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Teach English to Adults and Children of Rural Minority Groups

Teach English volunteer abroad Thailand Gap Year TEFL

Location Thailand
Start Date First and third Saturday of every month
Duration
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The Project

Volunteer in the rural outskirts of Chiang Rai and work with hilltribe communities on a number of initiatives to raise their living standards and increase their opportunities for growth and development. Whilst the foundation helps individuals to get citizenship registration allowing them access to some basic government support, including registration for education and healthcare. Teams of volunteers work to provide English classes at schools, childcare centres, disabled children’s shelters and at the temple, enabling the community to access better jobs.
Why the project needs you

This very well constructed project runs a number of initiatives that are dependent on the assistance of volunteers in their success. Hundreds of individuals have already been helped by the foundation and, with more volunteers, thousands more will benefit. Alongside English teaching, volunteers spend time with children in the local hospitals who receive very little attention otherwise, and also participate in clothing donation distribution and 2-4 day excursions to more remote villages to conduct workshops and projects.

Project Location

The project camp is situated 20 minutes north of Chiang Rai, in the most northern province of Thailand, and has all the facilities on-site, including the accommodation, offices, classrooms, outdoor dining area, Wi-Fi and TV room. Each Saturday late-afternoon volunteers can get a lift into the city of Chiang Rai to enjoy the night markets and restaurants. Some chose to stay the weekend and return on Monday, where others prefer to return the same night to enjoy relaxing in the tranquillity of the camp at the weekend.
Project Facts

• Duration: 2 - 12 weeks
• Cost: £845 ($1479) for 2 weeks, £100 ($175) for each week thereafter
• Requirements: age 17+
• Location: Baan Reepa outside Chiang Rai
• Project activities: Teaching, clothing distribution, caring for children in hospitals, helping in child care centres at the local temple and the disabled children’s shelter
• Working hours: Tuesday - Saturday 8.30-17.00
• Project Availability: Project starts 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. Project closed whole of October and March to the end of May. Alternative project options are available at these times.
What is included

•Accommodation: Shared dormitories on the project site
•Food: 3 meals per day – Breakfast and Dinner (except Saturday dinner and all day on Sunday)
•Airport pick up
•Transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Rai
• Pre-departure information pack
•Training: Orientation
•Support: 24 hour support from on-site coordinator
•Transportation to and from projects
•Excursion Planning: staff will help organise activities and excursions (some activities may cost extra
What is not included

•Flights
•Insurance
•Visas
•Saturday evening meal and food all day Sunday
• Airport transfer at the end of the project

Your life outside the project

The project is based in Baan Reepa at Akha hill tribe village based 20 minutes north of Chiang Rai. The surrounding area is beautiful, lush and green and there is plenty of wildlife, scenery and culture to enjoy during your stay. Whilst on your project, you will be involved in a local homestay for 3-4 nights, where you will help out on local village projects. Outside of this time, on your other weekends, you are free to explore the town. To get into town, you either need to share lifts and have a scour around to see if anyone else is going in to town, or from 6.30-8.00am there may be some songtaews who take the locals from the village into town. These are cheap, from around 30baht however, if you want to go into town later, you may need to call for a songtaew to come and pick you up. This is best arranged on Friday so you will have confirmation for the weekend.

Outside of this, there will be regular Saturday night trips into Chiang Rai for shopping and sightseeing and there are many local sites to explore within Chiang Rai. Make sure you buy some local handicrafts from the eBannok project or use your time while you are on your homestay to buy something from one of the local villages.
Ideas for Independent Travel

Beaches of Krabi and Trang

Krabi and Trang are the best places in Thailand to experience tropical paradise. Both beaches have soft white sand, warm turquoise water, towering limestone cliffs, and small coves and offshore islands to explore.

Elephant trekking in the jungle

Explore the dense highland jungles of the north on the back of a magnificent Asian elephant, stay overnight with a hilltribe family and fall asleep to the sounds of the wild. Will you be lucky enough to spot a Burmese python?

Scuba Diving on Manta Ray expeditions

The best place to see these legendary ‘devil fish’ is the nutrient-rich waters of Koh Bon, an island north of Similan. Surround yourself with swirling mantas as they pass close by blocking the sunlight with their elegant mass. Best encounters are between November and April.

Project Quality

Kaya evaluates every project we offer to ensure that we only commit to programmes with genuine need for volunteer aid, not just financial assistance. We develop relationships with the projects and help shape initiatives to ensure in the long run that we do not encourage dependence on outside help, but rather establish foundations on which the people can build and develop themselves. We also ensure that the members of those communities are open and eager to learn and discover our culture, as we become a part of theirs. The quality and sustainability of our programmes are very important to us. We want you to have the most fulfilling and memorable time as possible, and be part of something that is going to last into future generations.

Accommodation & Meals

Volunteers stay in dormitories and in most cases, they share their room with other volunteers. The dormitories are usually single-sex. Three meals a day are provided, all of which are included in the placement fees, with the exception of dinner on Saturdays and all meals on Sundays.

In-Country Coordinators

Each country coordinator is there to make sure your time in your programme runs smoothly. They will pick you up from the airport and take you on your orientation. All in-country coordinators are English speaking and are there to ensure you have all the information and resources for the best placement.

24/7 Emergency Support

As well as support from your in-country coordinators, you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line managed by Kaya staff, in case any problem should arise while you're overseas.

Kaya Help-desk

Each member of Kaya staff have worked, travelled, studied or volunteered abroad, and many staff have visited and volunteered in our projects knowing firsthand the country and nature of the programme placements. Their knowledge of international travel and volunteering is invaluable, and they can give you good advice and tips to make the most of your international placement.

Briefing Pack & Materials

Once you have booked a programme, an information pack will be sent out detailing everything you need to know - from specific project details and vaccinations required to the visa application process.

Airport Pickup

When you arrive at your destination a member of Kaya staff will meet you with a warm welcome at the airport and take you to your accommodation to get you set up for your stay.

Cultural Excursions

Kaya staff are at hand to help organise weekend excursions and activities, which can include visiting cultural places of significance and visiting various projects around the area. This way you can learn firsthand about each project and take part in local cultural and adventure activities.

Arrival Orientation

Shortly after you arrive you will be given your in-country orientation by our coordinator in Bangkok, who will take you on a city tour of the cultural highlights. Information regarding safety and security will be given along with some much needed lingo when moving and travelling around the area. Following this orientation you will be transferred to your project-site where you will receive a project-specific orientation to prepare you for your volunteer work.

Language Classes

At the beginning of your stay the in-country team will provide basic language classes to help you during your time on your placement.

Local Community Benefits

Not only is your participation on your project of great help to the local communities, but so is the boost to the local economy that volunteers create while they are visiting.