Affordable Volunteer Opportunities Abroad
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Our volunteers serve within an organization that helps single mothers (mostly young) in crisis acquire skills and knowledge to obtain independent self sufficiency. Volunteers assist and work alongside the home’s staff from 8:30am – 4:30 pm (Monday – Friday). There are three tracks of volunteer service in this project.

Track one is a construction / building project. In this track volunteers will assist in the construction of (mostly) bamboo structures that will act as dormitories and work spaces for staff, volunteers and the women and children that reside at the home. Volunteers in this track should have a basic knowledge of building and tools, be between the ages of 20-40 and able to work in the heat.

Track two is a gardening project. In this track volunteers will assist in the creation of new and upkeep of current gardens, plant life and overall grounds of the home. Volunteers in this track will need to have a basic knowledge of gardening and working with plants, be 20 years or older, in good physical condition and able to work in the heat.

Track three is a care giving project. In the caregiver program volunteers will assist in the day to day care of children at the home, along with assisting in the needs of the women residing at the home. Volunteers in this track must be 20 years old or older, have experience and a love for young children. Considering many of the women and children at the home have recently suffered due to the mistreatment or abuse of men, the home requests that all volunteers serving in this track be female.

Please note that volunteers are able to serve in all three tracks within this project, so long as they spend at least the minimum of four weeks in each one. Although one chooses a specific track in which they wish to serve, they may pick up secondary service roles (organizing activities for the children, organizing exercise opportunities for the women, health and nutrition training, teaching ESL, etc.) during their time as a volunteer at the home.

Minimum Program Length: 4 weeks
Start Date: 1st and 3rd Monday of every month
Arrival Date: 3 days prior to your Start Date (Friday)
Minimum Age: 20 years old
Volunteer Gender: Male and Female (Track 3 is only available to females)

Accommodation:
Volunteers are placed in a single, or shared apartment with other volunteers (depending upon availability). If you have a specific request, or prefer a private accommodation, please state your preferences in the application form. Based on the location of your placement and your accommodation, you might have to commute daily by public transportation or bicycle.

Food:
2 – 3 meals per day are included in your program fee if you stay at the home. All volunteers are invited to join the women and staff at the home for lunch. Volunteers staying in a shared apartment are responsible for their own breakfast and dinner. Special diet requirements or restrictions can easily be accommodated. There are several excellent vegetarian restaurants within Chiang Mai.

Pick-up Info:
A Volunteer Visions representative will be waiting for you at your arrival point and guide you to your accommodation and project location.

Project Schedule:
Volunteers will be working from 8:30 – 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Volunteers may occasionally be asked to work on the weekends and in the evenings during special holiday celebrations that occur at the home.

Suggested Donations
Books (ESL books for adults and story books for children), stationary and art supplies would be gladly appreciated.

Volunteers in all three tracks within the Single mother’s home project will serve under the direction of the director and volunteer coordinator at the home.

In track one (Construction and building) volunteers will work alongside the construction workers at the home in building (mostly) bamboo structures. The single mother’s home has recently moved to a new location in a rural area surrounded by rice paddies. The construction of dormitories (for the women and their children, staff and volunteers) and training and office space is essential. Volunteers will be working outside (weather permitting) assisting in all phases of the construction (the treatment and sealing of the bamboo, laying the cement foundation, assembling the frame and walls, etc.). Due to having to work outside and spend a lot of time in the heat, the home requests for volunteers to be in good physical condition. Although volunteers will have to work in the sun and heat, they will be more than welcome to take breaks when needed and allow time to take in the beauty of the northern Thai countryside.

In track two (gardening) volunteers will assist in the garden located on the home’s grounds. One of the skills that women learn during their time at the home is organic, sustainable agriculture. Volunteers will therefore assist the staff and women at the home with the upkeep of the plants in the garden, along with the greenery throughout the grounds of the home. Upkeep in the garden consists of planting new seeds and plants, watering and fertilizing the existing plants. Trimming the bushes, cutting the grass and pulling weeds at the home, along with general upkeep are also part of the role of volunteers in this track.

