Lucy's Experience at Fujisan YMCA Global Eco Village

Lucy, Information and Performance Manager at YMCA Humber, has just returned from Japan where she was volunteering at the Fujisan YMCA Global Eco Village 5-week summer programme.

The campsite is located on Asagiri Plateau, overlooking Mt. Fuji, a place for environmental education and experiential learning. The programme brought children together for a 5-week summer camp, where Lucy worked with students from Japan throughout this volunteer programme.

Lucy said, "during my time at the camp, I took part in a wide range of activities with the children, including fire starting, outdoor cooking, boxing, sports, water fights and wood chopping. There was always something different to get involved in, which made every day exciting and enjoyable.

A typical day was very busy but rewarding. We would start by getting up and preparing breakfast for the children, followed by a morning activity. After that, we would help set up lunch before getting involved in another activity during the afternoon. In the evening, we would prepare dinner and, depending on the day, sometimes have an evening activity or have the evening off to relax.

My favourite part was definitely interacting with the children. Even though there was sometimes a language barrier, we were still able to communicate, have fun and build relationships. I particularly enjoyed teaching the children boxing. Seeing them learn new skills, become more confident and enjoy themselves was a really rewarding experience.

I learned a lot about myself during my time in Japan. Being away from home can sometimes be difficult, but I learned that I am more resilient than I originally thought and that I can overcome challenges when I am outside of my comfort zone. I also gained a better understanding of Japanese culture and learned more about how the YMCA operates in Japan. Overall, the experience helped me grow as a person and gave me greater confidence in myself.

Volunteering in Japan was an opportunity that I am really glad I didn't pass up. It was an amazing experience that challenged me in different ways, allowed me to meet new people and gave me memories that I will never forget. It was definitely worth it, and I would encourage anyone considering volunteering to take the opportunity."