Description

Volunteer Combinations in Thailand. Design your own package!

Many options:
Teach English, computer training, camps, child care (tsunami orphans, AIDS sick children), eco tourism, wildlife conservation

Choose between many places:
In the South, in the North, by the sea, in the mountains, in a town, in a village, by the Mekong River, in Laos!

Choose between several many ways to live:
Home stay with a host family, teachers house at the school, Openmindprojects volunteer houses, national park cabin.

Design your own package, go to several places (open to volunteers who two months or more)

We invite volunteers to live and teach in Thailand. Amazing and affordable opportunities to help poor people and also the tsunami victims in South Thailand!

Highlights

South Thailand
Famous for its lush jungles, white beaches, magnificent archipelagos, mixed Buddhist and Muslim culture and a delicious Thai/Malay cuisine. Many opportunities to volunteer in small towns and villages, to help tsunami victims, volunteer on poor Muslim islands, helping the poor Mokhen people, the so called sea gypsies.

North Thailand
With its smiling and hospitable Isan people, genuine village culture, spicy food and sticky rice, beautiful scenery; rice fields, valleys, rivers, mountains, jungles. Many opportunities to volunteer in small towns and poor rice farmer villages, helping poor novices at Buddhist temples and more.

Spending some of your time in a village is an amazing experience since you fully submerge into local and genuine culture, a key to understanding the people and their lifestyles.

Village life revolves around the sea, fishing, the farm, planting and harvesting rice, taking care of the cows and buffaloes, the temple or mosque, and always at the end of the day, 'eating and meeting'. Everybody knows everybody, including you! Everybody is a cousin! Nothing fancy but simple life, simple houses, nightlife is meeting with village friends.

In Nongkhai and other towns life is often more comfortable, but not much, and volunteers can find interesting local markets, restaurants and small local bars, with live bands or karaoke maybe even a local disco!

Pre Departure preparations online for volunteers: Country and culture information, Thai language, teaching and volunteer advice, including travel information.

Two day Orientations for new volunteers upon arrival: Language and teaching training, cross culture information, welcome dinner with questions and answers, CD ROM documentation to bring to volunteer placements.

Qualifications

* Flexible and open mind
* Initiative
* Curious
* Empathy and patience
* Used to simple outdoor or volunteer life
* English and computer literate

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Program Fees Include:

* Meals and Accommodation at volunteer placement
* Pre Departure and In Country Orientations
* In country English speaking support
* 24 hour staff support in case of emergency

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Curious, open minded people, with patience and empathy 18 - 20 year old gap year students, 20 - 30 year old students and workers 40 -50 year old who like a break a new pesrpective 60 plus who like to help and see the world

Age Range

18 plus

This Program is open to

American, Australian, Canadian, European, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Group living
• Home-stays
• Independent living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of 5- 10

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

One - two weeks

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

Open mind projects's Mission Statement

To bridge the knowledge divide between the rich and poor. We do this by helping the underprivileged gain access to better learning opportunities with the help of modern information technology and international volunteers; To contribute to the fight against increasing threats to our environment, nature, and wildlife; To offer international volunteers unique opportunities to help bridge knowledge divides and to help save nature, while growing as persons in our grassroots education and eco projects.

Year Founded

2001