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Volunteer in Thailand - It Will Change You Forever...

  • World's most affordable fees guaranteed
  • Pay your program fees directly to your host families and projects
  • Experienced local staffs to attend to your every need
  • Flexible schedule that leaves evenings and weekends free for fun, travel and exploration

Volunteer in Thailand and explore white sandy beaches, tropical islands, lush forests, Buddhist shrines, enchanting temples, unique culture, extraordinary cuisine and unlimited adventures. For popular reason, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Whether you’re riding elephants through the jungle, diving off of the coast, relaxing on pristine beaches or getting lost in the bright and cultural realm of Bangkok, your experience will be unforgettable. Helping Abroad offers great opportunities for volunteers to experience Thai culture and Buddhism while at the same time, positively increasing Thai quality of life. As a volunteer in Thailand, you can choose to work with disadvantaged children, teach in a Buddhist temple school, teach English, work with elephants work in the medical field, build schools and orphanages or work in community development. Regardless of your project and your interests, Helping Abroad assures that your experience will be a safe, memorable, educational, rewarding and life-changing experience for you and those you help.

Act now. Email us now and begin this fascinating, rewarding and life changing experience, both for you and for those you help. We will be happy to provide you with more information and answer any questions you may have. Thailand and its beauty await you!

Program Fee

Helping Abroad volunteers Program starts every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.

Are you looking for a safe and affordable volunteer abroad experience? Do you want to see the fees you pay, being utilized towards the welfare of the project and host families? Helping abroad, a 501 c 3, offer volunteer programs at unbeatable, low prices. At Helping Abroad, we maintain a level of transparency of funds, especially for volunteers who want to know where and how the fee they pay are being channelized. The volunteer fee is paid directly to the families that host volunteers and the project that volunteers work on. The program fee is divided as registration fee ($299) and weekly fee. The registration fee is used to cover our expenses like advertisement and office expenses. The weekly fee is divided between room/local food (3 times a day, 50-70%) and project donation/ support to local project staff (30-50%) and local coordination fee (10%). The allocation may differ according to location and project type. Therefore, our coordinator will explain these issues before you pay the fees. Please find the breakdown of the cost in a weekly basis below:

For Surin,The program fee needs to be paid in GBP to directly to the country coordinator before the project start date.

Weeks Ayutthaya
(in US$)
Surin: Childcare
(in Pounds (GBP))
Surin: Teaching
(in Pounds (GBP))
Surin: Health
(in Pounds (GBP))
Surin: Elephant
(in Pounds (GBP))
  1 Week   $260   £448   £448   £448   £501
  2 Weeks   $440   £511   £511   £511   £616
  3 Weeks   $660   £574   £574   £574   £731
  4 Weeks   $880   £637   £637   £637   £846
  5 Weeks   $1,100   £699   £699   £699   N/A
  6 Weeks   $1,320   £762   £762   £762   Available
  7 Weeks   $1,540   £825   £825   £825 maximum
  8 Weeks   $1,760   £888   £888   £888 -4 weeks only
  9 Weeks   $1,980   N/A   N/A   N/A
  10 Weeks   $2,200   N/A   N/A   N/A
  11 Weeks   $2,420   N/A   N/A   N/A
  12 Weeks   $2,640   N/A   N/A   N/A
Additional Fee
  • Mandatory Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day

Ayutthaya program

Program Fees Cover
  • Accommodation (volunteer house, host family)
  • Food (3 local food day)
  • Airport pick up and transfer
  • Program Orientation
  • In-country support
  • Personalized project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Certificate of completion
  • Fundraising ideas and letters
  • Discount for returning volunteers
Program Fees Exclude
  • Visas
  • Airfare
  • Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
  • Daily transportation
  • Airport return transfer

