Japan Osaka Area Volunteer Program

Japan has been dedicating itself to traditional cultural protection and environmental protection for a long time. They have a forest coverage rate of 68% which ranks the first place among developed countries benefiting from their long-term afforestation projects. However, a large area of planted forests got abandoned due to the massive use of cheaper imported wood. The government and NGOs need our help to save Japanese ecology – so far the world’s ecology.

The work camp is organized together with the environmental NGOs in Osaka and its local partners. Most of the members are locals aged 40-60, so worldwide fresh young blood is welcome and highly expected to active both physically and mentally.

By participating in this program, you can:

Get close to nature & wide life, and flee from the crowded city

Endless assignments, stressful work, crowded traffic and noisy environment, are these all you want? Have you ever stopped the step, had a meditation and got relaxed? Do you still remember the smell of the forest, the earth and the fields? Come to Satoyama before getting drown in the city filled with steel and concrete. You will get an irreplaceable natural world with the purest and sincerest emotion, the prise and love for nature, a harmonious relationship with nature and respects of spirits and gods.

Make new friends and gain cultural awareness

The program provides the perfect opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions. You will experience a completely different way of life first-hand, as you live in the heart of one of the most fascinating cultures and work with people around the world. You will also build international connections and make lifelong friends. And end the tour with a renewed outlook and richer knowledge of people and places that you might never get to know before your trip.

Improvement of comprehensive abilities

Step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and start a new adventure! Your volunteer experiences will be enriched and competitiveness will be highly enhanced. This is a great chance to add another shining point into your resume. Being confidence, independent, courageous and resolute, firm and persistent – these are qualities modern enterprises exactly want!

What is in the activity?

Cutting down trees (thinning out the forest)

Our ancestors had used the forest by the trees to make fuel, charcoal, timber and so on. Now the forests are dying since being abandoned for so long. Once the ecology of forests is maintained by the people, they cannot live without people’s hands. Thinning out the forests is very important for the whole forest to grow in good a condition.

Cutting weeds

As stated above, the forests have been neglected so long. As a result, paths are covered by the grass, and it is difficult to walk. The vines are twined around the trees, most of those are dying. In order to improve this situation, cutting the grass is very important.

Maintaining the bamboo forest

In recent years, bamboos have been spreading and invading the abandoned forest area. This results in the unbalance of the ecosystem and the original Japanese forest landscape can be eventually lost, so cutting down bamboos and maintaining forest is necessary.

What is the schedule?

2019 · 里山

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