Description

Background
The experience of a visit to a community based eco tourism village, national park, or similar location is obviously made easier if local guides speak some English and that is why we encourage and train eco volunteers to teach English to local guides, villagers, and host families.

A community based eco tourism project is by its very nature different from a tourism attraction developed by outsiders with guides and travel agencies taking tourists to visit for a fee but leaving little revenue behind to benefit local communities. In community based eco tourism projects local people organize and manage tourist activities and businesses and thereby generate revenue for the local community. Local people have the greatest knowledge of local life and features and are better suited to provide a more intimate experience for visitors.

If local villagers, guides, and host families speak some English, opportunities for locals as well as experiences for visitors will be enhanced. In order to help develop this possibility we are looking for volunteers with a keen interests in culture and nature to come and help document local cultural and natural attractions as well as eco tourist activities.

They will do so in English since this is the way to overcome the language barrier while simultaneously making the visit a much more enjoyable and learning experience.

Interested volunteers should be able to work independently but with the support of Openmind Projects to do field and desk research, and] to document and describe in an appealing way the unique natural and cultural highlights of each particular eco project.

Highlights

SE Asia offers an immense diversity in terms of nature and culture that will enthrall and attract many curious eco tourists keen to get off the beaten tracks.

Travel Types

• 4th World Studies
• Archaeology
• Birdwatching
• Camping
• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Heritage Tourism
• Homestay
• Language Immersion
• Native Culture Studies
• Nature Tours
• Overland Tours
• Photography
• RainForest Tours
• Student Tours
• Trekking
• Vacation Packages
• Volunteering

Qualifications

Ideal but not required volunteer profile
* Journalist background
* Interest in ethnic studies, anthropology
* Interest nature, fauna and/or flora

How the volunteer will work
The volunteer will work at the OpenmindProjects Training Center in Nongkhai, north Thailand as well as in the fields.

Required desk research and documentation to be done at the Training Center. Filed research and training of local people to be done at the specific eco project location.

Intern Types

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Ideal but not required volunteer profile " Journalist background " Interest in ethnic studies, anthropology " Interest nature, fauna and/or flora

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Dormitory
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

One - two weeks

Post Services Include

• Alumni 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