The International Workcamp
in Iwami Ginzan
World Heritage Site
English version

In 2007 we started "The International Workcamp" as a form of developing activity of "Satoyama Intership Sanbe", which had been held for 4 years since 2003 as our NPO's main event. We invited young people from all over the world, with the aid of NICE .
The International Workcamp in Iwami Ginzan, September-October in 2007	We worked hard for 2 weeks preparing for the conference of "National Forest Meeting". Young people from South Korea, Russia and Switzerland joined the workcamp.	We sold lunch boxes and pizza in the head-office tent, and joined the attraction "Evergreen Dance" on the stage .

The second International Workcamp was held in March 2008. Eight people including young people from South Korea and Germany joined the camp .
The International Workcamp in Iwami Ginzan in March 2008	There was the controlled fire at the foot of Mt. Sanbe. A week earlier we cleared away dead grass to stop the fire spreading. Our main works were to build a tent for the head-office, and to protect the fields from the fire. Our other works were to trim banboos, to reserch vegetation in Iwami Ginzan and so on.	During the workcamp the members had a very good time with local people on free days. They joined the traditional festival in Oda city, which has taken place for more than 400 years, and stayed with a family and worked with local people.

The third International Workcamp was held in September 2008. Eight people including young people from South Korea, Taiwan and Russia joind the camp .
The International Workcamp in Iwami Ginzan in September 2008	We went to the world heritage site ‘Iwami Ginzan’, and trimmed bamboos in the bamboo woods with local people for four days.	We visited Yunotsu Elementary School, and had a lesson with the children about the traditional Japanese event "Otsukimi", and then we had school dinner together.

The fourth International Workcamp was held in March 2009. Seven people including young people from South Korea and Sweden joind the camp .
The International Workcamp in Iwami Ginzan in March 2009.	We built a sand-soil pavement using bamboo chips at the promenade near the World Heritage Centre. We used the bamboo chips which were made from the bamboos trimmed at the Workcamp in September 2008, and the materials such as formworks were also made from them. The 200 meters of paved passway was completed in two days.	Gathering dead grass with a fork to prepare for the controlled burn on 21 March. A week beforehand, we cleared away grass to prevent the fire from spreading.

The fifth International Workcamp was held in September 2009. Eight people including young people from South Korea, Taiwan and Poland joind the camp .
The International Workcamp in Iwami Ginzan in September 2009.	We went to the bamboo woods in Iwami Ginzan to follow up with the maintenance work from 2008. We trimmed bamboos and processed them into chips. We had hard labour for 4 days.	WWe had fun at the farewell party, together with local supporters, NPO members and the students from schools in Oda City, who joined in the maintenance work.

The sixth International Workcamp was held in March 2010. Six people including young people from Taiwan and Ukraine joind the camp .
The International Workcamp in Iwami Ginzan in March 2009.	We couldn't work in Iwami GInzan area because of snow, so we went to a different place with the members of another organisation, and we trimmed bamboos and processed them into chips.	This was our first visit to a kindergarden and we were overwhelmed by the energy of the little friends. Interaction with children is one of vital factors in the International Workcamp.

The seventh International Workcamp was held in September 2010. Eight people including young people from Taiwan, Russia and France joind the camp .
The International Workcamp in Iwami Ginzan in September 2010.	Aiming to spread our biomass project locally, we gathered trimmed trees from mountains in Oda and processed them into chips in order to use them as fuel for the boiler in our building.	We organised experience-learning in the maintenance of bamboo woods, collaborating with Omori Elementary School. The crew from NHK Educational Television came to cover it and then it was televised nationwide.

The eighth International Workcamp was held in March 2011. Eight people including young people from Taiwan, Russia, Myanmar,Vietnam joind the camp.
International Work Camp in Iwamiginzan March 2011	We planted a broad-leaved tree in Iwamiginzan where bamboo shrubs were cut.	We made a book about old days life in Ohda city. At launching party work camp member helped to warm up the party.

The nineth International Workcamp was held in September 2011. Five people including young people from USA and France joind the camp.
International Work Camp in Iwamiginzan September 2011	We combined school visit and Mi-mo school activity together at Isotake elementary school.	We cut grass and gathered it in Mt. Sanbe nisinohara. after that, We prepared Kusadomari next month.

The tenth International Workcamp was held in February-March 2012. Eight people including young people from Itary and South Korea and Indonesia joind the camp.
International Work Camp in Iwamiginzan February-March 2012	We made wooden playground equipment to the schoolyard of Isotake elementary school.	We celebrated the 10th international workcamp and held the party.

The 11th International Workcamp was held in September 2012. Ten people including young people from France and South Korea and Estonia and USA joind the camp.
International Work Camp in Iwamiginzan September 2012	We cut down the bamboo grove in the world heritage Iwami silver mine, and made canes of the bamboo.The canes of the bamboo which we made are lent out to tourists.	We exhibited cooking and the attraction of various countries together with the foreigners who live in Ota　city on the day of Higan festival.

The 12th International Workcamp was held in February-March 2013. Eight people including young people from France and South Korea and Finland and Hong Kong joind the camp.
International Work Camp in Iwamiginzan February-March 2013	We are cultivating the seedling of the chestnut to plant in the mountain of the Iwami silver mine.	We made many wooden benches and gave to some elementary schools.