Surin Program

Program Fees Cover
  • Airport pick-up on arrival
  • Two night guest house accommodation in Bangkok
  • One day Guided Bangkok Tour
  • Train transfer to Surin
  • Accommodation in Surin shared house
  • Full orientation of project and surrounding areas
  • Daily transfers to and from project location
  • Full ongoing support
  • 24 hour emergency support
  • Personalized project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Certificate of completion
  • Fundraising ideas and letters
  • Discount for returning volunteers
Program Fees Exclude
  • Food (food are cheap in Surin)
  • Visas
  • Airfare
  • Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
  • Airport return transfer

The Thailand volunteer experience program fees will cover expenses that will begin on the first day of the program (usually the first or third Monday of the month) to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program or you decide you stay beyond your program’s last day

Volunteer Programs

Disadvantaged Children Project (Ayutthaya and Surin)

Volunteers with Orphanages Children

Helping Abroad partners with childcare/child development centers organized by local communities, Buddhist temples and nonprofit organizations that aim to provide poor families with affordable childcare. In Surin, the project participates with schools, orphanages and other centers to help the children. These centers are located in industrial areas and near factories so parents can leave their children at a center, know they are safe, continue to make a living and improve their family’s quality of life. Unfortunately, the centers lack resources, staff and proper facilities, thus volunteers are urgently needed to help care for these deprived children. As a volunteer in Thailand working in the disadvantaged child project, you will help low-income families who cannot afford expensive childcare by engaging their children in educational and extracurricular activities. Volunteers not only provide an outlet for parents to make a living, but they also help disadvantaged children grow and learn, expanding future opportunities for the family as a whole. Children at the childcare centers are typically between the ages of 2 and 6.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

No specific skills, qualifications or experiences are required, although English skills are desirable to communicate effectively. You should have a passion for teaching and caring for children. Volunteers must be hardworking, patient, confident, enthusiastic and good with children. You should bring energy and enthusiasm to the childcare center and your projects.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

As a volunteer working in childcare/child development centers in Thailand, you will help to enhance the quality of life for low-income and disadvantaged families. Depending on individual skills and interests, volunteer roles and responsibilities may include:

  • Teaching basic written and conversational English
  • Interacting with the children by reading books, dancing, singing, drawing, playing games, etc
  • Helping the children with personal hygiene and teaching them about important health issues
  • Teaching life skills such as painting, gardening, building, cooking, etc
  • Being a friend to the children and playing with them
  • Maintaining the facilities of the childcare center (painting, renovating, cleaning, etc)
  • Helping the local staff with administrative tasks and fundraising

Please Note: The activities above are mere examples of volunteers’ daily activities, but this may change due to requests from childcare center staff members and teachers. You will receive your work schedule from local staff. You are only required to work 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, therefore, you will have ample time to relax and explore Thailand’s natural beauty and culture. In Surin, your working days are from Monday to Thursday. Your work starts at 8.30 am and ends at 3.30 pm. You’ll have 3 days to travel around and enjoy Thailand.

Teaching English (Ayutthaya and Surin) in Thailand

Teaching volunteers with students

Due to growth of tourism, trade, commerce and globalization, the demand of English is increasing worldwide. Students are eager to learn English and many recognize the importance of the language for international communication and future employment. In Thailand, primary and secondary schools face difficulties in keeping up with the growing need for English. Many schools lack resources, proper facilities and qualified teachers therefore volunteers are greatly appreciated. Helping Abroad invites you to volunteer in Thailand to teach English to children who will in turn, have greater opportunities and brighter futures.

In Ayuthaya, secondary schools host children from the ages 5-12, while secondary schools teach students ages 12-19. Class sizes depend on the size of the community and quality of the school, but may range from 10-40. In Surin, you will teach in primary schools to students between 6 to 12 years old. Your working days are from Monday to Thursday. Your work starts at 8.30 am and ends at 3.30 pm. You’ll have 3 days to travel around and enjoy Thailand. As a volunteer in Thailand teaching English you will have an incredibly rewarding experience as you immerse yourself in a unique culture, play with children, improve educational environments and enjoy the natural beauty of Thailand.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

