Life as a Volunteer Overseas, in Thailand and Laos
Teach English as a Foreign Language, TEFL. Computer training. Support local Home Stay and Eco Tourism.
International Volunteer Work in Thailand and Laos
Volunteers should be prepared to teach or work 15 - 20 lessons per week, corresponding to about 20- 25 hours per week, not more and not much less. The work is your gateway into the local culture and to making friends!
We recommend that you, the international volunteer, plans and prepares for work together with your Thai or Laos teachers and colleagues! Easier and better for everyone!
The volunteer overseas should however be prepared to teach alone, especially at small primary schools.

Volunteer Overseas Tasks in Thailand and Laos

You can Teach English as a Foreign Language
International volunteers mainly engage in 'Listen and Speak training, simple conversation, role plays, games, songs, training pronunciation and understanding as well as vocabulary. Informal out of class training, socializing with students and people is very good way to practice English and to motivate people to learn. After school activities such as sports, 'the English club', 'the computer club' or going shopping or eating are good ways to practice English!
You can do Computer Training like many other Overseas Volunteers
Computer training ranges from hard and software basics and games, to the Office programs and Internet use. We encourage international volunteers and schools to motivate students to use computers on their free time and to give them more vital time to practice! Volunteers may demonstrate applications and help children to explore by themselves, to find out, to learn by themselves! Self-paced learning, just like you learnt!
You can help out at Nursery Schools, Preschools, Orphan Homes
The international volunteer normally participates in local activities such as games, handicrafts, sports, art, music and singing. You may also teach English and computer skills, as agreed with local staff.
Our Volunteer Overseas Orientation. Your start as a volunteer in Thailand and Laos! Our Volunteer Overseas Orientation during the first week end as a volunteer overseas is your introduction to the life as a volunteer in Thailand or Laos. You will spend your first weekend with Openmindprojects for a Volunteer Orientation about Thailand and Laos, country and culture, volunteer work, the Thai language and how to dress and behave in Thailand and Laos.
Before departure we will send you, by email, important volunteer information about Travel, Teaching, Work, Volunteer Rules and more.

How the volunteer overseas lives and eats
Living conditions vary but are often very simple for local people as well as the volunteer!
At an orphanage, overseas volunteers normally stay in a guest room, in a town or village they stay with a host (teacher, farmer, fisherman) family or at the Teachers’ House at the school.
In NongKhai you can stay at our own Openmind Houses or at a guesthouse if you prefer. Thai and Lao food is delicious, cheap but often very spicy! A meal on the street is 25 - 50 Baht less than one Euro/US$. At your placement you will mostly eat at the school, the orphanage, and with your host family. Local friends will probably invite you to diner too!
Volunteers are served Thai Lao specialties such as red, yellow and green curries, with beef, chicken, sea food or pork. Som Tam, the spicy papaya salad is a must! Or you get international hits such as Tom Yam, Tom Ka Khai, spicy and delicious soups with coconut milk, lemon grass, chili and more! With these dishes you will eat Khao Souy (steamed rice) and in the Northeast and Lao the very popular Khao Nio, sticky rice, that you eat with your hands!
Free time for the volunteer overseas
Weekends are free or you can take other time off, though Thai schools do expect a commitment to your volunteer work!
International volunteers should try to see more of fascinating and beautiful Thailand and Laos! We know places to go, to stay and things to do, like jungle trekking, visits to national parks and historic sites, scuba diving or mountain climbing. Travel is easy and inexpensive in Thailand and Laos but often time consuming. Be patient, jai yen, cool heart! You will spend a lot of time waiting!
Social life for the volunteer overseas
You meet and befriend local people and international volunteers. The Thais, Laos may be shy initially (not used to speaking English) but they really like to meet and talk to you international volunteers! As an international volunteer overseas you get a unique and excellent chance to really get to know Thailand and Laos, the country and its culture and meet the people too. This is an opportunity the normal tourist or traveler does not get!
Openmind Houses in NongKhai and NongHan
Our houses have simple bedrooms! Volunteers share rooms, Thai style bathrooms, some office space, with some computers and wireless Internet in NongKhai. So bring your own laptop and you can connect inside or outside at our NongKhai houses!
A kitchen with refrigerator and cooking facilities is available.
Volunteers are welcome to stay in these houses during weekends and also while volunteering in Nong Khai, Nong Han or elsewhere. Everybody is welcome to help keep the houses clean! Nobody else will:)