Description

Volunteer in Thailand and change the lives of Thai children.

What kind of work is it?

Teaching primary school children aged 6 to 18 years old in two government schools where the children generally come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

There is also the opportunity to work on the administrative side for individuals with practical skills. Some project ideas include making videos for the Foundation, activity books or running activities at Coconut Club, the after school programme.

The students are, in the main, bright, curious and learn very quickly. They are affectionate and generally well behaved. There is a reasonable level of discipline in the school and peer group pressure is usually the control mechanism that works best.

How do volunteers fit in?

Volunteers are an essential part of the programme, they are important and valued team members. After training, volunteers will assist in the English classroom, or apply their skills in the most productive way for all parties. There are model lesson plans to follow and also the opportunity to discuss progress and future plans for lessons.

What are the working conditions like?

There is no air conditioning in Baan Kalim School or Kamala School, however, the clever design of the buildings encourage a flow thorough of fresh air from the sea on one side and the mountain of green trees on the other.

The students come to the dedicated English classroom so the environment is within our control. Small classes are desirable and the average number of students in each class is 20.

Teachers are expected to keep their own classroom clean (children do not wear shoes inside the classroom).

We have an excellent variety of teaching materials, flashcards for numbers, colours and shapes. The play kitchen and the fruit/general shop offers many opportunities for practical and creative teaching; the children love games in these areas.

Is there training and support?

There will be hands on support in the classroom with each class being lead by a staff teaching member. Co- teaching involves dividing up the lesson into parts that can be taught individually one teacher after the other or dividing the class into two and teaching simultaneously.

There will be time to observe the experienced teacher and to discuss the methods and materials used. Students move around the classroom a lot and short periods of sitting at desks are used for book work. Songs and games are used extensively and the tempo is set by the children. New ideas and suggestions are always welcomed and the development of new games and materials is an ongoing need.

Can I keep in touch with home?

The office has computers and high speed reliable internet access and Skype is available. Internet cafes are popular here and reasonably priced.

What about medical cover?

You should have extended travel insurance to cover you for any medical expenses you may incur.

What kind of impact will my efforts have?

The greatest need in school is time.

Phuket's economy is dependent on the tourist industry. There is an increasing problem for children who do not have strong English speaking skills as it is difficult to find jobs easily in the local area. Many students who attend government schools will not acquire the necessary skills to take a place in the local job market, this means a possible future of fragmented families as youngsters have to look further for jobs.

To stem the tide of social disintegration families need to be able to choose to stay close together.

Your efforts will help to build the skills and ability of these children. You will see the impact of your efforts in their progress and their triumphs every day. In the longer term your efforts move the children into a more hopeful future.

Highlights

Phuket Island is known locally as 'paradise'. Nowhere is far from the outstanding beaches. Scuba diving and snorkeling are available in dozens of places. The air and water is clean and unpolluted. Green hillsides and mountains are always in view.

The life style is laid back and relaxed, quiet streets and friendly smiling locals. Patong is a lively place with bars and clubs. The lengh of the island can be traveled in an hour and the usual mode of transport is motorcycle. Care should be taken on the roads and some knowledge of the local 'rules' should be gained before getting on a bike. Local buses are cheap and fairly frequent.

Food is cheap and available at stalls and restaurants throughout the island, it seems that nobody cooks -even Thais seem to spend lots of time eating out. There are Indian, Turkish, Egyptian and Israeli restaurants as well as McDonalds and Subway sandwich shops.

The temperature stays between 26 and 35c.There are some big shopping plazas, the shops include Boots, Body Shop, Marks and Spencer, Tesco - everything you would find at home is available here.

Many people come from all over the world to vacation here; they see just a tiny slice of what can be experienced if you live here for a few months. It's a place never to be forgotten where everyone finds something they love.

Qualifications

Teaching experience is not necessary, warmth for children combined with a sense of humour and great patience are essential. Some of the skills and attributes needed in general are:

- The desire to learn how to plan and organize the materials depending on the pace the children are learning at.
- Be willing and able to use facial expressions and body movements to explain simple meanings.
- Be scrupulously fair and treat every student accordingly.
- Have the ability to develop classroom management skills, instill respect for materials and discipline.
- Genuinely demonstrate admiration for effort and be able to continuously praise and encourage.
- Work as a team member, support others and share the highs and lows with colleagues.
- Maintain good health and a robust system to cope with local virus infections.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

A typical volunteer would be enthusiastic and commited to change at a grass roots level. Someone who would like to experience other cultures and likes to travel. An individual who sees themselves as giving something back and gaining satisfaction from a job well done. A person who can work with children in a responsible and caring way.

Age Range

18 years up

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Independent living

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Resume

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation's Mission Statement

The Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation works to improve the economic opportunities and life chances of young people, by funding and implementing high quality, practical English language education in government schools on Phuket Island.

Year Founded

2005