Enrolment form Thailand
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Volunteering in Thailand is a unique way to discover the country, its culture and people while doing a meaningful job. You can choose social work or wildlife. You must be at least 18 years old, independent and outgoing, and have a genuine desire to volunteer.

The country and culture
The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is one of the most interesting countries in Asia. The country has a pleasant blend of new and old, ancient and modern ways of life.

Thailand spreads over 16 latitudes and more than 1100 miles, with one of the most varied climates in Southeast Asia. The country is geographically split in four: mountains to the north, fertile plains in the middle, the harsh Korat Plateau to the Northeast and the southern region, with its dense rain forests and gorgeous tropical beaches. The Bay of Thailand forms the eastern coast and the western coastline is the Adaman Sea. Hundreds of islands spread into the sea on all sides of the Thai mainland.

Map of Thailand: Click

Climate
The climate is tropical with high temperatures and high humidity. In June, the monsoon announces the rainy season.
There are three different seasons – the warm season from March until May, the rainy season from June until September and the cool season from October until the end of February.  

The average temperature is around 28 degrees all year. The most comfortable time to go is from November until end of February, when humidity is lowest and there is a cool breeze from the northeast.

People
Thailand is a place where people from all of Asia meet. Only a third of the 60 million inhabitants of the country are Thai. There are large groups of Chinese and Khmers, while Malayans, Burmans, Indians and Vietnamese form a smaller part of the population. Despite this mix of nationalities, the sense of cultural and social belonging is very strong in Thailand.

Religion
Religion plays an important part in Thai culture. About 90 % are Theraveda-buddhists, whilst the rest are Muslim, Christian or Hindi. Buddhism is very important in daily life and the temple is the gathering place for all social and religious events in every town. 

Language
The main language is Thai, which is spoken in most parts of the country. There are several different dialects. Thai is a language of “tones”, which means that a word can have several meanings, depending on where you put the intonation. In Bangkok, the language of business and education is English. 

The program
The program starts on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month with one week’s language and culture lessons for social work volunteers.
This first week is very important because it is your introduction to local customs and the Thai way of living. Furthermore, you will learn some Thai vocabulary, which will come in handy during your voluntary work period. It is expected that volunteers arrive Sunday before program start. 
If you arrive earlier, each extra night will cost 35 USD.

Social work placements

A In Bangkok and surrounding provinces: Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Pathumthani, Ayuthaya, Angthong, and Lopburi, about 2 hours drive from Bangkok.
B In Chiang Mai or Nong Khai about 10 hours drive from Bangkok. The trip is by train.
Participants will be picked up at the airport in Bangkok, and taken to Ayuthaya, where they are accommodated at the volunteer hostel.

Bangkok

• Child development centres.
• Secondary schools.
• High schools.
• Buddhist temples
  

Chiang Mai og Nong Khai

• Child development centres.
• Secondary schools.
• Old people’s home.
  

A1. Child Development Centres
Child Development Centres are located in poor industrial areas. The centres have children from 2 to 6 years old. Parents bring their children here in the morning and pick them up again in the evening after work. 

Participants help with teaching, sports, games, singing, dancing, etc. It is expected that volunteers plan activities and are able to work independently.

Work is from 8 am to 12 noon. You can continue to work during the afternoon in the nearby secondary school.

A2. Secondary schools
have children from 5 to 12 years old, and there are between 10 and 40 students per class depending on the capacity and quality of the school. Teachers will help you prepare lessons.

A3. High schools
High schools are in bigger cities and have children from 12 to 19 years old. These are larger schools with between 1000 and 4000 students. English is taught as the primary foreign language, but some schools also offer lessons in French, German and Italian. If you have reasonable language skills in any of these languages, you will probably be asked to help teach. 

Some schools have up to 10 English teachers, but only a few are truly skilled in English. Conversation lessons are highly appreciated. You will work 4 to 5 hours per day from Monday to Friday.

A4. Buddhist temples
There are about 30,000 temples in Thailand, where monks live and study religion.

All of these temples receive donations to preserve the temples and surroundings. Monks are involved with social charity but are also traditionally in charge of children’s education in Thailand.

Volunteers working in temple schools will become familiar with the monks’ way of teaching, Thai culture and Buddhism. Tasks will mainly be to teach English on the primary and secondary school levels from Monday to Friday.

