The eco volunteer overseas teaches English to rangers, village guides, children and host families. A wildlife conservation volunteer may complete wildlife surveys, create databases, record facts, develop new activities such as trekking or biking, help the community with environmental education, create eco tourism brochures and websites, and explore ecotourism opportunities.

ICT volunteers teach computers, ICT, to children and students.
An ICT overseas volunteer may work on:
• Our eco project websites
• Revise the OpenmindProjects Volunteer and Learning Community
• Teach English and ICT resources for schools and national parks
• Promotional materials for eco projects and/or other computer-related tasks.

Normally ICT volunteers stay at the OpenmindProjects Center in NongKhai. A wireless connection and volunteer office is available, so bring your own laptop. ICT volunteers may also visit and stay at the eco projects they work with. Volunteers normally work 20 hours a week in the main office doing hands-on computer-related tasks, as well as meeting with others to discuss various ICT projects.

The Thailand school camps usually involve creating school camp activities, setting up, helping the children during the camps and cleaning up when camps end. The Thailand school camps provide excellent opportunities for international volunteers overseas to spend fun time with the children, while they teach English and accomplish educational goals. The school camp environment in Thailand is less structured and formal than in traditional school settings.

Volunteers should be prepared to teach English, ICT 15 - 20 lessons per week, equivalent to 20-25 working hours per week. Teaching English and ICT work is your gateway into local Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal culture and to making friends! We recommend Team Teaching, i.e. you plan and prepare your lessons with the local teachers and colleagues. This makes teaching easier and better for everyone! The volunteer should be prepared to teach alone though, especially at smaller village schools.

Volunteers mainly engage in “Listen and Speak” training, simple conversation, role plays, games, songs and pronunciation activities. Informal out of class training, socializing with students and local people is also a very good way to practice English and to motivate people to learn. After school activities such as sports, “the English club,” “the computer club,” going shopping or eating are good ways to learn English!

Computer training ranges from hardware and software basics and games, Office programs and Internet usage. ICT volunteers demonstrate applications, and then help children to explore and learn by themselves. We encourage volunteers and schools to motivate students to use computers in their free time. Remaining in the labs for additional hours is encouraged to give students more vital time to practice!

Teaching English and ICT lessons are typically in the afternoon at Buddhist schools. Buddhism is taught in the morning while English, computers and other subjects are taught in the afternoon. Novices are not permitted to sing, play games or sports, so methods of teaching English would need to be revised slightly for them.

The overseas volunteer normally participates in socializing activities such as games, handicrafts, sports, art, music and singing. You may also teach English and computer skills, as agreed with local staff. International volunteers normally work with the local teacher.

International volunteers typically teach 15 - 20 lessons per week in the schools. They may also get involved in after school activities, the “English club,” scouting or sports activities. Volunteers should try to work with another teacher to help plan and present English and computer lessons.

There are many learning and teaching resources for you to use. You will receive the OpenmindProjects CD and Volunteer Handbook with learning resources once you arrive. There are many books and other resources at the OMP houses and a search on the World Wide Web will yield many other options. Also, check our 'Resources' pages for Teach English resources discovered by other overseas volunteers.

Volunteers may teach at the schools or assist in many different ways at orphan homes. Previous volunteers have planned activities and camps, completed painting and building projects or assisted with daily activities in the homes.