Volunteers: 2 (female only)
Age: over 18
Language: English / Japanese
Host Organization: Kunimi-En
Airport: Narita International Airport
Terminal: JR Kajikasawa Station
Background:
Kunimi-En is a school and home for mentally challenged people, and was founded in 1996 as "A big home where everyone cares for everyone". The main aim of this school is to provide mentally handicapped people with a comfortable living space, treating them as individuals with dignity, so that they feel at home and enjoy their lives while they stay. All staff are trying to focus on not only to enrich the services they are providing but also to introduce their welfare programs and activities to the local people. There are approximately 40 people staying and 24 staff.
Kunimi-En calles the week as “International Exchange Week” when they have volunteers, and conduct a special program during the week.
Work:
Volunteers will help people (from 25 to 75 years old) with both indoor and outdoor activities such as farm work, hand craft, art, Sado (Japanese tea ceremony). Volunteers will be asked to help those people with their daily routines such as cleaning. Also, work can be replaceable if you have alternative. Please tell us your preference in advance.
Accommodation:
Volunteers will be accommodated in a Ryokan （Japanese style hotel) near Kunimi-En.
Facilities:
Bedding will be provided. There are a washer, a lavatory and a shower room. Internet access and international phone are available at the facility. A small shop is near the accommodation.
Meals:
Volunteers will have lunch and dinner with the people at Kunimi-En but need to buy breakfast on your own.
What to bring:
Volunteers need to bring work clothes (short sleeved T shirts, polo shirts, long pants and sneakers). No skirt/shirt pants are allowed.
Note:
There will be an even to introduce your country (Food, books, CD, maps) in Sep 3rd. Please prepare for this event. You can put the date in USB, please bring it with you.
Basic Japanese skill would be very helpful to enjoy this project. Better bring a Japanese dictionary if you happen to have one! It will be so helpful for a better understanding of people and other matters.
Location:
Kunimi-En is about half an hour by train from Kofu city in Yamanashi prefecture. You can see Mt. Fuji, the highest and most sacred mountain in Japan, with the Japan South Alps as background. The place is also famous for a rapid Fuji river, and those landscapes are depicted in famous Japanese printing "Ukiyoe" by Katsushika Hokusai (1760～1849). Also, Pacific Ocean is only 1.5 hours’ drive away.
Remarks:
Volunteers who learned about welfare or social security are welcome. Volunteers need to understand about developmentally handicapped people (25 – 75 years old, autism disorder, down syndrome etc) and to have knowledge of basic nursing care. Volunteers who are allergic to cat are not acceptable.