No specific skills, qualifications or experiences are required, although English skills are necessary to teach English and communicate effectively. You should have a passion for teaching and children. Volunteers must be hardworking, patient, confident, enthusiastic and good with children. You should bring energy and enthusiasm to the school classroom and your projects.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

The Helping Abroad volunteer teaching English in Thailand project offers an array of formal and informal educational programs for children. The primary responsibility for volunteers is teaching conversational English while making the language fun and interactive, but volunteer activities in Thailand will also include:

  • Working with your supervisor to plan lessons
  • Planning and leading extracurricular activities such as dancing, games, music, sports, art, etc.
  • Helping children successfully finish their homework
  • Providing assistance to school administrations to help with operational tasks and curriculum development
  • Assisting the school administration with fundraising and other operational tasks

Please Note: The activities above are mere examples of volunteers’ daily activities, but this may change due to requests from local staff members and teachers. You will receive your work schedule from the school administration. In addition, you will work with a school supervisor that will provide guidance and assist you develop your teaching lessons.

Teaching English in a Buddhist School (Ayutthaya)

Volunteer with monks

Buddhist temples, or wats, have served as important educational institutions for Thai students for centuries. Thailand is home to over 30,000 Buddhist temples where Buddhist monks live and perform their religious study. Temples play a large role in Thai culture and serve as an important place for communal, religious, social and educational activities. Through donations, they are able to host a primary or secondary school inside the temple complex and execute other community development projects to strengthen the social welfare of locals. As a volunteer working in a Buddhist Temple School in Thailand, you will be able to teach local children and improve their educational environment and opportunities. While you volunteer, you can take advantage of immersing yourself in Thai culture and Buddhism. By working in a temple, you will have the opportunity to practice Buddhism, learn from monks and participate in meditations, rituals and prayers. This is the perfect project to help others while at the same time, exposing yourself to a unique environment for self-exploration, cultural exchange, personal growth and professional experience.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

No specific skills, qualifications or experiences are required, although English skills are necessary to teach English and communicate effectively. You should have a passion and genuine curiosity for Buddhism. Volunteers must be hardworking, patient, confident, enthusiastic and good with children. You should bring energy and enthusiasm to the temple school environment and must always respect the rules and traditions of the monastery.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

As a volunteer working in a Buddhist Temple School in Thailand, your primary responsibility will be to teach English to the local students (not monks) in the primary or secondary school located on the temple grounds. Daily activities will include:

  • Teaching English grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation
  • Planning teaching lessons
  • Creating and leading extracurricular and development enhancing activities such as sports, games, music, art, dancing, competitions, theatre, etc.
  • Working with local supervisors and teachers to improve classroom teaching and school facilities

Please Note:The activities above are mere examples of volunteers’ daily activities, but this may change due to requests from monastery staff members and teachers. You will receive your work schedule from the school administration. In addition, you will work with a school supervisor that will provide guidance and assist you develop your teaching lessons. You are only required to work only 3 to 4 hours a day, Monday through Friday, therefore, you will have ample time to relax and explore Buddhism and Thailand.

Healthcare/Medical Project (Surin)

Thailand medical project

Volunteer in Thailand in the medical/healthcare project to help improve the quality of life for local Thai by providing medical attention and healthcare to needy people. In Surin, one of the poorest provinces in Thailand, many people are impoverished and have little to no access to quality healthcare. Unfortunately, clinics, hospitals and organizations lack infrastructure, human resources and medical supplies to adequately treat patients, therefore each and every volunteer is greatly appreciated. For this reason, Helping Abroad is calling all medical and nursing students, qualified medical professionals and physical therapists to provide people in Thailand with medical treatment, ensuring happier and healthier lives for Thai people. Each Helping Abroad medical volunteer in Thailand will work in Surin’s rural community clinics and childcare centers in partnership with village leaders and local community. This is the perfect opportunity for those interested in the medical/healthcare field to gain professional experience, engage in cultural exchange and most importantly, improve the lives of others.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

