NICE Volunteering Orange Farming in Ikata, Japan
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Getting Started The Backstory Kikuya Community Group is a newly organized, international workcamp with a local group, which local people formed to think of the future of their small village. Ikata town is famous for oranges, which are the main industry there. But the town has been facing depopulation and a lack of workers since most of young people leave the town. The number of abandoned orange farms is increasing and the town is losing its traditions and customs. They want to work with volunteers to reanimate the town and revive the orange farms. Some volunteer have already come to this town to join long term volunteers. By working you will help orange farms in the community. They make healthy
oranges without using agricultural chemicals and it is also good for the environment. They need a lot of hands to preserve the orange farms. We would like the local young people to rediscover the goodness of Ikata and know the importance of developing the village.
Ikata Ikata is located on Sada peninsula, in the western part of Ehime. Due to a loss in population, its three towns of Ikata / Seto / Misaki became one town on April 1, 2005. In the southern part of Ikata, one can see the calm sea with white sand, and in the north, saw-toothed coastline, full of nature, history and smiles. You may be 1
surprised at the beauty of the nature or the sweetness of the oranges. The average high temperature in March is 55°F with an average low of 40°F, so one needs to take care in the cold.
Why They Need Your Help Loss in Profits Farmers producing oranges here were hit hard by the huge drop in orange prices in 1987, when the average annual net income fell by 64 percent. Although the production readjustment scheme brought about a production drop from 3.6 million tons in 1979 to approximately 2.5 million tons in 1987, the pace of the cut-backs has not been fast enough to keep up with the decline in consumption. According to a survey of household finances by the prime minister’s office, per capita consumption of oranges, which amounted to 20 kilograms in 1975, dropped to 14.5 kilograms in 1980, and to 9.6 kilograms, or less than half the 1975 2
figure, in 1985. Prices have consequently declined, often dropping precipitously. In contrast, imported citrus has steadily increased: from 234,000 tons in 1975 to 308,000 tons in 1980, 347,000 tons in 1985, and 460,000 tons in 1987. Exotic fruits, as well, have been imported in ever-growing amounts due to the high yen. This veritable flood of imported fruit is having a devastating effect on Japan’s fruit growers.
Depopulation With the loss in profitability, and more opportunities in urban areas, many young people, and even whole families, are abandoning their farms. This puts increased pressure on the remaining farmers as they attempt to utilize the area’s farmland to its greatest potential. The area still depends almost entirely on traditional, labor intensive farming methods, due in part to the mountainous landscape, which cannot support large farm equipment. Thus a large quantity of
manual labor is required to maintain the fields and harvest the oranges within the optimal time frame. Local governments and farming coalitions have now contacted organizations such as NICE to help find volunteers.
to organize work camps, to edit and send newsletters, to make promotion videos, and to support Nepal, etc. The General Assembly/ Executive Committee of NICE is held six times each year.
NICE
We are completely independent from any political, religious, economic power. NICE has one of the highest number of partners NGOs in the world; President of CCIVS (Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service) President of NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia) The only Japanese member of ALLIANCE of European Voluntary Service Organizations Exchange Partner of SCI (Service Civil International) and YAP (Youth Action for Peace). We also cooperate with a lot of local governments, NGO/NPOs, media, foundations and people.
NICE (Never-ending International workCamps Exchange) was founded on 4th February in 1990 by 7 young people who had participated in work camps abroad. In September 1990, the first international work camp in Japan was held at the foot of the Mt. Fuji. The organisation has been developing rapidly, with a huge need of projects and motivations of people.
Members & Partners NICE has 1,084 full time members (74% female, 73% students), 1,500 GFP, and has helped over 10,000 local people. It’s run by 7-8 full time, and 10-15 other voluntary staffs, together with many active members
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Getting Involved The Program Aims To create, develop and revive an ecological, self sufficient and warm-hearted civilization. With fresh ideas and mobility, as a youth NPO, we desire to create change in a world with too much competition and expansion into a more healthy one for both nature, the environment, and people.
To encourage activities of NGO/NPOs and revitalisation of local communities We create opportunities to start new action projects, and activities by involving many locals. We make bridges between isolated NPOs and local people, and invite youth to depopulated areas.
To promote global friendships, understanding and solidarity We build a natural exchange between world youth and local people through living, working, talking and laughing together. They can improve global views, sensitivity to language and planning skills.
The Work The harvest season, between mid-January and early May is the time when the farmers need the most help. Those working during group work camps will most likely be working during this time. Single, mid-to-long term volunteers may be asked to help any time of year. 5
During each day of work, the group of volunteers splits into smaller groups of two to three people, each spending the day with a different farmer. Each farmer chooses the work that their volunteers will do each day, though typically the farmers will have their volunteers doing similar tasks.
