Ozuchi 4

CODE: NICE-25S-0904A

Work:

We will do various work to activate the area and success their culture. Main work are 1. Maintaining/ harvesting rice and vegetables’ fields for sustainable life and 2. Communicating with local people. And do some other work for the community.

Accomodation and food

Renovated house (traditional house!). Simple shower room. Clean toilet. Sleeping bag is needed! Food will be cooked by volunteers. There is a cat. Wi-Fi is available at the base facility. Mountain life!

Location and leisure

Location: The southwest part of Ishikawa prefecture. Ozuchi village is surrounded by mountains, so very isolated, but beautiful place. Charcoal making was main industry. Leisure: Exchange meetings with local people, trekking, hot springs, river activities, fireworks, etc.

Project hosted by

This project is actively working on SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG4 (Quality Education), and has been working with Ozuchi Village since 2013. Ozuchi Village was established by local people to preserve the original landscape. In 1916, there were 140 residents and 20 houses, but now only one person lives there. Fortunately, 10 houses remain and the village is designated as a national important traditional buildings preservation district. The village retains the landscape and lifestyle of old Japan that is no longer in existence. In order to preserve this place and culture, we are trying to improve the situation with the power of young volunteers. Since 2016, Ozuchi Village and NICE have started a monthly weekend work camp, and more than 300 volunteers visit the village every year, fall in love with the village, and participate as repeat visitors or support the village in whatever way they can! The local hosts hope to pass this village on to the next generation!*Results of this work camp: The village was abandoned, but one of the former villagers maintained the rice terraces and landscape. However, the work camp gave him such strength that he started living there again in 2018!

Directions to meeting point

Additional comments

Study theme: Revival of the abandon villages. Bring some info.! Volunteers get knowledge about actions for developing local village. Also the basic knowledge of the Japanese language and local culture. Participation fee: 9,000 JPY (59 USD by the rate on 2024 April 19th) 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 (so, your fee is not used for your meals and accommodation!). Other: Please see the presentation made by the volunteer for the IVS contest in Japan; https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/2017e2 (only Japanese for the moment, but you can at least enjoy the pictures!)