To be a medical volunteer in Thailand and work in clinics and hospitals, you must submit proof of a medical certification such as a medical ID, EMT, paramedic, nursing, etc or be a nursing/medical student. Due to liabilities, volunteers must be healthcare professionals and those who lack medical credentials may not participate in this project. You must also be flexible when dealing with patients. For this project volunteers must be open minded, patient, enthusiastic, hardworking, resourceful, and willing to learn.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

As a medical volunteer in Thailand working in clinics and hospitals, you will act as an assistant to local doctors, nurses and therapists. Depending on your experience and credentials, you may also work independently in a clinic or hospital. In coordination with volunteer experience and qualifications, volunteer duties may include:

  • Basic care and first aid
  • Consultations
  • Dispensing medications
  • Injections/Immunizations
  • Health Education
  • Community Outreach
  • Antenatal Services
  • Deliveries
  • Family Planning
  • Stitching and dressing wounds
  • Help with personal hygiene
  • Keeping patient records
  • Clinics/Hospitals administrative tasks

Please Note: The above examples of activities may vary depending on individual skills and interests and the needs of the hospital and/or clinic. You will be provided with a very flexible schedule from local teachers, doctors or nurses so that you can adjust in the new environment. Along with Helping Abroad in-country staff, these counterparts will support you throughout your project. You will normally work for 3-4 hours a day from Monday to Thursday. All other time you are free to relax and explore the beautiful country of Thailand.

Elephant Conservation Project (Surin)

Thailand Elephant  project

Surin is known as the place of elephants in Thailand. Many household have domesticated elephants and they have elephant festival every year in Surin that attracts large crowd. The domesticated elephants are useful in many ways to the owner when the elephants are fit and young. Through various activities like carrying loads and tourists, they earn good income. The owners through this are also able to keep the elephants fit and healthy. But when the elephants become old and ill, the owners simply can’t afford to keep them as it is very costly. As a result, these elephants are sold and many new owners take these elephants to cities and other places where they are paraded or these new owners ask for donations elephants’ up-keep. This is a very difficult time for the elephants as polluted air of the city, humid condition and the hot asphalt all makes life very difficult for the elephant.

To avoid elephants from being sold, the project works with elephant owners to keep the elephant healthy and disease free. As a volunteer working in the Elephant Conservation Project, you will play an important role in Thailand providing daily care and maintenance for elephants as you immerse yourself into local Thai culture. Volunteers have the unique opportunity to work on a grassroots level with local community members to promote elephant care and conservation in Thailand.Volunteers in Thailand will work with elephants and interact with them by feeding them, grooming them, giving them medical attention and bathing them in the river as they splash around. Volunteers have the experience to befriend elephants, become accustomed to their noises, behaviors, moods and feelings. Many elephants lack love, support and attention, but volunteers can eliminate this void by caring for them and providing friendship.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

No specific skills, qualifications or experiences are required to volunteer in the Elephant Conservation Program in Thailand. Volunteers must be hardworking, patient, confident and enthusiastic. You should bring energy and enthusiasm to the animals, partner organizations and your projects.

Your Responsibilities as a Volunteer

As a Helping Abroad volunteer in the Elephant Conservation Program, there are a variety of projects and responsibilities. Daily tasks may include:

  • Daily care and treatment of elephants (feeding, bathing, etc)
  • Playing with the elephants
  • Support organizations with administration tasks
  • Fundraising
  • Researching resources
  • Gardening
  • Farming
  • Provide medical attention to elephants
  • Teaching locals about elephant conservation and care
  • Working on conservation efforts

Please Note: The activities above are mere examples of volunteers’ daily activities, but this may change due to requests from local staff. You will receive your work schedule local organizations. You are only required to work only 3 to 4 hours a day, from Monday to Thursday. During this time, volunteers will stay in a village. From Friday to Sunday, volunteers will be transferred to the hostel in Surin.