A5. Phayathai Babies Home
This orphanage is near Bangkok and shelters 400 abandoned children and orphans from 0 to 5 years old. The home also takes care of 40 children who are HIV positive, almost all under 2 years old.

Hospitals or poor families who are unable to care for their children send them to this orphanage just after they are born. The orphanage tries to organize adoption for the children.
Volunteers help with any odd tasks, feeding, arranging activities such as games, drawing, sports, the English alphabet and maths. European or American families adopt most of the children, so the volunteers can help the children adapt to a different culture.

The orphanage lies about 30 minutes by bus from Bangkok. Accommodation is in dormitories 10 minutes from the orphanage. The minimum age for volunteering at this orphanage is 20 years.

The Thai government enforces several rules to protect children at orphanages from sexual abuse and infectious diseases.
Volunteers who want to work at an orphanage must mail a copy of their passport upon enrolling.

100 USD extra will be added to the program fee to cover the fees for a doctor to issue the necessary health certificate.

B1. Child development centres
Child development centres are located in Mongkham and Pongyang about one hour drive from Chiang Mai. Most children come from poor families and are from 1 to 6 years old. At least one teacher speaks a little English.

Volunteers assist teachers in their work and entertain the children. Simple English is taught by singing and conversation.  Work is 5 to 6 hours per day, Monday to Friday.
It is a good idea to bring some teaching materials such as books, toys, picture dictionaries, drawing pens, etc. Pictures of your family, friends and country are good to talk about during lessons.

Accommodation is with a local host family, about 1 mile from your placement. Please remember to bring a towel and a mat to sleep on.

B2. Teaching in secondary schools
The “Ban Pong” secondary school is in Pong Village, about 30 minutes from Chiang Mai. There are about 120 children from 3 to 5 years old. There are 20 students per class. The school has 5 teachers. Only the English teacher speaks English. Volunteers will help teach beginner English and do sports with the children. The teachers also want to practice and improve their English. 
You will work Monday to Friday, 4 to 5 hours per day. You are more than welcome to bring teaching materials here as well. Smoking is not allowed in the school area. During the weekends you can go to Chiang Mai City, Sankamphheng, Mae Sa Valley, Doi Pui National Park or the surrounding villages.

In Chiang Mai there are banks, internet cafés, shops and restaurants. Accommodation is with a local host family, about 1 mile from the work placement. You will get your own room with a fan. Please remember to bring towels, bed linen and a mat to sleep on.  

Teaching generally
School holidays are from March until mid May and from mid September until November. During these periods, volunteers will either teach in summer schools, 3 hours per day or find another working placement, such as in an orphanage.

B3. Old people's home
”Ban Thamapakorn Chiangmai” is a retirement home with about 140 residents over 60 years old from 17 different provinces in northern Thailand.

There are 40 employees, of whom some speak English. The home is financed mainly by the health department and private sponsors. Most of the residents are poor, helpless people without relatives. All stay permanently at the home, are cared for, receive therapy and help if needed.

They are, as all elderly people in Thailand, respected by young people.

Tasks vary a lot, from physical training to cooking and serving food. Entertaining the residents with singing, games or simple handicrafts depends on your experience and skills. You will work 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Participants with no experience get 2 or 3 days of instructions. The retirement home lies in the centre of Chiang Mai. Smoking is not allowed. 
Accommodation is in the local hostel or in a private room near the residence. Remember to bring bed linen and towels.

Transport to the area
Participants who choose to work in Chiang Mai or Nong Khai will take the train after the first week of language and culture lessons in Ayuthaya and will be picked up by the coordinator or local host family upon arrival.

Enrolment form Thailand
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Before you travel
Living and working in Thailand is a huge challenge and you will need to adapt. It may seem overwhelming in the beginning to adapt to a completely different way of living, another language etc. Thing are not how you are used to, people react differently. The climate, the food, the atmosphere – everything is different. As for work, you will confront a harsh social reality and experience things that most tourists can’t even imagine.

Prices in Euros - including one week language and culture program

Included in the price

• Pick up and transport from the airport in Bangkok to the main office in Ayuthaya. If you land between mid-night and 7.00 am a 10 USD tip to the driver is expected.
• One week with language and culture lessons and excursions.
• Food and accommodation during the entire stay.
• Help and guidance from the coordinator during the entire stay.
• Pre departure information handbook.
  

