A Thai Culture Experience! Teach at a Buddhist Temple

  Thailand

• All Other Areas in Thailand: 
Nong Khai
• 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: 2007, 2008 flexible start dates

Description: Teach and experience Thai culture at a Buddhist Temple School in Thailand, a very unique experience, teach novices together with Buddhist monks, teachers, learn about Buddhism and understand the social function a temple school, serve in a country with many poor!

Openmind projects supports temple schools in Thailand, with young boys, novices, aged 13- 18 years who normally come from poor families in villages.

One temple, Prathatvittaya, Secondary school (Mataiyum 1-6) is located in Nongkhai by the Mekong River, our base town in Northeast Thailand, Isan, 4 kilometers from the town center. Many volunteers have taught English and computer skills there. Volunteers stay at our Volunteer Houses in Nongkai and are picked up by school mini bus Mondays - Fridays.

There are more 200 students and 18 teachers. Of the teachers 80 % are monks and the rest 'normal' teachers. The director is a monk and also abbot and the new principal is Phra Tharabon, the computer teacher that many volunteers have enjoyed working with.

The other temple is in Krabi town, the popular backpacker town by the sea, east of Puhket Island. Men can stay at the temple. We can arrange for home stay for women unless they choose to stay at one of the many guesthouses in Krabi.

The temple school has about 200 students living there. Most of the boys come from poor circumstances, 'broken' families and poor, single parent families, or are orphans from the south of Thailand. Volunteers teach English and also do computer training with the novices.

Highlights: Teaching at a temple is quite similar to teaching in other schools with some exceptions. In the morning novices learn about Buddhism, Dharma, and Pail, the ancient language of Buddhism. Other subjects are taught after lunch which is the last meal of the day they eat. They study English, Thai, Science, Social studies, Computers, Health, Mathematics, and Buddhism and so on. So volunteers teach in the afternoons. Novices cannot do any sports or sing, so teaching is done without songs or sports activities but some games are allowed. Women must not touch monks or novices which should be remembered when walking about the classroom.

Volunteering at a temple obviously provides an amazing opportunity to learn more about Buddhism, esp. the rather strict Theravada Buddhism practiced in Thailand. Monks, maybe the Abbot himself, are often willing to practice their English with volunteers while also explaining Buddhism to the interested.

If you want to, you can contact Nick, from our Openmind projects team, who used to teach at Wat Phrathatvittaya with volunteers and who was a novice and monk for 11 years.

Qualifications: No formal qualifications required
Good English

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Flexible, curious, social, patient, wants to travel, learn and help.

Age Range: 20 plus

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Thailand Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Resume
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Alumni Network
• 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