Description

Our dedicated volunteers support the training of our participants by living and working at ARI. They live simply and work humbly, but find great rewards in their time. Their hard work offers volunteers a chance to grow as individuals, as leaders and as valuable community members.

We ask that volunteers be ready for challenges and physically demanding work. Volunteers work from 6:30 in the morning and often work on Saturday mornings. Living within a diverse community can sometimes be frustrating. While volunteers are an important part of ARI, they serve in a purely supportive role, often putting the needs of others before themselves.

Despite all the hard work, volunteers also have a lot of fun. Volunteers make lasting friendships and have a large impact on our international community. For every hardship here we have twice as much joy.

Volunteer areas:

Volunteers assist with the ARI training program in many ways. Volunteers may request to work in certain areas and may change working sections from time to time, but will be assigned to a job that fulfills the current needs of ARI and best supports the training program. Work assignments are often determined by previous experience or skills of the volunteer, but people from all walks of life are welcomed.

Some specific working sections available to volunteers include livestock, crops and vegetables, office work, IT, meal service preparation and food processing.

* Livestock
Livestock volunteers will help care for all animals at ARI. Volunteers may be asked to assist in the Cow, Pig, Poultry or Fish sections. Cow section cares for a small number of cows and produces around 6,000kg of milk a year. The pig section helps rear around 10 to 20 pigs at any time for meat. The pig section additionally produces biogas. Chickens and ducks are part of the poultry section. ARI can produce as many as 500 chicken eggs a day and livestock volunteers help in both caretaking of the animals and preparing eggs for market.

* Crops and Vegetables
Volunteers in Crops and Vegetables help produce all vegetables consumed at ARI. There are over 60 different varieties of vegetables and we produce around 8 tons of rice and about 2 tons of wheat a year. Most vegetables are consumed on campus but ARI also markets rice and vegetables in the local community, on-line shop (Japanese only) and in local fairs and bazaars.

* Meal Service
ARI produces nearly 80% of all the food consumed on campus. Meal Service workers help prepare healthy and simple meals for up to 60 people or more a day. Every menu includes a wide variety of tastes and Meal Service staff gets a chance to learn different cooking techniques, by preparing food with people from all over the world.

* Food Processing
Food Processing volunteers help prepare foods for sale made from ingredients harvested at ARI. This section not only generates a small income for ARI but also allows us to share our vision of sustainable and organic agriculture with many people. The type of food products will vary due to availability, but we regularly make bread, jam, cookies, soybean processed foods and dried vegetables.

* Office Work
Volunteers working in the office may be assigned to a specific section but may have a variety of tasks. Some sections include Admissions, Ecumenical Relations, Public Relations, Computer System Administration and the Library. Office assignments are usually appointed with regard to previous work experience or specialized skills.

Highlights

Each year from April to December we bring together about 30 leaders from countries primarily in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific to take part in our Rural Leaders Training Program. The training focuses on sustainable agriculture through integrated organic farming techniques, community building, and leadership. It is community based and hands-on learning is emphasized in all areas. Working together we grow and share our own food. At the heart of the program is the concept of 'Foodlife' - a term designed to recognize and value the interdependency between life and the food that sustains all life.

To carry out our mission, we nurture and train rural leaders for a life of sharing. Leaders, both women and men, who live and work in grassroots rural communities primarily in Asia, Africa and the Pacific, form a community of learning each year together with staff and other residents.

Through community-based learning we study the best ways for rural people to share and enhance resources and abilities for the common good.

We present a challenge to ourselves and to the whole world in our approach to food and life.

Motto: "That We May Live Together."

Qualifications

If you feel that you want to work and live together with people from many different countries, why don't you come to work at ARI as a volunteer? We need your talents, skills, songs, thoughts, laughter, and hard work. So please come and join us in our pursuit to build an environmentally healthy, just and peaceful world.

Volunteers are an integral part of the ARI community, growing and working alongside our participants and staff. There are usually ten to twelve volunteers from Japan and around the globe who live and work at ARI for 60 days up to one year. Christian in inspiration but ecumenical in practice, ARI welcomes people of all faiths, races, classes and professions to learn and work together.

If you are not able to make such a long commitment there are many additional opportunities to come serve at ARI. We also have volunteers to help with special events, such as the Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration each year. ARI is always looking for commuting volunteers from within Japan, where caring individuals donate their talents in their free time.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

varies depending on type and length of program

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees

Program Fees Include:

ARI will pay the cost of boarding in a double occupancy dormitory room for all volunteers staying over 60 days. Housing for married couples or those with children may be available on request. We ask that volunteers spend their early months living on campus, but if you would prefer an off-campus housing arrangement, ARI will assist you in finding something suitable that fits your budget.

We ask that volunteers contribute 30,000 yen per month to cover their food costs. This fee can be waived if necessary. Volunteers are also expected to provide their own lunch on Sundays.

Transportation costs are paid for by the volunteer. Please budget around 5500 yen for a one-way trip to Narita Airport. At ARI you can rent a bicycle for local transportation, and local trains are easily available. The closest train station is approximately 15 minutes by bicycle. There are some shopping centers where almost any daily necessities are available.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Volunteers are an integral part of the ARI community, growing and working alongside our participants and staff. There are usually ten to twelve volunteers from Japan and around the globe who live and work at ARI for 60 days up to one year. Christian in inspiration but ecumenical in practice, ARI welcomes people of all faiths, races, classes and professions to learn and work together. If you are not able to make such a long commitment there are many additional opportunities to come serve at ARI. We also have volunteers to help with special events, such as the Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration each year. ARI is always looking for commuting volunteers from within Japan, where caring individuals donate their talents in their free time.

Age Range

18-85

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of up to 30

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Asian Rural Institute's Mission Statement

To build an environmentally healthy, just and peaceful world, in which each person can live to his or her fullest potential. This mission is rooted in the love of Jesus Christ.

Year Founded

1973

Asian Rural Institute is a Christian based organization. We do not require our participants to be of the same faith. Our volunteers will not be involved in religious proselytizing.