Every year, Aid For Japan organises a special Summer Residential Course in Japan. The course offers a chance for English volunteers to directly support the orphans that the charity was set up to help with a series of activities and events.
This year’s Aid For Japan residential study course for Tsunami orphans and our foreign volunteers will be held at Yakushi-ji temple in Nara prefecture, Japan.
The abbott and monks of this historic temple have very kindly offered their wonderful hospitality to our volunteers and orphans. This is a unique chance to see one of Japan’s most famous temples from the inside.
Yakushi-ji Temple was planned by Emperor Tenmu in A.D. 680 and built in A.D. 697 in Asuka with the support of Emperor Jito. When the Japanese capital moved from Asuka to Nara in A.D. 710, this temple was moved to its present site. Visit the temple website for more information : http://www.nara-yakushiji.com
On previous courses, the orphans took part in a wide range of activities including recording a song together, visiting an animal shelter that rescued many of the pets lost in the wake of the 2011 Earthquake and also learning about the many cultural differences between the UK and Japan. The courses have also attracted press interest in Japan. You can read our report about the 2014 course here.
We are looking for volunteers for the 2015 event, but also donations to help with the cost of running the course, particularly to cover the expenses involved in transportation for the orphans as well as the costs of the various activities.
Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer, then download our application form here (PDF format) or as a Word Document. Or you can email Aid For Japan via info@aidofrjapan.co.uk with your details.
Costs from the 2nd–11th August : £1,200 (Including transportation, accommodation, activity including party and food).
Not included: Flight costs and also lunch and dinner from 5th – 11th August.
Please note that all volunteers will need to fund their own flight costs as well as medical expenses and insurance. Volunteers will need to be 18 or over, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
Donations
We welcome all donations to Aid For Japan and donations for the costs of the Summer Residential Course are crucial at this time of year. Please click the image below to submit a donation amount of your choosing and help the orphans in Japan.
ITINERARY
The lecturer of Japanese culture, Akemi Solloway Tanaka, will lead this trip. Please visit Akemi’s web site, www.akemisolloway.com
| 2nd August | 12:00 | Meet at Tokyo station (at Gin no Suzu) Sightseeing in Tokyo with the children. Welcome party dinner. Stay hotel in Tokyo |
| 3rd August | 15:00 | Travel to Yakushi-ji Temple. Gather in the temple for orientation & introductions followed by games. Stay in the temple |
| 4th August | Morning Prayers and meditation with the monks. Assist the monks in their daily tasks. Practice writing sutra. Visit Nara park, world-famous for its friendly deer and historic buildings including the largest wooden building in the world. Visit Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto. After supper, enjoy traditional summer games in the temple. Stay in the temple |
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| 5th August | Depart Nara Stay in the hotel near Hiroshima |
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| 6th August | Hiroshima sightseeing including Atomic bomb museum This is the 70 years anniversary on this date. Stay in the hotel in Osaka |
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| 7th August | Sightseeing in Tokyo Stay in the hotel in Tokyo |
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| 8th August | Tokyo including tea ceremony | |
| 9th August | Tohoku area | |
| 10th August | Tohoku area | |
| 11th August | Departure (everybody makes their own way) |