In track three (Care giving) volunteers will assist in the supervision of the many children at the home. It’s important for the women at the home to take part in different classes (ESL, Computer, financial management, etc.). While the women are taking part in these classes it’s important that their young children are well cared for, so the women can concentrate on their studies. Therefore the volunteers in this track will devote their time to the supervision of the children during the day and while their mothers are busy learning the essential skills that will help them obtain independent self sufficiency. As of now, the age of children at the home range from newborns to seven years old. Volunteers will look after the babies and toddlers, change diapers, and play when around the younger children. Organizing simple games or watching to make sure the older children don’t get into too much trouble will also be the role of volunteers in this track.

Suggested Skills and Interests

All our volunteers are placed within the northern city of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a lovely city, surrounded by mountains and fertile rice paddies. Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city with a population of roughly 700,000. The city is considered the cultural and physical capital of (what used to be) the northern Thai (Lanna) kingdom. Chiang Mai is the home of an international airport, restaurants of almost every cuisine, unbelievable shopping, seven universities and world class hospitals.

Local Activities and Excursions

Besides temple gazing at Chiang Mai’s more than 300 Buddhist temples (wat); there are many different optional activities that volunteers are encouraged to take part in during breaks or after completion of their volunteer service to increase their travel experience and knowledge of Thailand. All courses and activities use English as the medium of communication. If a volunteer is interested in taking part in one of the activities listed below, make note of this in your volunteer application so arrangements can be made prior to arrival.

Thai cooking courses

All courses consist of a student to instructor ratio of nine to one, or less. The course programs allow for at least five different traditional Thai dishes made per lesson. All courses are located in Chiang Mai. Courses are six hours long and consist of a local market tour by the instructors to purchase the ingredients for the course. Volunteer Visions will organize an optional Thai cooking course for an additional fee of:

• One day course: $35.00
• Two day course: $62.00

Thai Massage Courses

The owner of the massage school is a very kind woman who appreciates the service our volunteers do in Thailand. For that reason she has gives our volunteers discounted prices, which are listed below.

The one day courses are offered on Saturdays and can be studied on weekends or holidays during volunteer service. Volunteer Visions will organize an optional after service, or during service weekend massage course for an additional program fee of:

• $45.00 – Basics of Thai body massage- 1 day (6 hours total).
• $42.00 – Traditional Thai Body Balancing Exercise- 1 day (6 hours total).

The longer 2-10 day massage courses can be studied during a holiday (3 day) weekend or after the volunteer has completed their volunteer service. Volunteer Visions will organize an optional after service massage course for volunteers for an additional program fee of:

• $80.00 – Foot massage- 2 days (12 hours total).
• $70.00 – Oil massage- 2 days (12 hours total).
• $110.00 - Thai massage- 3 days (18 hours total).
• $140.00 – Thai massage- 10 days (60 hours total).

* Please note that the Thai massage school that offers our volunteers the discounted prices listed above is closed on Sundays.

* After a day of service, Volunteer Visions will be happy to point volunteers in the right direction to where they can receive an incredible one hour Thai massage for roughly six dollars!

Jungle Treks

Jungle treks allow volunteers, especially those who have service sites in a city, to experience more of Thailand’s nature. There are a few different jungle treks to choose from. All treks are all-inclusive (including food and lodging) for the time the volunteer is on the trek. Most treks include stops in remote hill tribe villages, rafts and elephant training areas. Volunteer Visions will organize an optional jungle trek, after service, for an additional program fee of:

• $40.00 - 2 days/1 night
• $55.00 – 3 days/2 nights

Please note that occasionally, due to weather, holidays, timing of service programs and secondary activities, some activities maybe canceled, or unavailable at the time a volunteer would like to participate. If this occurs a full refund of the additional program fee will be given to the volunteer before they complete their volunteer experience, or the activity will be rescheduled for another time when the volunteer is able to participate.