Not included in the price

• Visa fees.
• Any entrance fee during sightseeing and travelling.
• Transport to Chiang Mai (costs 175 USD).
• Insurance.
• Round trip to Thailand.
• Transport from and to accommodation and work place. (Costs 3-4 USD per day)-
• Medical certificate for those working at the Bangkok orphanage. (costs 100 USD).
  

Participants arrive on the 2nd of July. They will be picked up at the airport in Bangkok and driven to their accommodation at the main office in Ayuthaya.

Board and accomodation
3 meals per day during the entire stay. Accommodation in a hostel or with a local host family. 3 days trip to Kanchanaburi about 80 miles west of Bangkok to see the Erawan waterfall, museums and the bridge over the River Kwai.

 

Village stay and voluntary work (16 days)
16 days in Samutsongkram Rajaburi or Nakhon Nayok. Accommodation with local host families and work in nursery schools or teaching English in secondary schools; farm work, fruit plantations or food distribution to monks. You will also spend time hiking and biking.

 

Holidays
After your work period you will return to Ayuthaya.
Next day you leave for Koh Samet, one of the most popular islands. Here you will spend two days on the beach before leaving for the airport in Bangkok.  

Price summer program

Price summer program: € 1.251

The proposed itinerary is a sample and is subject to changes to meet local field conditions.

Enrolment form Thailand
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Before you travel
Living and working in Thailand is a huge challenge and you will need to adapt. It may seem overwhelming at first to adapt to a completely different way of living, another language and pace. Nothing resembles home and people react differently. The climate, the food, the atmosphere – everything is different. At your work you will confront a harsh social reality and experience things that most tourists can’t even imagine.

You must be mature, flexible and independent to work as a volunteer. It is emotionally very demanding to work with poor people, but it also gives an opportunity to do something meaningful as you broaden your horizon and gain an experience you will never forget.

It is a good idea to enrol as soon as possible as Thailand is a very popular destination and getting cheap plane tickets can be difficult.

Visa
No visa is needed for Thailand. Upon arrival, you will receive a visa for 30 days. If your stay is longer (no more than 60 days), you should apply for a tourist visa in your home country. The earliest you can apply for a visa is 90 days before entering Thailand. If you plan to stay in Thailand for more than 60 days, you must contact the Thai embassy and apply for a
”Non immigrant Visa”. After enrolment, you will receive an ”invitation letter” from EXIS, which you have to enclose to your visa enrolment form. Visa rules change frequently, please contact you local embassy for further information. To find your local embassy:  http://www.learn4good.com/travel/thailand_embassies.htm

Pick up at the airport
If you arrive earlier than expected, you can choose the following options: Either to be picked up the day you arrive, or spend some days in Bangkok on your own. A new pick up location on Sunday before program start will be arranged by phoning the coordinator’s office.

Travel fees
Travel fees are not included in the program fees.

Enrolment
You enrol by sending the enclosed enrolment form to info@exis.org , in which you inform us about which program you prefer, as well as how long you wish to work.
Please add a letter of motivation in English, in which you explain why you wish or work as a volunteer and describe yourself. When we receive your enrolment, we will send confirmation and more details.

Vaccinations
Make sure that you have your vaccinations up to date. For more information on which vaccinations could be necessary please contact your family doctor or insurance company.

Cancellation insurance
It's advised to underwrite a cancellation insurance.

Enrolment - deposit
Upon receipt of your enrolment form, EXIS will send you a confirmation and invoice. A deposit of 200 € is to be paid upon receipt of this confirmation. The remaining amount is to be paid six weeks prior to your arrival. If you enrol less that six weeks before arrival, the entire program price will be payable upon enrolment.

Cancellation
If you cancel your application before receiving information about your host family you will be able to have your deposit refunded less a deduction of 200 € for administration expenses.
If your application is cancelled after receiving the address of your host family, your deposit will not be refunded whilst the balance will be refunded in full. Once the language course has commenced, no refunds will be made.

Travel expenses
All prices are excluding travel expenses. Mail to info@exis.org for package price.

Prices
All prices are mentioned in Euros.

Price changes
EXIS reserve the right for changing the prices without further notice, in case of changed foreign currency or other circumstances, that are beyond our control.