The Queen's Birthday & Mother's Day 2011
## Thailand Holidays ##<br />
Asana Bucha and Khao Pansa
## Wan Asana Bucha - วันอาสาฬหบูชา ##<br />
Choosing a Volunteer Project
It’s not always easy to choose a project that fits your needs, experience, abilities and availability. Certainly everyone wants to find a worthwhile placement for their project that fits their schedule, budget and ethics. Moreover, everyone wants to make a difference. <br />
March Volunteer Thailand Update
With our very busy schedule recently, this has been the first moment I’ve been able to take some time and send out an update. We’ve had a couple of great orientation groups recently; the latest was Volunteer Group #71. We just finished orientation this afternoon, and they are the second largest group we’ve had. The volunteers in this group will be starting their projects at the Children’s Home, Single Mother’s Home and Elephant Camp tomorrow. We wish them all a great first day.<br />
Makha Bucha Thai Holiday
[Makha Bucha](http://chiangmaibest.com/makha-bucha-magha-puja) (มาฆบูชา) (Magha Puja) is an important Buddhist religious festival, celebrated in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Magha is a Pali and Sanskrit word meaning _the third lunar month_, and Puja is a word in the same language that means _to venerate or honor_. It is pronounced in Thai as _Makha Bucha_. It is held on the full moon day of this month, which in 2011 will be on Friday, February 18.<br />
Volunteer Thailand Update
As we near the end of the Thai school year, the warm sun shines brightly throughout the day, with clear, cool and pleasant evenings... Nothing beats Thailand and Chiang Mai during this time of year. Teachers are focusing hard on review and exams, while students are focusing hard on the upcoming summer break - only a few weeks away. The Thai summer break runs from early March through mid-May. <br />
Volunteering With Animals!
The following is a posting from a few of our volunteers that are currently volunteering in our Elephant Camp Volunteer Project. These volunteers did not know each other prior to their arrival and have become very close during their project.<br />
HIV Orphanage and Internships
In addition to other things, I would like to use this post to focus on both our HIV Orphanage Project and the two internships we offer: The Magazine and Multimedia Intern Project and Medical Intern Project. Although we are mainly a volunteer organization, these two intern projects offer individuals the ability to gain from their experience in Chiang Mai based organizations, along with contributing in ways that are a bit different from those of our other opportunities. <br />
Featured on National Peace Corps Association's Site
This is a posting about Friends for Asia has been featured on the community page for the National Peace Corps Association and other news about volunteering in Thailand. <br />
Make a Lasting Impact as a
Volunteer or Intern in Thailand
These projects provide authentic access to Thai communities, beyond typical tourist experiences. The connections formed while volunteering create lasting impacts, both for volunteers and the local people whose lives they touch.