This project is actively working for SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with Ohara Eco Project (OEP) since 2009. There were 600 inhabitants in Ohara village with 90 houses 100 years ago, but now no inhabitant! OEP was founded in 2006 and has rehabilitated 7 houses of cultural heritage. They maintain and revive the trails and fields, organize the workcamps with NICE and run various eco tours, so got the best prize of Creating Home Town by the national government in 2016! The family B13workcamp started since 2013 (President of NICE keeps joining as a leader with his kids) and hosted a lot of families from Japan, Asia, Europe and Americas with great success.
*Outcome of this workcamp: In 2025, 10 vols. from 3 families greatly contributed to weed in the tea field, cleaned the village road, etc. See the presentation made by the volunteer for the IVS contest in Japan; https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/e5-55193721 (only in Japanese though).

This project is actively working for SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with a local NGO for community development named KOBOSHA since 1996. Volunteers will join the summer festival called TORO NAGASHI that is a memorial service for ancestors by making lanterns named TORO and floating them down a river. Volunteers will make large TORO (2 x 2 meters) for the festival in this workcamp. Project aims to mobilize the local community with workcampers. Through this workcamp, the local community will be much more activated, redeveloping pride for their community!

This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), organized together with Kyodo Gakusha since 1998, a cooperative community where people with various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, people who are tired of city life, who wants to learn farming, just want to live in the nature, etc. They have 5 communities in Tokyo, Nagano and Hokkaido and grow animals and vegetables in ecological, organic way with utilizing bacterium and charcoal. Shintoku farm has 60 ha of land and 60 inhabitants including kids. Their cheese got the 1st prize in the global contest!
*Outcome of this workcamp: The workcamps have greatly shared the spirit of the community and also do some that is hardly done by their daily work such as construction of sheep farm, irrigation ditch, etc. In 2025, 4 STVs and 2 MTVs from 4 countries helped to harvest the vegetables, run the cafe, etc. and had a wonderful exchange in the school visit. Please see the long term goal of this project as Local SDGs at https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/n0-68540773 (only Japanese for the moment, but you can at least enjoy the pictures!)

This project is actively working for SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), organized together with NPO WHITE CANVAS since 2024, a Non Profit Organization to empower mentally challenged people through the power of art. It was established by Kyoko who was a very active members of NICE with a lot of workcamp experiences in Togo, etc. and the company who had been working with her. Then more members joined when the workshop was about to open. They organize the workshop TIME WARP that is a workplace for adults with special needs for weaving, pottery, small garden and embroidery work. They all love art and craft, having big interests on humans. They don't stick in specific philosophies, but anthroposophy is one of their guides. They work and study together with a certified anthroposophical doctor, nurse, curative pedagogists and Extra Lesson practitioners.
*Outcome of this workcamp: In 2025, 2 MTVs and 3 STVs from 3 countries greatly contributed to cut the glasses, friendly exchange with the challenged people and assist the activities/ events!

This project is actively working for SDG4 (Quality Education) and SDGS15 (Life on Land), newly organized together with Tomoiki, a local NPO to conserve the satoyama forest. In spite of the close location from the big cities such as Yokohama and Tokyo, around 50% of the land are still preserved as green area (forests and fields) in Okagami where the building constructions are strictly restricted. However, 2 hectare of the forest was abandon with a lot of rubbish (e.g., washing machines, cars), so Tomoiki was founded in 2003 by some local people to clean up, maintain, revive and utilize to enjoy this forest where there are some valuable, endangered species. Founding President of NICE moved to this town and started weekend workcamps by the local team since 2017 since Tomoiki wished to work with more young and outside volunteers. Over 600 volunteers many of who are students or families in/outside the town have joined in 22 weekend workcamps till now with creating a lot of great impact. To create new impact for the forest maintenance beyond weekend ones and involvement of the local community, the local team has decided to organize this first international workcamp!

This project is actively working for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), newly organized together with the local group, “Hiwasa tourist volunteer association”. The Hiwasa Hachiman Shrine Festival, held since the ancient times, is a celebration for prayers of abundant catch, good harvests, maritime safety, and the prosperity of the five grains. During the festival, eight Chosa (taiko drum stand) parade through the Hiwasa area. The climax of the festival is when participants carry the Chosa and enter the sea. Although it is a historic festival, there has been a shortage of young people to carry the Chosa due to the region's declining population. The goal is for young people from around the world and Japan to learn about the Hiwasa festival, help preserve its culture and promote its charm. Former NICE volunteers have moved to the area as part of the regional revitalization program and plan to host this first international workcamp to energize the community.

This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), organized together with Kyodo Gakusha (since 2000 here), a cooperative community where people with various backgrounds such as mentally disadvantaged, people who are tired of city life, who want to learn farming, who want to live in the nature, etc. They have 5 communities in Japan incl. Maki and grow animals and vegetables in an ecological, organic way. Maki is located in a very isolated area (not accessible for cars and we have to walk 4 km in the mountains!), so it once became an abandon village in 1970s and then, was revived by Kyodo Gakusha. Over 10 people were living till several years ago, but less and less in these years (almost nobody in the winter), so vols. are needed even more!
*Outcome of this project: In 2025, we had 20 STVs for 4 short term workcamps and 3 LMTVs from 9 countries who greatly contributed to their protecting the houses, farming and caring animals that was difficult to finish by the time they needed without volunteers! See the long-term goal of this project as Local SDGs made by the previous project leader at https://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/2019-ep3-188767935 (only in Japanese, sorry, but you can still enjoy the pictures!)

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. Known as a town along the Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage route, this village welcomes pilgrims who pass through on their way to Kakurin-ji Temple, the 20th of the 88 temples. However, due to depopulation and an aging society, the number of sudachi farmers has been decreasing, and passing on local traditions and resources has become a challenge. The host, originally from Oi, returned to his hometown and hopes that by gathering international volunteers through sudachi farming, they can help create a more attractive rural lifestyle. They also organize events to promote international understanding for children who have few opportunities to experience different cultures.