Help! Volunteering Abroad (Japan)

[sj147]

Hello!

I'm particularly interested in spending the upcoming summer volunteering abroad, preferably in Japan (although I have been looking for locations throughout Asia, and also France in particular). I'm 17 years old and am graduating from high school this year. I'm from Canada and am interested in working between 2 weeks to 2 months time. I've been searching the net and most volunteer programs require an age of 18 or above to volunteer. I've seen most of the main things Google has to offer on volunteering abroad, and most results don't seem to fit my needs.

I'm just wondering if anyone would be able to point me in the right direction?

Thank you!

 

[Glenski]

Do you have enough money for a plane ticket and accommodation and food for 2 months?
Even WWOOF Japan requires an annual registration fee of US$55.

What sort of volunteering do you think you are qualified to do?

 

[nice gaijin]

Are you using volunteering as an excuse to travel?

 

[sj147]

Glenski:
Travel and accommodation expenses are not that big of a problem. I don't have any specific type of volunteer work in mind. I'm sort of browsing around to see what people have to offer for my age limit.

nice gaijin:
Yes and no. Recently I've taken a school trip abroad, in which I found traveling particularly enjoyable. Also, I've been quite committed to volunteering in and around my community for several years now, and was thinking of expanding my experience. Sort of a combination of the desire to volunteer and travel (and begin the learning of a new language )

 

[JTM]

I assume you've already tried this site for leads:

volunteerabroad.com/Japan.cfm

While I'm sure you're very mature and responsible, most organizations have that 18 year restriction in place mainly to address liability and safety concerns. Although some opportunities like "Butterflies of Mount Fuji" say you can volunteer in their program if under 18 most will only do so if you are accompanied by a legal guardian. I think you'd be hard pressed to find any volunteer opportunities that aren't age restrictive and do not require an accompaning adult guardian to go along for minors.

There are just as many worthy volunteer opportunities locally in Canada that you could do. Red-Leaf has programs which have volunteers from around the world including Japan. If your main goal is interacting with Japanese nationals and learning about their culture, perhaps you could do this until you are of legal age to go to Japan directly.

red-leaf.com/volunteer.html

Outside of school sponsored cultural exchange/home stay programs or religious based missionary type trips, I can't think of any other opportunities for those under 18.

Sorry if this isn't the news you wanted to hear. Hope this helps.

 

[dreamer]

If You're interrested in France, there is the Service Civil International which has things for teens (under 18).

Here's the website: Volontariat International - Service Civil International Branche Française

For the rest I am not sure, but most of those I know in Asia requires you to be at least 18...