First Day of the 2021 Thailand School Year
Monday, the 17th of May, 2021 is the official start of the Thailand school year, for most schools throughout the kingdom. Although most schools planned to start, and continue indefinitely online, with Covid cluster outbreaks in different areas of the country, the government just announced yesterday, the allowance of allowing schools to reopen with in-person classes immediately. Therefore, most schools will be starting online, but transitioning to in-person classes at school throughout the week. Our programs are open in Chiang Mai, and we have quite a few volunteers coming to take part in our different teaching projects over the coming months! Although Covid is still lingering things are reopening, Thais are getting vaccinated, volunteers are signing up, and over the course of the coming months, we are optimistic that we will see more re-openings of the tourism sector travel restrictions eased soon!<br />
Our First Post-Pandemic Volunteer
Not that the pandemic is over, but we do have reason to celebrate. It's been 15 months since we received an international volunteer in our Thailand based programs. Stephanie here arrived in Chiang Mai last week and hit the ground running with starting her project at the Women's Empowerment Program. She helps the mothers and staff look after the children in the day care center in the mornings, and assists with office work in the afternoon. This is Stephanie's third time to volunteer internationally. Coming from American, Stephanie is on a gap year, and decided to volunteer with us here in Thailand to help the people. Below are some photos of Stephanie at the project site, visiting local temples, and even taking at Thai-Akha cooking course. Thank you Stephanie for being our first international volunteer in more than a year! We look forward to other volunteers coming to our programs in the coming weeks and months.
Chiang Mai Volunteer Projects Re-Opening
We are excited, and proud to announce the re-opening of our Chiang Mai based volunteer projects, starting immediately. Yes, there are still a good number of travel restrictions, and some project sites may not be yet open to accepting volunteers. The theme of our Chiang Mai based programs for 2021 is flexibility and patience. Before applying, please review the Travel Requirements and FAQs below. <br />
Fulbright Association Thailand Volunteer Program
The Friends for Asia Foundation had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate on a service program with the Fulbright Association here in Chiang Mai, Thailand earlier this month. This program was a service and cultural project for Fulbright alumni and their families. The program had 10 American Fulbright alumni and their children or spouses participate. Teaching English as a Second Language was the main service component, which was complimented with a variety of cultural activities including a visit to an elephant nursery, a presentation on Buddhism with a bilingual Buddhist Monk, a Thai cooking course, Market Tour, along with a variety of other activities. We were honored to be guests at a special reception at the residence of the US Consular General Sean O'Neill, at the US Consulate, here in Chiang Mai. <br />
Bangkok Volunteer Group #94; January, 2020
Presenting Bangkok Volunteer Group #74! A group of four volunteers that arrived last week, completed orientation over the weekend and started in their projects on Monday. The three volunteers are from Japan and the United States, and are participating in our English education, Bangkok Orphanage and Teaching Monks Volunteer Projects!<br />
Chiang Mai Volunteer Group #277; January, 2020
Presenting Chiang Mai Volunteer Group #277! This group of ten volunteers and interns arrived last week and started in their programs on Monday. It's a great, and very diverse, group of volunteers from Portugal, Switzerland, Timore-leste, Denmark, Austria, and the United States. They are partaking in our Medical Internship, Elephant Nursery, English Education, Teaching Monks, and Children's Home Volunteer Projects. <br />
Bangkok Volunteer Group #93; January, 2020
Presenting Bangkok Volunteer and Intern Group #93! This group of three volunteers and interns arrived earlier this month and started their programs in early January. A group of three volunteers and interns from Austria and the United States, taking part in our Medical Internship and English Education Volunteer Projects.<br />
Chiang Mai Volunteer Group #276; January, 2020
Presenting Chiang Mai Volunteer Group #276! This group arrived in Chiang Mai a couple of weeks ago and started their projects in early January. A great group of ten volunteers and interns from Argentina, Germany, Portugal, England, France, and the USA. <br />
Special Thailand Custom Volunteer Group
Presenting a special Thailand custom volunteer group that we hosted here in Chiang Mai last month. It's a group of 53 volunteers from an accounting firm based out of the US. The group helped teach English at a few primary schools in the Chiang Mai area. They also took part in an Elephant activity day, market visits, a meeting with bilingual Buddhist monks, and a Thai cooking course. It was wonderful hosting this group, and we hope to see other groups of corporate volunteers in the future. Here are some photos of the group.<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.