The Peace Boat, A Volunteer Opportunity

The Peace Boat is an initiative that promotes tourism in a different way. His thing is not only to help travelers get to know new places and new cultures, but he also aims to be a focus of social change for the world.

The Peace Boat, or Peace Boat, is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that works for world peace, human rights, respect for the environment and sustainable development.

They carry out educational and responsible tourism programs, as well as cooperation projects and awareness campaigns. It is headquartered in Japan and regularly conducts “peace and sustainability trips.”

The choice of routes and destinations is determined by socio-political considerations. It is not a commercial issue, or a tourist industry. Today they can go to Cape Horn, tomorrow to Alaska. It all depends on the social and educational plan of action.

The fascinating history of the Peace Boat

The Peace Boat was born in 1983, at the initiative of a group of young university students. They believed that the Japanese government systematically censored information about their country’s aggressions against the eastern Pacific nations.

That is why they decided to take a boat trip to those places, to learn first-hand about other versions of the story. The trip allowed them to understand that living with other cultures and other ways of thinking was an excellent way to learn and grow.

For this reason,  since then they began to organize annual excursions, with different objectives. The central purpose of all of them was to promote peace and harmony.

Over time they have perfected these wonderful excursions. They are no longer just trips, with random learning, but are focused on specific objectives. One trip can be made with the environment as the central theme, another to repudiate antipersonnel mines, etc.

Life aboard the Peace Boat

The boat trip involves a relatively long time of coexistence. In the Peace Boat, all this time is used to carry out educational work.

For this, before each crossing, 50 teachers from different parts of the world are chosen. They organize workshops, talks, language courses, etc. All this related to the country or countries that are visited.

All participants are also invited to organize and propose their own activities. The goal is to put individual talent at the service of all. That is why in the Peace Boat there is permanent activity. Soccer games, salsa classes, cinema forums and dozens of additional options.

Volunteering, a great option

At Barco de la Paz there is a very attractive volunteer program. In general, it offers possibilities for people with language skills in one or more languages. Recruit English and Spanish interpreters and teachers. They do not necessarily have to be teachers by profession, but they do have some experience.

Those interested must apply in advance and go through a selection process. The Peace Boat is currently recruiting volunteers for the next trip. It is called “Global 101” and will depart on April 20, 2019. It will end its tour on August 1 of the same year.

The deadline for applications is December 28, 2018. Those interested must have an advanced level of the language they intend to teach. Also an experience of at least 18 months in language teaching.

Likewise, it is necessary to speak English, at least at an intermediate level, and knowing some Japanese is an important plus. All the information is here.

Other options

Those residing in Japan can request the quality of volunteers to prepare and serve as logistical support in the trips. It is an essential requirement that they live in that country and, of course, that they have a good level of communication in Japanese. Sometimes they also open internship programs, with similar characteristics.

Anyone can be a passenger on the Peace Boat, although strictly speaking there are no passengers on these trips. Everyone who travels there is part of a common experience. They are not expected to act as passive tourists, but to contribute to this laudable project of building world peace.

Main photography: Charos Pix / Flickr.com