Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows frequently asked questions and NVC’s responses.

Q1: What is NVC?

A1: NVC stands for Niigata International Volunteer Centre. Following the experience of “Charity Bazaar” in 1989, NVC was established in the subsequent year, in March 1990, in Niigata. NVC acquired non-profit organization (NPO) status in October 1999. Now it actively contributes to the harmonious development of the community with the aims of international understanding, cultivation of human resources, and the creation of rich community.

>>NVC's Logo Mark

Q2: What does NVC do?

A2: Besides giving assistance to developing countries in Asia such as helping to build an elementary school in Vietnam, NVC implements a variety of activities in Japan. As for international activities, NVC helps Vietnam but also Laos, Bangladesh, and East Africa. As for domestic activities, NVC implements Charity Bazaar, holds NVC seminars to disseminate knowledge about the biosphere, and subsidizes national health insurance premiums. In addition to these activities, we publish an NVC library series (published up to Volume 9 as of June 2003), issue organ papers (Kakehashi and Mohitotsuno Kakehashi), and operate a steering committee.

Q3: What is the “Charity Bazaar”?

A3: The first “Charity Bazaar” was held in 1989. It began with a lecture at Niigata University. A representative in Laos of Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) described the current high child mortality rate in Laos, and requested help. In response to this request, students and citizens held a bazaar and made a profit of over two million yen. We decided to establish NVC in order to continue to send $10,000 every year. NVC held its first bazaar in 1990 and continued thereafter smoothly. In 2001, we held the 13th bazaar. We continued our assistance to Laos for 10 years, which led to improvement of rural lives and a decreasing of child mortality rate. Now, our Charity Bazaar is a major NVC activity held every fall. Every year, we earned over one million yen, and sometimes, our profit surpasses three million yen. This is an important revenue source for NVC .

>>The thirteenth Charity Bazaar at Naka Post Office (Higashibori, Niigata, 2001)

Q4: Are you recruiting new staff members?

A4: Since its establishment, NVC has been experimenting with what it can do with volunteers only, without any permanent staff members. Consequently, we do not recruit any staff members. We welcome voluntary assistance at any time.

>>We have steering committee meetings twice a month that are held after work. Not only businesspersons but also student members participate in the meetings.

Q5: How much does it cost to build a school in a developing country?

A5: NVC has built over 10 elementary schools in Vietnam as VFP Vietnam Future Project. In the Vietnamese case, we spent about two million yen. There is a difference in cost between a suburban area of the capital and the countryside. In addition, the cost varies because of the yen rate, the extent of cooperation from the counterpart country, the local community, and school size (the number of classrooms, etc.). Two million yen is just a rough standard.

>>Vietnam Future Project

Q6: We would like to recycle used clothes. Does NVC collect them?

A6: We do not deal with (collecting etc.) used clothes at all. We reject any used clothes for bazaar. (If we collected them, we would expect to collect a lot, and if we could not sell them all, we would be responsible for discarding them.) As for sending them abroad, we have to consider conditions in our counterpart countries (protection of their own industries, customs duty, etc.) and costs (shipping fees, etc.). Because NVC does not deal with used clothes, you might get better information by seeking useful information at a volunteer information web site or by calling for help.

Q7: Do you have any tours abroad to get an impression of NVC’s activities or do you call for volunteers to participate in your activities?

A7: NVC offers study tours 2-3 times every year. Not all of these accept participants from the general public, but when we do so, we will call for participants on this web page. If you are interested, please see the web page. We have held study tours over 30 times. Sometimes, we ask for the following qualification: “Those who have opportunities to convey their study tour experiences after returning to Japan.” We have asked those who wish to participate to write an essay concerning their motivation to participate in the study tour. We do not have clear criteria on whom we choose, but in principle, we would like those who have interest in fields related to NVC’s activities . (Because this is not a sightseeing tour,) you should be aware of the basic premise of self-responsibility when you participate in the study tour. On the Vietnam tour, we normally visit an opening ceremony of an elementary school, a fellowship conferment ceremony, and an open house. While on the East Africa tour (Madagascar in 2000 and 2001, Kenya in 2002), it is a “dispatch of labor force.” In other words, you are expected to offer your labor there. We have engaged in planting activities to prevent soil erosion in Madagascar, and have carried out a questionnaire survey with villagers as social condition survey in Kenya. We have no plan to dispatch a tour to East Africa this year (2003).

>>Madagascar（2001）

Q8: I would like to know more about NVC. What should I do?

A8: If you have any questions about NVC’s activities, please contact:

info＠nvcjapan.org

Depending on the question, a suitable NVC’s volunteer will reply. Please be aware that it might take time to respond to your questions. You may also use our bulletin board, but it is difficult for a supervisor to respond to all the inquiries. Consequently, the supervisor only deletes inappropriate messages on the board but does not respond to each individual inquiry. Please use our bulletin board to share information and make proposals concerning general aspect of NVC’s activities from non-members as well as NVC members. We will do our best to post the updated information on our web page.