purify the lake, to protect the shores of small islands in the lake, etc. Hakodate is one of the best branding places in Japan, but facing to the rapid depopulatin due to lack of employment. As Onuma project has achieved its goal to some extent and Hakodate needs fresh voluntary power, we will work in both places from this year!
Outcome In 2019, 5 mid term and 13 short term vols. from 8 countries made great contribution with the local people to cut glasses, to remove the alien clay fish, to clean up the shores and to activate the festivals! Please see the long term goal of this project as "Local SDGs" at https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/n2-68394244 (only Japanese for the moment, but you can at least enjoy the pictures!)
Work Volunteers will mainly stay and work in Hakodate to help environmental protection, farming, international exchange programs, educational activities with kids, etc. Volunteers will sometimes work in Onuma to maintain the forests with the staff of National Forest Agency by cutting alien trees, renovating the trails, etc., to clean up the area, to help farming, to help and join the festivals late Jul. and mid. Sep.
Location South of Hokkaido islands. Hakodate is a famous touristic place with very beautiful night view. Onuma is specified as the national park and surrounded by the beautiful nature which main industry is tourism, cattle farming and fishing.
Accommodation Rental house named "Workcamp House" in Hakodate city. Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns (Vegetarian meals are possible if they cook by themselves). Sleeping bag is necessary. Smoking is not possible. Wi-Fi is available.
Map
Recruitment information
Other activities Excursion, exchange parties, local events, farming experience, school visit, sports, etc. Sightseeing, short trips (hot springs, famous places here).
Other As of 2020 Nov., it seems impossible to host the vols. from abroad. NICE and the local host will make decision to organize or cancel the project around 1 month before each start though the project can be cancelled even after that depending on the situation of COVID-19. NICE cannot compensate any damage on volunteers by this and strongly recommend them to book the flights as late as possible. There are some possibilities to have a few short term workcamps during the project and the mid term vols. are expected to support to organize them.
Requirement Japanese speaking skill is not necessary, but high motivation to learn and speak Japanese language is needed. Interests in environmental issues and local activation. Respect for the local culture and way of the local organization! Open mind and cooperation with others.