Volunteer Opportunities at National Parks, Schools and Temples

  Cambodia

Phnom Penh

  Laos

• Rural Areas: 
Rural Areas

  Nepal

• Kathmandu: 
Kathmandu

  Thailand

• Chiang Mai: 
Chiang Mai
• All Other Areas in Thailand: 
Trang,  Khon Kaen,  Nong Khai,  Chiang Rai
• Phuket: 
Phuket

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Every month

Description: Your chance to be a true volunteer in grass roots projects and to get the opportunity to work with local people, to see their country, village, culture and nature through their eyes.

CNN recommends 8 volunteer organizations world wide in their Be the Change Initiative. Open Mind Projects is one!

You can teach English or computer skills at schools, create websites and information material for national parks and conduct tour guide training for rangers at national parks, hospitality training for homestay families in villages.

Welcome to our free and some say the best 3 day Volunteer Training in SE Asia, with intense learning by doing language, culture and teach training, lots of practical tasks, before you start your volunteer period. Accommodation is free. You are welcomed and trained by our local staff who come from Open Mind Projects own projects, so you can see for yourself, the effects of our work.

The Training is open to other travelers too, who do not have the time to volunteer, against a fee.

Highlights: Our projects offer volunteer and intern opportunities that suit all levels of experience and ages. You work with local teachers, national park rangers and visitor center staff, villagers, other volunteers.

You can choose to stay in one of our volunteer houses, in Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, with local host families or tents, bungalows in a national park.

* Live with a host family in a small village or in town. Immerse yourself in local life and culture.
* Live with other volunteers in a volunteer house, make international friends while helping local ones.
* Live with monks.Stay at a temple, learn the life of Buddhist monks.
* Live in a village. Teach at a small village school in the rice fields, on an island, by the sea, in the mountains.
* Live at a ranger station in the jungle in a national park or by the sea, in the mountains.
* Combine a volunteer placement in one country with a placement in another; Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal.

Qualifications: Volunteers who come to teach should speak good English and if possible have basic computer skills. No prior teaching experience is required. Volunteers teaching computers should have some knowledge of the subject.

Important volunteer qualities are initiative, independence, energy, patience and open minds.

Cost in US$: See our website

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open mind projects volunteers come from all over the world, of all ages, 18 - 80! They are independent, flexible, openminded and want to help.

Age Range: 18 +

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

Participants Travel Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-4

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

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

Open mind projects's Mission Statement: Open Mind Projects is a bridge to knowledge and cross-cultural understanding, bridging digital and knowledge divides between rich and poor. Open Mind Projects arranges placements for international volunteers to schools, Orphan Homes, other institutions and projects, in Thailand and Laos. Open Mind Projects cooperates with these schools and institutions with learning ideas, technology and international volunteers. Schools and other learning/youth institutions in developing nations are understaffed and under resources. New information technology and international volunteers help offset this advantage. Open Mind Projects wants to facilitate valuable cross-cultural experience, personal development, for volunteers and local childeren and students. An opportunity to learn about other cultures while making local and international friends, within an affordable backpacker budget.

Year Founded: 2001