Volunthai: Volunteers For Thailand places volunteer teachers in homestay/teach programmes in rural Thailand

Location: Northeastern Thailand

Volunteer Work: Volunteers teach in rural high schools with 500-2000 students, from twelve to eighteen years old. Students already have basic English skills. Volunteers work with the schools’ English teachers to develop lessons for the classroom (songs and games are preferred). These schools have agreed to provide food and accommodation to our volunteers in exchange for their teaching in the classroom 3-4 hours per day.

Commitment: 2 weeks minimum

Cost: The cost of a one-month (or less than one month) homestay, including all food and accommodation is US$375 (add US$200 for each additional month). Your payment goes directly to the administration of our project, and a portion also goes to your host school. All meals and accommodation while at your homestay are covered by your host school.

Lemongrass is a not for profit organisation that specialises in placing volunteers on English teaching projects to both children and adults in one of the poorest regions of Thailand

Location: Surin (450kms NE of Bangkok)

Volunteer Work: LemonGrass Volunteering is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to come to Thailand and teach English. No experience is necessary, just the determination to have fun and make a real difference to young people’s lives.

Commitment: 1 or 2 weeks minimum (dependent on project)

Cost: £619 for 4 weeks which includes accommodation. £90 each additional week thereafter

The New Heaven Reef Conservation Program (NHRCP) was founded at our dive school in 2007 to teach divers about coral reef ecology, research, and restoration. We believe that the people most closely connected to the reef should be the ones that care for it, and so are trying to get more and more divers involved in marine education and conservation. The program is designed to give participants a hands-on approach to learning about the coral reef environment and a wide range of research and restoration techniques used by professionals around the world.

Location: Koh Tao, Thailand

Volunteer Work: Training and experience helping with local coral reef management through on land and SCUBA diving activities, including reef surveys, artificial reef construction and maintenance, coral nursery maintenance, giant clam nurseries, sea turtle head-starting, coral predator removals, mooring line installations, underwater clean-ups, and much more.

Commitment: Anywhere from a 1 day introduction to a 3 month internship

Cost: Participants pay for diving, training, and material costs. Participants also cover their own accommodation, travel, and food. Benefits include training in many types of coral reef research, protection, and restoration methods, multiple eco-diving certifications, and career training/work experience. We also have a special program for university students and students conducting Master’s Degree or PhD thesis projects.

Big Blue Conservation is dedicated to protecting the astonishing abundance of life on Koh Tao’s reefs, as well as contributing to global research studying the impact of climate change on this beautiful environment. Through numerous projects and initiatives, we work closely with the local community to sustain our local economy and protect our island from the impact of tourism. By choosing Big Blue Conservation, you contribute to our ecological mission whilst enjoying the best diving on the island.

Location: Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand

Volunteer Work: Our expedition starts with an afternoon of buoyancy training to enhance your diving skills in preparation for the BSAC Marine Conservation specialty. You don�t need to have a background in biology as this course will give you all the skills and confidence that you need when undertaking the survey dives and working on our coral nursery afterwards. This includes various short lectures on four topics (Ocean Environment, Coral Biology, State of our reefs, Coral Conservation), followed by a 4 SCUBA practical sessions. After a day off you will then complete your Deep and Nitrox diver certification and continue working on various reef restoration and rehabilitation techniques. Upon completion of the BSAC specialty, you will begin to partake in survey dives, which involve collecting data on the current status of the reefs and assessing our reef communities. These data contribute to global marine biological research databases used to protect our oceans. During week four, you have the opportunity to complete a project of your choice with the support of our training staff – whether it is organising a fundraiser, an educational video, or simply a poster. This is your chance to show off your talents and apply them to marine conservation! Be the change you want to see.

Commitment: 4 weeks minimum

Cost: 28,500 Thai Baht (includes accommodation, dives and equipment rental). Includes 20% off food and drink in the resort restaurant and bar and 15% off in the dive shop.

Motherland Farmstay is a small organic farm, sustainable living and learning centre in Chun district, Phayao province. We plant and grow many kinds of vegetables and fruits, also going to build mud house and wooden houses also bamboo huts. Our aim is preserving northern culture by sharing knowledge and experience to everyone who opens to learn a root of northern Thai lifestyle. Currently, this organic farm is being run by a local Thai family, on their farmland. The farm and has been receiving international tourists/volunteers for over one year. Those who come there are participating in developing the farm while learning the culture at the same time.

