Description

A Wonderful Introduction to Service
Welcome to one of the world's truly special places! This wonderful program at our Ricefields Service Base includes 40 hours of rewarding service mixed with enriching cultural and social activities. This is our single most popular and rewarding service program in the world, and it's also a great opportunity to share your life with some of the planet's kindest people.

Live in an Authentic Thai Village
Life here is easy going and enjoyable. Villagers are really appreciative of our service initiatives, and you'll feel their warm welcome in a thousand ways. Your daily routine might include offering alms to the local monks, helping repair or build houses, teaching English, providing meals to elderly citizens, shopping at the market, and cooking sticky rice! While it will certainly be different from your home, you'll quickly groove into Thai life and begin to live like a local.

You'll sleep in a cool and comfortable Thai-style bed and enjoy an attached Western bathroom with a hot shower. You'll make friends with the other students in your room (or hong), and each hong will have a dedicated staff member who will serve as the Hua Naa Hong (or Head of the Room). Your Hua Naa Hong will help you get the most from your stay by organizing special activities such as a shopping trip to a local bazaar, a night on the town, an evening of Thai dancing and music, or a traditional Thai massage. To encourage more diversity, you will not necessarily join the same community service projects as your roommates. We do this to further enhance your learning experience and knit the whole Ricefields team closely together.

Try Several Different Service Projects
We offer nine distinct and rewarding community service projects at The Ricefields Base, and you'll have the chance to work on at least three of these during your stay. On the weekend, there will be one daily project (often a larger undertaking shared by the entire Base). This will allow time for social activities and the chance to explore other parts of Thailand. Each community service project normally accommodates between three and twelve students and is led by experienced and dedicated Thai and Western staff members.

Life at The Base is an Absolute Blast!
Everyone loves The Ricefields Base and the awesome host family! Musicians put on concerts, villagers teach Thai dance, staff members barbecue by the pool, trained masseuses give Thai massages, and ping-pong matches, yoga sessions, volleyball tournaments, and pick-up soccer games punctuate your free time. One of the most popular activities is monk chats, which allow you to sit down with local monks and ask questions about Buddhist practice and life.

Villagers are also quite likely to invite your hong over for dinner, or you may find yourself getting involved with diverse activities such as planting rice, helping to birth a calf, going disco bowling, and learning to cook delicious Thai food.

Give a Little and Get Back a Lot!
You'll love the villagers, the service, the laughing children, your host family, the cool leaders, and the overall vibe at The Ricefields Base. You'll become part of a positive, happy team and quickly see the impact of your service work. Many past students tell us that their experience here changed their lives. Come join us you'll never forget your time here.

Want to continue your summer adventure? This program easily connects with our other great trips in Southeast Asia, China and India.

Highlights

LIVE at our fantastic Rustic Pathways Ricefields Base in one of the most welcoming and friendly villages in Thailand.

LOVE life in rural Thailand and develop a strong bond with our legendary Ricefields staff as you soak in the cool Thai culture.

DELVE into the cool culture of rural Northeast Thailand on nine meaningful service projects that help children, the elderly, and families in your host village and the surrounding communities.

STAY for a week before connecting to another program or choose to stay and immerse yourself in life here it's up to you!

Qualifications

Students must be 14-years old and up to participate on the program. Additionally, participants must submit an application through the Rustic Pathways website and complete the appropriate documents before traveling on the program.

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism

Languages

• English
• Thai

Cost in US$:

USD 1,295 per week + 225 Internal Airfare

Cost Includes:

• Travel while in host country
• Housing
• Food
• Excursions
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials pre-departure
• Written materials abroad

Program Fees Include:

The above cost includes all ground transportation in-country, 3 meals a day, housing, staff through the duration of the program, all supplies for the volunteer projects and all excursions on the program itinerary not listed as "optional".

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 8-35 students

Scholarships are Available

Scholarships are available annually for students interested in Rustic Pathways programs on an application basis. The scholarships are for all Rustic Pathways programs across the world and not only for this particular program. Applications for scholarships are available starting in late January or early February for students and interested parties should contact Rustic Pathways directly to learn how to apply.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 business days

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement

Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded

1983