Projects Abroad in Thailand

  Thailand

Krabi

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All Year Round (you set the start and end date)

Description: Thailand is a great introduction to South East Asia, and a wonderful destination to volunteer or intern abroad. Its a beautiful country where theres much to see, including pristine beaches, exotic food and golden temples. Anyone doing overseas voluntary work in Thailand will have the chance to get beneath the country that tourists see, and discover the incredibly friendly people and unique culture that define this beautiful place.

Our projects in Thailand are available for anyone interested in volunteering in the developing world, including those on a college summer break, gap year, career break or volunteer vacation.

Projects Abroad Thailand is based in Krabi, a 1-hour flight south of Bangkok, on the Andaman Sea coast. This area is famous for its dramatic limestone cliffs. Our Teaching and Care projects are all located in and around Krabi town and our volunteers live either with local host families in the area or at our shared volunteer house, just outside the small town of Ao Nang, which is also home to all our Conservation volunteers.

All our volunteers in Thailand are located in Krabi Province, which creates a great spirit among the team, as well as a feeling of belonging to the local community. The friendliness of the Thai people is world renowned. Many will want to practice speaking English with you, whether on the bus, at the market or on your walk home from work.

Volunteering on a Placement Overseas in Thailand

Conservation - All volunteers on our conservation project in Thailand will be met by one of our staff in Krabi, just 20km from Ao Nang where the project is based. This trip is perfect for anyone fascinated by marine life. You complete a four day Open Water course to qualify you to dive. In the initial stages in shallow water, you will learn how to breathe, clear your mask and equalize pressure. You will also become familiar with the 'buddy' system and underwater sign language. Observing and analyzing reef damage and fish populations, you play a part in conserving this precious ecosystem of the coast of South East Thailand.

When you have qualified your efforts are rewarded as you descend to a stunningly clear underwater world of tropical fish, turtles, sea urchins and corals that you never knew existed. After your two or three weeks, you return home with a universally recognized qualification, a wealth of diving experience and the knowledge that you have made a useful contribution to the preservation of a wonderful marine ecosystem - and some great memories of Thailand.

Care & Community - Care & Community volunteers in Kindergartens and Care Centers will find themselves playing games and singing songs with the children, helping them gain independence in their daily lives, and teaching them basic English. Through this daily interaction at an early level, they form a strong foundation for their future schooling. Volunteers will take part in a wide variety of activities within the Care Centers and your own ideas for games, songs, or new activities will be greatly appreciated.

The care projects within the special schools and handicapped centers also involve a range of work from helping feed and wash the very young children to helping disabled children learn basic life skills and supporting them as they undertake everyday activities. Games and songs are also popular. Helping the children socialize and have fun is very important.

Teaching - Thai students are generally dedicated and hard working, responding to the arrival of a new face. Thai culture ensures that they are especially respectful to teachers in general - although children are still children! Most volunteers work in elementary schools with children from the ages of about 4 to 11. This age group enjoy the fun elements that our volunteer teachers inject into lessons; activities like songs, games, and coloring will all be well received.

If you prefer, you can choose to work with older children between 11 and 16 years old. The older students like to find out about life where you come from. If you have an interest in sports, they will want to know which team you support. A popular lesson may be teaching a class how to sing one of the latest pop songs from the west and helping them to understand what it is all about. However, this age group will be working towards set exams and you will have a syllabus to follow and are likely to get asked some grammar questions from time to time.

If you speak good French we also offer a placement teaching the French language to school children. Just let us know what you're interested in!

Also, for high school volunteers between the ages of 16 and 19, we offer a two-week summer special on our incredible diving and marine conservation project!

Highlights: Thai culture is one of the strongest in the world. As a country that was never colonized, Thai people are eager to keep hold of their uniqueness. The generosity of Thai's is sometimes unimaginable and can take some getting used to. People are always willing to help and can go to extraordinary lengths, such as accompanying you on a two hour bus journey to make sure you get there safely!

All accommodation is organized, paid for and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Thailand.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: None.

Cost in US$: From US$ 2,545 up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range: 16-80

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

Participants Travel to Thailand Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992