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Our volunteers teach novice Buddhist monks, ranging in age from 12-18, at a monastery school located in a 600 year old temple in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Objectives of the school consist of "enhancing the knowledge of monks and novices in both religious and secular subjects" and "to provide secondary education for boys who are unable to afford such opportunities elsewhere." All the students are novice monks and many, but not all, of the faculty and administration are Buddhist monks. Volunteers assist the Thai faculty with English (and optionally in art) education roughly 15 hours a week (Monday – Friday).

During their service, volunteers are welcomed to join the students and teachers in practicing group meditation, Buddhist prayers and chants, along with other religious and cultural celebrations and activities that occur within the school and community. However, these activities are optional for the volunteer. The students and administration will not be hurt or upset if the volunteer doesn’t want to take part in the religious activities. They’re just happy you’re there to help out.

NOTE: The program is closed due to school holidays March 30 - May 16

Minimum Program Length: 2 weeks
Start Date: 1st and 3rd Monday of every month
Closed Dates: March 30 - May 16
Arrival Date: 3 days prior to your Start Date (Friday)
Minimum Age: 19 years old
Volunteer Gender: Male and Female

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:
Volunteers will be staying in a shared apartment and are responsible for their own breakfast and dinner. Special diet requirements or restrictions can easily be accommodated. There is an excellent Thai vegetarian restaurant within a five minute walk from the temple.

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:
During term time you will typically be teaching Monday to Friday for 3-5 hours a day. These classes will either be in the mornings, afternoons or both. The school has a one hour lunch break. The school year goes from mid-May to early-April. The school is closed on weekends and all Buddhist and Thai holidays.

Suggested Donations
Any stationary, English as a Second Language (ESL) books, English teaching materials and resources, such as ESL CDs and DVDs would be gladly appreciated.

You will have the choice of either leading your own class or assisting a Thai teacher in their daily lessons. Your placement is completely dependent upon your level of comfort within the classroom. Depending upon your educational background, you may also want to teach art or help in other subject areas and activities that may be occurring at the school during you service. It is important to the school administration that the volunteer assists with English education at the school. However, it is also very important to the school administration that the volunteer receives a full experience and education about Thailand, Thai culture and Buddhism during their service. For this reason, be prepared to learn as much as you teach.

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.