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 | 17 Feb | 2 Mar | 16 Mar | 4 May | 18 May | 1 Jun | 15 Jun | 6 Jul | 20 Jul | 3 Aug | 17 Aug | 7 Sep | 21 Sep | 5 Oct | 19 Oct | 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 in shared rooms in volunteer house
- Breakfast everyday and lunch every working day
- Assistance from the onsite co-ordinator
- Two day orientation includng half-day city tour, cultural dinner and show
What's not included
- Flights to and from Thailand
- Visas if required
- Medical Insurance to cover repatriation
- Cost of CRB check
- Transport to and from project
- Dinner and lunch at weekends
Highlights
- Teach English to novice Buddhist monks in northern Thailand
- Work in a holistic temple school
- Learn to meditate and join in and celebrate Buddhist festivals
- Enjoy spending free time in the fascinating city of Chiang Mai
- Benefit from a comprehensive two-day orientation programme
- Receive full support from the onsite co-ordinator
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.
Daily life starts early in the temple schools of Chiang Mai. As the volunteers arrive the novice monks will be lining up to get the morning notices from the faculty. Education in the temple schools is holistic - combining mind and body as rarely seen in the west - and the school day starts with a period of prayer and meditation. Classes begin at 8.30 am and a further session of prayer and meditation follows the lunch break.
Fluency in English is highly prized in Thailand and English-speaking volunteers are in high demand. Although teaching English will be a priority, volunteers will also have the chance to teach classes in art or share other skills they may have and can bring to share with the novices. The role of the volunteer will depend entirely on their comfort level. There is the option of going into class with a Thai teacher and assisting with the daily lessons, but for those who feel confident on their own, there will be the excitement of planning their own lessons and leading their own class. The school day is from 8.30 am - 4.30 pm from Monday to Friday and volunteers will expect to teach for about 15 - 20 hours a week.
The proficiency of volunteers in the English language will benefit so many students, many of whom come from impoverished families and would not be able to afford an education if it was not for the charity of the Buddhist community. In all but one of the five temple schools all of the students are novice monks and the same is true of their teachers, all of whom wear the saffron robe as a way of life.
Most of the novice monks will be aged between 12 – 15 years old and will have had little interaction with foreigners. Volunteers are encouraged to take lunch with the students and their teachers - and what a treat that is - when the daily menu consists of stir-fries and savoury curries and jasmine rice! Over lunch is a great time for volunteers to get to know the students and monks with whom they will be working.
To join this project, volunteers need to be 18 years old or over and although no specific qualifications are required, volunteers should enjoy working with young people and teenagers, have a creative flair, as well as being open and respectful to Buddhism and the monks' culture. Volunteers will, however, need to be fluent in both written and oral English and provide a certified police background check before their placement begins. This is a legal requirement for anyone working with children and young people.
This project offers a fantastic opportunity which will doubtless enrich the lives of the volunteers who spend some time here. There is no way that visiting Thailand as a tourist would give volunteers access to authentic Buddhist temples where they will be able to join in group meditation, recite mantrass with the students and celebrate their festivals as a guest of the monastic community. It is certainly a chance in a lifetime and a tremendous experience for volunteers who join this project.
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
It is the most fulfilling work I have ever done, and believe I will ever find. The novices, the teachers, and the people of Thailand made this experience the best of my life thus far.
Dylan, USA (Teaching Novice Buddhist Monks)
Teaching Monks has definitely made my trip marvellous and unforgettable. Living in Chiang Mai for two weeks as a volunteer, I had the precious opportunity to experience Thai life almost as a local. People here always wear a big warm smile, and the city would just melt everyone’s heart. I would highly recommend volunteers to come teaching English to Monks. The satisfactory feeling that comes afterwards is truly rewarding!
Helen, HongKong (Teaching Novice Buddhist Monks)
Teaching Monks for my short time was a good opportunity to look into the lifestyle of teaching, as it is something I plan on doing after I graduate from college. If teaching is not your profession, this is still a positive experience to do something out of the norm and something you can look back on later in life and appreciate the small difference you might have made in someone’s life.
Ben, USA (Teaching Novice Buddhist Monks)