Thailand Country Information: Volunteer in Thailand!
Volunteer in Thailand! International volunteers are welcome to charming villages on islands, along rivers, in the mountains and rainforests, and on the plains of Thailand!
What Openmind Projects does in Thailand
We support poor villages and schools and invite overseas volunteers to teach there; we do not support private schools. We support community based eco tourism helping local and poor people to earn an extra income while protecting nature and maximizing the economic benefits to the village. We also support child and health care projects for poor people.Why we support these projects in Thailand
We support these projects because they want our help and need more and better educational resources to facilitate learning by their children. The local eco tourism projects need educational and promotional support as well as help to attract and take care of eco tourists thereby generating extra income that stays in the villages rather than leaving with the outside tour operators. Child and health care projects have inadequate resources to ensure the wellbeing and nurturing of the children.Where projects are located in Thailand
The projects and volunteer placements in Thailand are located in poor northeastern (Isan), southern, and western Thailand (hill tribes and minority peoples). At the bottom of this page you'll find links to some of the projects we support in Thailand. We support and help many other projects too. Ask us if you'd like more information.If you Apply to volunteer you'll get more information on our organization and projects. Then we'll match your background with the requirements of the projects and suggest some for you to consider.
How we support projects in Thailand
On the basic level Openmind Projects provides human resources—the volunteers—who come with their own diverse skills to supplement the few resources often available to the project. We match volunteer skills with appropriate projects so that their skills can be most effective. We develop learning tools—English and IT—for Thai education projects and schools, orphan homes and other projects. We design and maintain websites and promotional materials for community based and village eco tourist projects. We help projects in Thailand find volunteers by recruiting and training overseas volunteers whom we furnish with information and educational materials to use in projects.How you and other volunteers help us support projects in Thailand
Depending on your skills, as a volunteer you may teach basic English and computer skills, help develop learning tools and/or design websites and promotional material for eco projects. Some eco volunteers help carry out wildlife surveys, design treks and tours, go diving and check the status of coral reefs. You bring enthusiasm, energy and new perspectives that help us further develop the services we offer to projects.How we recruit and prepare volunteers for Thailand
Our only ways to reach volunteers are by the internet and word of mouth. We don't have the resources to advertise or run promotional and informational meetings in the countries where volunteers come from.We offer an online Pre Departure Handbook with volunteer, work and cultural and language information. We arrange a very popular monthly 3 day Volunteer Training in Thailand for all volunteers in Southeast Asia. We provide in-country support from our local staff during your time at your project.
When can volunteers come to Thailand?
You can join any of our monthly 3 day Volunteer Training Programs and then go to your volunteer placement. Click here to see upcoming dates.Your volunteer in Thailand options and fees
You have the flexibility to volunteer either as a Supported or as an Independent Volunteer.Why many projects in Thailand?
Some ten years ago we set up pilot projects in northeastern Thailand (Isan) to test and learn how to help poor and isolated children to learn to use computers and then to use them as a learning tool when other resources are scarce. Information and communication technology is constantly improving and becoming more affordable day by day and therefore can become one of the best educational resources for poor children. Isan, which is one third of the area and contains one third of the population of Thailand, is the poorest region of Thailand and thus in great need of resources to supplement those currently accessible. For more information on our original IT in Isan project see its website.Our ambition was to find a way to help an increasing number of children to better learning opportunities. Now we support projects in four countries and are always looking for opportunities to support more projects and in more countries based on similar thinking.
Links to some Thailand projects where volunteers can help (Click here for more Thailand projects)
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Experience Isan culture first hand! Saithongwithaya school is a beautiful project for volunteers to learn about real Isan culture, especially the Bungfai (rocket) festival in the Fall and Boon Pawet (celebrating a reincarnation of Buddha) festival in March. Surrounded by rice fields the village provides a peaceful location for relaxing during your free time.
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Anuban Nonghan Wittayakon school
Great opportunity to teach young children and experience a small Isan town! At Nonghan school you have the chance to work and stay with a very dedicated and active teacher, Vicki, who is very dedicated to her pupils. Past volunteers have greatly enjoyed her hospitality and energy.
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Hat Kam Wattana Kindergarten
Here you can stay at our Training Center in Nong Khai while helping in a small Isan village. The school is located by the Mekong River in a picturesque landscape. The students' parents are mostly poor rice and vegetable farmers. Along your way to school you'll see them growing vegetables and herbs to sell in the local market.
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Great opportunity for nature lovers who want to live in a village teaching English and supporting community based eco tourism! This is a combined teaching and eco project.
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Ban Dung Wittaya Secondary School
Here you have a chance to teach older students while staying in a small town with a host family in Isan, the poorest area of Thailand.
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Volunteer at OpenmindProjects Training Center
Want to stay in NongKhai with our local staff and trainees while teaching them English and computer skills with the possibility also to spend some time at another project in Nong...
For more information on Thailand go to:
http://www.tourismthailand.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand
http://wikitravel.org/en/Special:Search?search=Thailand&fulltext=Search
Thailand Country Information: Volunteer in Thailand!
