Duration & Fees
| 6 weeks | £1,245 |
| 8 weeks | £1,445 |
Please note: The currency conversion is an estimate based on today's exchange rates and is to be used as a guide only. All payments to Amanzi Travel have to be made in Pounds Sterling (GBP)
Start Dates
Project Start Dates are on the first and third Mondays of each month. Volunteers are requested to arrive the Friday before the start of their project for their two day orientation.
Start Dates for 2020
6 Jan | 20 Jan | 3 Feb | 18 May | 1 Jun | 15 Jun | 6 Jul | 20 Jul | 3 Aug | 17 Aug | 7 Sep | 2 Nov | 16 Nov | 7 Dec | 21 Dec
Note: This project is closed for Thailand Summer Break and Mid-Thailand School Break
Payment
£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
What's Included
- Airport transfer on arrival (departure transfer can be arranged through project staff on the ground - approx 5 USD)
- Accommodation during orientation and for the duration of the project
- Breakfast daily and Lunch during the working week
- Two day orientation including half-day city tour, cultural dinner and show
- Support from onsite co-ordinator
- 24 hour emergency assistance
What's not included
- Flights
- Visas if required
- Insurance to include cover for repatriation
- Police background check
- Lunch at weekends and dinner daily
- Activities during the weekend in surrounding area
- Transport to and from project on working days (approx 2 USD each day) unless you choose to stay on site.
Highlights
- Teach in schools in rural communities and take the opportunity to become immersed in the vibrant thai local life
- Experience the rural Thailand that tourists seldom encounter
- Take part in local community events such as temple fairs and other cultural activities
- Meet and make friends with other volunteers from all over the world
- Live and work in beautiful rural Thailand
- Spend weekends relaxing and exploring the vibrant City of Chiang Mai and surrounding area
Thailand is a country with great appeal with ancient capitals, forests, mountains and exciting festivals that are truly captivating. Chiang Mai, in the north of the country, is one of the most popular cities for tourists from all over the world who come to take cookery or massage courses, to trek to the maountains or to visit remote hill tribes. Volunteers see a different side of Thailand, something that the average visitor misses altogether, and also have the satisfaction of knowing that they have changed lives in small but significant ways during their volunteer placement to this beautiful and exciting country.
The day starts early in rural Thailand - with the daily procession of the local monks on their daily rounds. The shops all open and the children - all in uniform - set out for school. The school is one of the three main pillars of life in Thailand, along with the home and the temple and this is clearly evident in rural Thailand where local values prevail. Rural schools uphold traditional values and offer a real insight into one of the most important aspects of Thai life. Volunteers on this project have the rare opportunity to be part of this unique culture and really immerse themselves in the rural community.
Volunteers are paired with a Thai teacher who support them during their time on their placement and help in planning lessons. There are a variety of schools involved in the project, some are very small with only 70 students while others have up to 1,500 students. Volunteers will be able to request which age they prefer to teach, from kindergarten right up to grade 12 and should expect to spend around 15 – 20 hours per week in classroom teaching each week.
Volunteers make a huge impact teaching English in Thailand, as children will learn English from native speakers. Teaching outside of the city is more beneficial to both the students and the volunteers. City volunteers are more likely to work in private schools and learning centres with children from a more privileged background. In the countryside surrounding Chiang Mai government schools have little chance of attracting international teachers and so by choosing to work in rural areas, volunteers will be helping children from far less fortunate backgrounds who would not normally meet native speaking English teachers. Volunteers have the opportunity to really have an impact on these wonderful children and will also experience a more traditional Thai school and community.
Volunteers should want to experience something off the beaten track that is not on offer to tourists and volunteers in bigger cities. The programme is available from a minimum of two weeks and is closed during Thai school holidays from March - mid-May and during October for the mid-year break.
Volunteers should be flexible, patient, have a strong sense of independence as well as a passion for working with children.
It is great if volunteers have teaching experience however no formal teaching qualifications are required just enthusiasm and a desire to help as well as fluent written and spoken English skills.
A full two-day orientation programme is arranged for all volunteers and will include a half-day city tour, cultural dinner and show.
Thailand
Thailand overview
At the centre of Indochina, is the Kingdom of Thailand – as it officially known. Thailand nestles between Burma, Laos and Cambodia above and Malaysia below, with the Gulf of Thailand to the south and the Andaman Sea to the west.
Thailand’s second largest city of Chiang Mai is known as the Rose of the North and visitors can experience homestays in local villages, rural jungle treks and 13th century Buddhist temples. The islands on Thailand’s east coast consist of Koh Phangan, Koh Toa and Koh Samui, which are famous for Full Moon parties, diving and tourism respectively and of course white sandy beaches and coral reefs. While Koh Phi Phi was hit by the 2004 Tsunami, it is also the home of ‘The Beach’ and iconic limestone cliffs. Other synonymous activities with Thailand are Muay Thai boxing, Thai cooking courses, mountain climbing, elephant riding, river rafting, canopy walking, learning to dive and holistic retreats.
The capital city Bangkok is the country’s political, commercial and cultural hub, as well as being the gateway to Thailand for most travellers arriving by air. The city is a mixture of old and new, with high rise skyscrapers, old temples, the Royal palace, wide dominating motorways and little shops on street corners. The city is used as a hub to travel around the rest of the country and its many islands, as well as the surrounding countries. Thai people are, as throughout Asia, extremely warm and welcoming and cannot help but wear that huge Asian smile.
Highlights of country
- Includes jungles, mountains, islands and beaches
- Warm and friendly Thai people
- Learn to dive in Koh Tao
- Legendry Full Moon parties on Koh Phangan
- Easy access to other Asian countries for further travel
Climate
| Seasons | Max | Min |
|---|
| Summer |
38 °C |
230 °C |
| Winter |
28 °C |
22 °C |
Thailand has a tropical climate almost all year round. Southern Thailand has two seasons; the wet season and the dry season, which are the different on the east and west coasts. The east coast has rain between September and December, while the west has heavy storms from April through until October. The south of Thailand receives the most rain, with around 2,400 mm falling each year, which is 1,000 mm more than central and northern Thailand.
Northern Thailand’s seasons are more defined. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry, except for expected rain between February and March. From November to March, there are cooling breezes in northern Thailand while the temperatures rise between March and May.
Key Facts
Population – 66.80 million
Capital - Bangkok
Currency – Thai Baht (THB)
Official languages – Thai
Time difference – GMT + 6
Telephone - +66
Volunteering is one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life! I worked teaching in a school to kids between the ages of 6-12 and they were a joy to teach. It meant that I could have complete independence teaching classes how I wanted and got to play games with the kids.
The kids are very loveable, always hugging you, and they love high fives! For anyone who wants a completely life changing experience, I would recommend this project.
Anita, UK (Chiang Mai Rural Schools Volunteer )