Volunteer Combinations in Thailand. Design your own Volunteer Package!

  Laos

Viangchan

  Thailand

• Chiang Mai: 
Chiang Mai
• All Other Areas in Thailand: 
Rayong,  Pattaya,  Surat Thani,  Trang,  Khon Kaen,  Nong Khai,  Udon Thani,  Nakhon Ratchasima
• Phuket: 
Phuket

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Flexible, monthly orientations for new volunteers

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

Experience Required: no

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

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

Post-Program 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