Building Program—Sangkhlaburi

Thailand Construction project

Sangkhlaburi is a border town adjoining Myanmar in northwest Thailand. Sangkhlaburi area spans over the dazzling banks of Vajralongkorn Lake that was created after the construction of Khao Laem Dam. Owing to its location, Sangkhlaburi has become a unique spectrum of different ethnic communities, local Thai denizens, Karen, Mon and Burmese immigrants.

Building project in Sangkhlaburi is a project started by Helping Abroad to support local communities by constructing and maintaining community buildings and facilities. Our projects change according to needs and requirements of the local communities as we don’t stop after the completion of a single construction of a project. We start a new project after the completion of the previous one. Along with this, working details of the volunteers also depend upon the nature and the phase of construction project where they will be briefed about their responsibilities in an orientation program on the first day of the project. The volunteers’ activities in the project site are varied and mostly involve construction, restoration and the improvement of local infrastructures like community childcare centers or orphanage buildings. Project coordinators will also work in the project next to you and help you in communication and translation with the local staff. You will work on the site under the guidance, training and mentoring of a local Thai foreman. Your job will be varied where you will take part in many aspects of the construction work. If it is in the early stages, you will be mixing cement, doing masonry work, digging foundations, etc. If it is near completion you will work on the finishing jobs such as painting, gardening, designing and fencing of the building.

Educational Requirements and Project Skills

In order to join Helping Abroad building project in Sangkhlaburi as a volunteer, you don’t need to have any particular set of skills or qualifications regarding construction work. Hardworking, dedicated and passionate volunteers are more than welcome to join this project. Good physical condition will be a plus point while any background on construction or building will be a bonus. Please let us know beforehand if you possess such skill so that we can assign you according to your ability and skills.

Schedule

As a volunteer, you will work for 5 days a week. On weekends, you can enjoy by taking rest or visiting popular attractions of the place or indulge in activities like swimming or hiking. Your day will start as a regular office work day where you will work on the construction of the building during office hours instead of sitting in front of a computer. Your schedule will be a combination of volunteer work and travelling and seeing new places combined.

Schedule

Helping Abroad volunteers of Sangkhlaburi Building Project will live in rented shared houses well furnished with basic facilities. These houses include twin bedrooms with comfortable beds and beddings, storage facilities, fans, electric sockets, sanitary bathrooms with hot showers and furnished kitchens. The project houses are near to each other and very close to our office and staff quarters. Internet cafés, ATM machines, infirmaries, restaurants & eateries and stores are in a very close vicinity from the volunteer houses.

More about Sangkhlaburi

Township of Sangkhlaburi lies in the northwest province of Thailand bordering Myanmar. It has a diverse spectrum of people from different ethnic groups specially constituting Burmese immigrants, Karen, Mon and Thai ethnic people. Due to this, people here are deprived of citizenship whereby it lacks government support and infrastructure for proper healthcare, educational and communal facilities.

Sangkhlaburi, on the banks of the Vajralongkorn Lake, is an authentic Thai village-town that comes alive in the evenings with the local market going on overdrive with fruit-sellers, street food vendors and the local people.

There are many places nearby where you can go for hikes, sightseeing or just for the fun of pure relaxing. You can visit the temples of Wang Wiwekaram and Chedi Buddhakhaya, or just walk around the banks of the nearby lake and cross the rickety 400m long bamboo bridge to Mon village.

Wat Wang Wiwekaram was built by late Phara Uttama, a revered monk in the Mon communities. The temple is a very peaceful place and has a Viharn architecture and murals depict the life cycle of Buddha, the enlightened one. It is a short hike from Sangkhlaburi but you can also take a cab if you don’t want to walk. The rustic routes of Wangka village are little bit of confusing but humble and ever-smiling villagers will be more than happy to guide you if you get lost. You can also visit the recently opened Nature Club on the outskirts of Sangkhlaburi and participate in different fun and recreational activities like zip lining, swimming and quad biking.

