Description: This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with the local group since 2019. This village has been welcoming "Ohenro (pilgrims)" who visit 88 temples in Shikoku since long time ago. The pilgrims walk through this village before visiting "Kakurin-ji temple"; the 20th temple out of 88 temples of the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage. However, there are problems which should be solved such as aging and depopulation of the community these days, and locals haven't been able to find solutions for those problems. On the other hand, since more and more people from overseas visit for the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage locals are trying to find new ways for "omotenashi (hospitality)".

Type of Work: 1)Supporting the harvesting and shipping during the peak season of Shikimi (Illicium anisatum) 2)International exchange with the few local children. 3)Cleaning vacant houses, removing furniture, trimming abandoned forest cedar and cypress trees, and picking up plastic waste from rivers and oceans. 4)Activities to support English signage at various locations for foreign pilgrims.

Study Theme: Finding ways for sustainability of a depopulated village, Pass down the "osettai" culture to the next generation, Helping senior citizens to host foreigners. Other activities: Visiting Kakurin-ji temple. Ooi workcamp Instagram: @Ooi_workcamp

Accommodation: Home staying at local farmhouses. All meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeping bag is NOT necessary.

Language: English (Japanese is also welcomed!)

Requirements: Positive attitude, a willingness to work hard and communicate with local people!

Approximate Location: Oi-cho, Anan city, Tokushima pref.

Notes: Volunteers who have been working on the project have come up with ideas for the reuse of vacant and abandoned land. Local host Oi have finally decided that they can freely renovate and modify the vacant houses. Moreover, the site is in a good location, with mountains, a river and fields. It is up to the volunteers from now on to decide how to develop the project. The aim is for the volunteer members to clean up the abandoned houses and village landscape and transform it into a village that people will want to visit to take photos, as it used to be a village where people came and went since ancient times.

Camp Photographs