NICE is an international volunteer NGO that organizes workcamps in Japan and abroad. A workcamp is a residential-style volunteer project in which participants live together with friends from around the world and local residents, working for the benefit of the community. NICE was formed in 1990 by seven people with overseas workcamp experience.
Its programs include short-term workcamps in rural areas of Japan and overseas, volunteering for a month or longer, and weekend workcamps held in various parts of Japan. It also offers international online workcamps that can be joined from home, as well as programs for corporate employee volunteering and university human-resource development.
Its website reports that over 34 years it has organized 6,647 projects with 84,801 participants. NICE is a member of the UN-affiliated Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) and the Asian network NVDA, and exchanges volunteers with organizations around the world.
Key points
- Choose from volunteer projects in fields such as environment, agriculture, development, culture, education and welfare
- A wide range of styles, from overseas and domestic to online, with guidance for first-time participants
- Member of international networks such as CCIVS and NVDA, working with organizations worldwide
Why this organization's work stands out
NICE treats volunteers neither as guests nor as mere labor, but as members of the community. Living together with local people and international friends can broaden perspectives and build initiative.
Programs can be chosen by period, region and field, from students to working adults, so it is an approachable place to take a first step into international cooperation. There are also ways for companies and schools to collaborate.
Editor's comment
It is appealing that you can get involved in a way that suits you, whether starting with a weekend or heading overseas on your next break. Working side by side with friends from around the world is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Current programs and how to join are introduced on the official website. Please take a look.