Location: Chun District, Phayao Province, Northern Thailand

Volunteer Work: Building a mud house, bamboo hut, wood house, tree house, planting organic vegetables, making compost and fertilizer for plants and trees, participate in any local community ceremony and tradition, raise chickens, etc.

Commitment: 1 week minimum

Cost: 2,100 Thai Baht per week which includes accommodation lunch and transfer from/to a bus station.

Samma Karuna is a brand new, just set up Anahata School of awakening and mindful community for people who want to learn to live a happier more fulfilled life based on self-improvement, acceptance and celebration. Our unique program offers yoga, dynamic meditation, ecstatic presence, life coaching, mindfulness practice, tantra, bhajans, compassionate sharing, retreats, workshops, and much more. With support from the community and guidance from the staff, each individual develops their own action plan that enables them to discover their true potential and enjoy a more fulfilled life.

Location: Koh Phangan

Volunteer Work: Our community program is for people that feel like helping others by bringing their positive energy and attitude to the school whilst being part of the mindful community team that sustains the energy that heals and supports the growth of students. Community work is divided into three main areas, work done at the school, helping the local Thai community, or the environment. For example, we have programs to teach English for free to a Thai community, animal care, working on an organic farm, and helping at the school with activities such as assisting in classes, helping at the reception, giving out flyers, etc.

Commitment: 4 weeks minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses. Community volunteers are entitled to participate in our awakening and healing program for free.

Headrock Dogs evolved from Hua Hin Dog Rescue Centre which was formed in 2001. Our sites in Hua Hin and Pranburi have closed and we are now based in Bang Saphan 190 kilometres south of these Thai towns. Much of our work is carried out outside of our small centre, in temple grounds and on the streets. We help by neutering the dogs, vaccinating, treating skin disorders and getting dogs that need it, medical or surgical help, and of course feeding them.

Location: Bang Saphan

Volunteer Work: We are always grateful for dog loving volunteers who are willing to give up their time, especially those who are travelling around Asia. If you would like to come and volunteer with us we will help you organise your trip. We have contacts with local guest houses, we can arrange transportation to the area, advise you on flights, supply information about all these things when your here as well as where to eat and where’s good for trips, etc.

Commitment: 1 week minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.

Asylum Access is an innovative, US-based international non-profit organization dedicated to making refugee rights a reality in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Volunteer Work: In our Bangkok office, Volunteer Legal Advocates (VLAs) have the opportunity to make an impact directly advocating for refugee rights in Asia. VLAs are lawyers and highly-qualified law students, who commit to spending at least 6 months or more with our Asylum Access Thailand office. They provide direct legal advice and representation to refugees seeking asylum or other legal status. VLAs receive intensive training in international refugee law, and practice before local offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to engage in policy advocacy at a national or international level.

Commitment: 6 months minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.

Amnesty International Thailand is a part of Amnesty International global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion, and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations.

Location: Bangkok

Volunteer Work: We are looking for committed volunteers who are interested in contributing meaningful work to human rights. Desirable qualities: good at languages skills for publication works and translation (prefer English and Thai); or equipped with creativities for presentations, media work or activism planning; or ready to engage in activism around Bangkok.

Commitment: 4 hours per week for minimum period of 6 weeks or until the project assigned is done. Volunteers can work from home.

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses. The office will cover travel expenses that are related to special assignment given by the office.

The Koh Tao Animal Clinic is a not-for-profit veterinary clinic run by the Noistar Thai Animal Rescue Foundation, a UK registered charity and a member of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). The clinic’s mission is to improve the general welfare of all animals on the island, whether stray or owned.

Location: Koh Tao, Suratthani

Volunteer Work: Volunteer duties include: looking after post operative animals; generally caring for sick animals; bringing dogs and cats to the clinic that need medical assistance; assisting the vet on their rounds; general administration; helping to keep records of medical attention given generally promoting the work of the clinic on the island

Commitment: Flexible

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.

Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) is an independent, non-government, non-profit organization, committed to enabling women to use law as an instrument of social change for equality, justice and development

Location: Chiang Mai

Volunteer Work: The internship programme is for women activists/students who have background of, and/or interest to work with, and be involved in, women’s human rights issues on a regional level. Interns work closely with APWLD secretariat to implement its four broad programs: Women in Power; Breaking out of Marginalisation; Grounding the Global; Feminist Law and Practice. Work plan may include legal and social research, assistance in developing and writing position papers and generally supporting staff on other projects needs. Interested candidates need to be able to work within a team, work well under pressure and be able to handle multiple tasks. Desired qualities include written and oral communication skills in English, while knowledge of other language from the Asia Pacific region is an advantage. It is preferred that they have excellent knowledge of their field of study or the sector they work with, and a working understanding of the issues APWLD deals with. APWLD endeavours to provide the experience that is relevant to the needs and interest of the interns. For interested students, a degree in social science or in law is an advantage. For activists/NGO workers, a strong background and involvement in human rights and/or women’s movement is an advantage.

Commitment: 6 months minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.

Atma Seva is an NGO and non-profit organization working in Thailand, supplying volunteer teachers to work in Buddhist temples and government schools (Thai public schools)

Location: Northern Thailand

Volunteer Work: We are looking for volunteers to teach English to Buddhist monks in Northern Thailand. We will set you up with a teaching schedule at either a Buddhist Temple (Wat) or a Government School (your choice), and provide teaching materials and ongoing support at the school.

Commitment: 1 month minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.

Room to Grow Foundation works to alleviate poverty among children without Parents from Burma who have sought refuge in Thailand.

Location: Mae Sot

Volunteer Work: We accept a limited number of volunteers each year who work on projects of their own design

Commitment: 1 month minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.

Goodwill Group is a registered charity whose mission is to improve the quality of life of young Thai women via skills training and career services. Most of the women who study at Goodwill are high school drop-outs or never attended university and migrated to Bangkok from the rural provinces in search of employment in order to support their families. However, because of their background, they end up working in factories and other forms of informal employment with unstable income and/or unfair employment terms. All of the women are motivated to learn English and new skills in order to improve their quality of life.

Location: Bangkok

Volunteer Work: Goodwill Group is nearly always in need of reliable, dedicated volunteers. We generally seek commitments of at least 4 months. We’re always looking for motivated individuals who want to become part of our English teaching team. Generally, we try to place native English speakers into our intermediate conversation classes while Thai speakers are asked to teach our basic conversation classes. Prior experience teaching English is preferred, but not required. Teaching a class usually requires a six-month commitment of three hours a week. We need Thai-speaking female volunteers to teach our students about basic computer nomenclature, email, the internet and Microsoft desktop applications. Prior teaching experience is not required, but strong communications skills are very important. These positions involve a time commitment of about 2-3 hours/week for 6 weeks.

Commitment: 4 months minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.

Camillian Social Centre of Rayong offers assistance at people and children with the HIV/AIDS virus

Location: Rayong

Volunteer Work: There are two types of volunteer experience available here at the Camillian Social Center Rayong. The first being the opportunity to work in the open air at our Garden of Eden. The second being the opportunity to work with the terminally ill patients in our Palliative Care Unit. At our Garden of Eden volunteers assist patients that have recovered from our Palliative Care Unit to grow crops to support themselves. The role of the volunteer at the PCU consists of basic nursing care, including but not limited to – assisting with meals, bed making, massaging and wound care. You are also welcome to discuss the use of any other skills you may have, such as art therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy, occupational therapy or physiotherapy. You will be expected to accompany the patients on various weekly activities. In the past these have varied from beach excursions to karaoke. You will also be expected to welcome any visitors to the centre, and assist with tours given especially if you share a common language. Volunteering at the Palliative Care Unit is not a holiday, but an opportunity to gain hands on experience in caring for people with HIV/AIDS, as well as forming valuable relationships with the people themselves. You’re contribution will be valued by the Camillian community and you will leave knowing you have made a difference in the lives of those who live here.

Commitment: 1 month minimum

Cost: There is no cost to participate but volunteers must cover their own living expenses.