Thailand : 3 Months Travel, Adventure and Voluntary work

  Thailand

• All Other Areas in Thailand: 
Kanchanaburi

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Every October and February

Description: The programme combines 4 weeks travel and adventure with 8 weeks voluntary work. The adventure begins with Thai lessons while exploring Bangkok and continues on board a fabulous converted teakwood rice barge. We cruise up Chao Phraya River exploring the rural countryside along the way. We visit Ayutthaya, enjoy the delights of the north, experience mahout life and trek through isolated hill tribe villages. The 8 weeks voluntary work takes place in small villages in Kanchanburi where you will stay with a host family. Here you can choose to teach in a school or help in an orphanage. The last week of the programme is on a paradise island, relaxing and enjoying beach, sea and sun.

During the voluntary work you will be staying with local Thai families either on the outskirt of Kanchanaburi town surrounded by lush woodland or in a local village. Volunteers will have a good opportunity to explore the beauty of western Thailand. Kanchanaburi is home to the River Kwai Bridge and famous for its charming limestone mountain peaks, enchanting forests and spectacular cascaded waterfalls.

Learn and observe rice farming and seasonal activities in the rice paddy field, visit a cloth weaving family and those that produce local whisky and wine produced from rice and palm sugar. Attend cultural events annually held in local communities. Contribute to temple affairs, traditional events of the village and community projects (such as gardening & planting, village cleaning days, renovating projects, construction and painting). Last but not least, once you are here, do not miss a rare opportunity to learn how to cook delicious Tom Yam Gung or Tom Kha Gai from those around you!

Highlights: A fast-growing country like Thailand badly needs its human resources who are able to communicate with foreigners to a considerable extent. But unfortunately, children, often poor, in most rural areas of modern Thailand, though well physically developed, still lack opportunities to improve their English skills, particularly in speaking and listening.

One of the main reasons is that the rural poor children hardly have a chance to speak to foreigners. Not to mention the fact that most Thai children (and most adults) are too shy to speak foreign languages and are afraid of making mistakes! All these factors contribute to a considerably poor English level of Thai children (and Thai people) in general. As a result, those who can teach good English are in high demand from local schools throughout the country.

Volunteers for this programme do not need to be officially trained in teaching English as a foreign language, but they must have genuine love of children, particularly the poor and the disadvantaged. They must have an interest in cultural differences. What volunteers need to do is encourage local children, at local primary and secondary schools, to communicate in English where possible, and enhance their listening and speaking skills through practical lessons and fun-learning activities such as games, songs, art activities (painting, drawing, crafting etc.).

Accompanied by local teachers, volunteers can definitely help them practice these skills both in classrooms and outdoor events such as youth camps. This would be an adventure experience for both enthusiastic volunteers and Thai children.

Apart from English, those with computer & IT skills may find themselves very useful for local schools either by teaching teachers or local staff or contributing to making reports or paper work.

Throughout the voluntary weeks, get-togethers, dinners and meetings, will be arranged to make sure that all volunteers have a good chance to share and learn from each other. These events are of course also a great time for chatting and relaxing. The volunteers will also be visited weekly by local volunteer consultants in case of any emerging assistance needed.

Cost in US$: Please visit the website

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-40

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Thailand in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 8-20

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Transcript
• Written Application

Year Founded: 1984