Field Work Much of the work is weather dependant. Because of the large quantity of oranges that need to be harvested, fair weather days will be spent working in the orange fields, cutting the oranges off the trees. Oranges are collected in large plastic crates and then brought down the mountain to the trucks on the main road via a mini-monorail. 6
The farmers will select one person, usually male, to run these crates from the trees to the monorail each day. This job is a lot more physically demanding and requires at least a basic knowledge of Japanese because it requires following various, specific instructions from the farmers. However, many prefer this work because it is more varied than clipping oranges from the trees.
Indoor Work On rainy days, or when there is a backup of oranges in the warehouse, the farmers will have the volunteers do various tasks involved in preparing the oranges for distribution. Bagging:When oranges become rotten, direct contact with other oranges quickly spreads the mold spores to the surrounding oranges. To prevent this, the volunteers are asked to place oranges into individual plastic bags before they are sent for distribution in stores and markets.
Sorting:Each orange must be inspected by hand for optimal quality. Those oranges that don’t meet retail standards of size and appearance are separated and made into orange juice. Weighing:All the crates must be weighed to ensure that oranges are properly accounted for at distribution plants. This guarantees that both the farmers and distributors are getting a fair price for the oranges.
Transportation: Volunteers may be asked to accompany the farmers in trips to the nearby distribution plant where they will assist in loading and unloading crates from the farmers’ trucks. This usually occurs once a week, but more frequently near the end of the month.
Accomodations Volunteers stay in a house named Kikuya. This is an abandoned house,
but the owner gave it to the local people to be used for the community. The local people repaired it and started to use it for the volunteers’ home.There are not any rules in this accommodation except that which is based on each responsibility.
Ways to Participate Group Workcamp This is voluntary service for 1-3 weeks. Groups will consist of 10-15 people. About half the volunteers will be from the Japan, with the rest coming from around the world. English will be the main language spoken at the workcamp, though a basic knowledge of Japanese would be useful, but certainly not required. Groups will live together in the Kikuya house for the duration of the work camp. Together participants will help farmers in various activities. Volunteers will also be expected to cook for one another in small groups each day, so come prepared with
recipes that you can cook. The group leader will provide the food necessary through occasional trips to a nearby store. The group will also visit the local school to help foster excitement about global issues.
LAMP (Long And Middle term voluntary Program) This is voluntary service for 2-12 months, done on an individual basis. However, sometimes volunteers’ work time may overlap with another LAMP volunteer or a group work camp. Basic to moderate Japanese is necessary for LAMP volunteers, as they are working with farmers individually, who speak little to no English. Volunteers help with their
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daily activities and also preparation for upcoming group work camps. Volunteers need be more responsible, cooperative, flexible, adaptable and, patient to stay for much longer periods in a different culture and life style and with unfamiliar people.
General Qualifications Age: 18+ Language: English (Japanese is not necessary, but we welcome your trying!) Insurance: We provide small insurance only for accidents during work camps in Japan. Motivation for the voluntary work (special good skills and power are not necessary). Efforts to understand and respect cultures of the hosts and volunteers. An open mind to make friends and trying to speak English and the local language 8
To adapt and enjoy simple conditions of the living such as food and accommodation
Cost Volunteers only pay a fee to their facilitating organization, such as Volunteers for Peace, which charges just $300. No supplementary fee to NICE is required. However, volunteers are expected to pay for their own transportation to and from Japan, as well as any recreational spending volunteers plan on doing while in Japan.
Applying Volunteers living outside Japan, have to apply not directly through us, but through our partner Workcamp NGOs of their countries. For more information see page 12.
Surrounding Area Mitsukue Bay & WWII Memorial Because Mitsukue Bay is held to be shaped like Pearl Harbor, in 1939 this was made a training site for the Special Submarine Forces. Lieutenant Iwasa and 8 other men who participated in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor trained here. In honor of the peace that these 9 men had longed for, a monument was erected in a corner of Suka Park in 1966.
Seto Agricultural Park This is one of the major landmarks on the windy Melody Line highway. Under the 44 m (144 ft) high, 28m (92 ft) diameter spinning blades of Ikata’s jumbo windmills, the Agricultural Park sells local produce and promotes local interests through its “Seto Agricultural Growth Center.” The Gelateria DanDan and Sunday
Market DanDan sell sherbert made from local produce, as well as fresh vegetables and citrus fruits. Other attractions include the Windmill Restaurant, and a memorial to famed explorer Hyõichi Kõno, who died attempting to walk from the North Pole back to Ikata.