Whether you hike up the hilly trails or enjoy the ambience of the local market, Sangkhlaburi is a beautiful place to visit. The diverse culture, ethnic Thai cuisines and your work as a volunteer will make this journey truly an amazing one.

Major FAQ's

  • Who will meet me in airport? What should I do if I am delayed or miss my flight? When should I arrive?
  • Please book your flight to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. The Helping Abroad country coordinator will be waiting for you at the "Arrival" gate. Please look for a person with both the Helping Abroad company logo and your name on a sign card. In case your contact person is not there, please contact the Helping Abroad office and we will immediately follow up on your contact persons’ whereabouts. Coordinators’ contact details are available in the pre-departure handbook. If your flight is delayed, immediately contact Helping Abroad so we can make adjustments to your program. Helping Abroad will be responsible for creating the necessary changes in your program.

    The program fee covers expenses from the first day of the program to the last day of the program. If you arrive before the first day of the program and/or stay beyond the last day of the program, you will be responsible for these expenses.

  • What are the visa requirements to volunteer in Thailand?
  • It is the volunteer’s responsibility to acquire a tourist Visa. Please contact either our office or the local Thai embassy to learn more about the process for obtaining a visa, timelines, visa fees and visa extensions. It depends on where you are from but normally tourist visas are easily obtainable upon arrival to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

  • What do I need to know about health and safety in Thailand?
  • Volunteers should be aware of all health and safety information before traveling to Thailand. You can read about health and safety in Thailand on the website listed below:

  • What immunizations/vaccinations are recommended before arriving to Thailand?
  • We strongly recommend that volunteers obtain vaccinations before arriving in Thailand. You can speak with your health-care provider to determine which vaccinations you will need. Please read CDC recommendations about vaccinations and preventive medicine:

  • What is the local currency and exchange rate?
  • The local currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht. ATM cards are the best way to withdraw money. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in airports, large stores and large hotels. It is a good idea to carry a credit card for large purchases and emergencies. Make sure you notify your bank that you will be out of the country and give them your expected arrival/departure dates. This will prevent your account from being locked and you will be advised about any fraudulent charges. Please always be aware of your situation and keep all your valuables and money concealed at all times. It is always best to go to the ATM machine in groups.

    Please visit XE, a privately held online foreign exchange tool for rates. XE.com

  • How can I communicate with my family/friends while I am abroad? Is there internet access?
  • If you have an unlocked cell phone that contains a SIM card, we recommend that you bring it because you can buy a SIM card upon arrival in Bangkok. Phones are important to have for safety and communication with family and Helping Abroad staff. Internet cafes are widely available in Thailand.

  • How is the climate in Thailand?
  • Thailand’s climate is tropical, hot and humid. Thailand’s hottest months are April and May and June to October is the rainy season. The best time to travel to Thailand is during November to February when the weather is cooler. Average temperatures range from 25.5 to 29.2 Celsius.

    For accurate weather please visit ACCU Weather (http://www.accuweather.com)

  • What should I bring?
  • You can purchase basic necessities in Thailand at reasonable prices, but we suggest bringing the following:

    • An unlocked mobile phone (you can use it after buying a sim card)
    • Camera
    • Sleeping bag
    • Mosquito repellent
    • Insect repellent
    • Sunscreen
    • Books about Thailand
    • Map of Thailand
    • Toiletries
    • First aid kit
    • Flash light
    • Electricity adapter/converter
    • Sun glasses
    • Good shoes (for work and travel)
    • Towel
  • Should I bring gifts for my host family?
  • You are not required to bring a gift but it is common courtesy as a token of appreciation for hosting you. If you are working in orphanages or schools, you can bring items such as school supplies and games. Remember that many children will desire what you bring, so you may want to bring a large amount of one item (pencils, pens, notebooks, games, art supplies, etc).

NOTE:Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is derived from generic information about the country, and should not be used as a definitive travel guide. Travel information and situations abroad change constantly, and the information contained here may not be up to date. Participants should consult Helping Abroad staff or travel advisors to verify this information.