Sadamisaki Lighthouse Part of the Seto Sea National Park, this chalk-colored lighthouse stands at the tip of Sadamisaki, Japan’s longest peninsula. On clear days you can see all the way to Kyushu on the other side of the Hõyo Strait. A walking path lined with ancient trees takes you all the way to the Sadamisaki Lighthouse. It’s nice and cool here in the summer, and the autumn leaves are a sight to behold. Near the Sadamisaki Lighthouse one can find a campground and ocean swimming area.
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Misaki Hachiman Shrine (Towndesignated Cultural Heritage Site) It is thought that this shrine was built in the year 860, but the actual date is not known. It is said that when its ancient torii arch toppled over during an earthquake, it was rebuilt with the one pillar that remained standing. Until the Meiji Restoration, this shrine was held to be dedicated to the god Hachiman, who protected the 15 bays in the Misaki area. It was then changed to a more general god of protection.
Natori Stone Wall The Natori neighborhood sits upon a slope overlooking the Uwa Sea at a height of 100–150 m (330–490 ft). It is said that the settlement was formed when Hidemune Date moved from Sendai (then part of the Õshu region) to establish the Uwajima clan in Shikoku. He brought with him men from Natori Village in Õshu to be soldiers, placing them in their current location so that they could guard the Uwa Sea approach. An interesting characteristic of the Natori stone walls is the variety of stones, from bluestone to limestone, used in its construction. Also, perhaps because the ground is unstable, the method of stacking the stones is also quite unique, varying from field stacking to flat stacking, arrowfeather stacking, and so on. As a result, the wall has become a symbol for the rich and varied culture of the area.
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Other NICE Projects Green Foster Parents(for forests protection) This is one of the biggest activities in Greening Asia (common action to protect forests) by NVDA (Network for Voluntary Development in Asia). Aims • Green Japanese forests by reviving native trees • Green Asian forests through the partnership with Asian NGOs of international voluntary projects • Green people’s mind by asking them to grow the seedlings
NGOs in Asia are NVDA members who are used to plant trees and capable to maintain them.
Social Actions (for disadvantaged kids and refugees) Stop Child Abuse! (by Happy Kids team of NICE) Orphanage Activities In 99, international volunteers collected the seeds from Tanzawa mountains where more native trees are needed and asked 1,300 parents to grow them in their houses, companies, schools, etc. for two years. Till now we have planted over 300 trees they have grown and taken care of. We will re-start this project with different seeds this year.
Greening Asia Fund This Fund consists of donations, support from sponsoring foundations, and fund raising. We have collected about US$ 4,000. It has been used partly at planting tree workcamps in Fiji and Mongolia since 2002. Partner
We organize weekend work camps at Kamakura Children Home almost every month, including organizing a summer camp for those who cannot go back home during holidays, helping their events by making rice cake, a Chirstmas party, bon-dancing, etc.
NICE has organized special events to raise public awareness and promote cooperation among related NGOs. The first one, named “Smile Festa,” was successfully held in Nov. 2004 in Osaka! We have also distributed 4,000 special bookmarks with some information about this issue to the people in Tokyo. We have a monthly meeting to study the situation including the reports of the members who have visited the specialists of this issue and also to plan the further actions of the team.
Refgee Action This is a new, specialized project of NICE since February, 2003! We meet with the refugees who are waiting to be formally registered as refugees by the Japanese government and have been forced to stay in the “jails” with foreign criminals, both in Osaka and Ibaraki.
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How to Apply All applicants need to send application forms with motivation letters and personal histories through our partner organizations in their countries. You also need to call the NICE office (and, if needed, also host organization) for the interview, to ask and confirm some points. Time will be appointed by NICE.
Contact Information NICE (Never-ending International work Camps Exchange)Office Office Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-12:30/ 13:3018:00 Phone: 03-3358-7140 (from Japan) 0081-3-3358-7149 (from abroad) E-Mail: in@nice1.gr.jp
• Food and accommodation are provided by the hosts
Address: 2-1-14-401 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022 JAPAN
• There is no salary, but in some cases, some pocket money is provided by the hosts
Fax: 81-3-3358-7149
• Travel cost to / from the projects have to be paid by volunteers by themselves. If you have any questions, please email them to: LM@nice1.gr.jp
Web site: http://nice1.gr.jp General matters: nice@nice1.gr.jp (Kai = KAIZAWA Shinichiro, President) Incoming placement: in@ nice1.gr.jp (Eiji = UEDA Eiji) Outgoing placement: out@nice1.gr.jp (Haruka = TOYONAGA Haruka)
Kikuya Accommodation Address Address: 7, Ikatacho-hiraiso, nishiuwagun, Ehime, JAPAN TEL: 0894-54-0703 (From abroad, 0081-89454-0703)
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Visit us Online at: http:/nice1.gr.jp