Top 10 Volunteer Opportunities in Thailand To Choose
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For the entire travel fraternity, it is a known fact that Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. And, with so much to offer to its guests, such as adventure activities, shopping arcades, pristine beaches, spectacular bio-diversity and more – it is evident that Thailand is the choice for most of the travelers from around the world.
However, over the period of time, there is one thing which has gained much popularity and has turned into one of the most common reasons to visit Thailand – and that is volunteering for a cause. A number of gap year travelers and backpackers visit Thailand to volunteer and work for something meaningful.
Intrigued about what exactly are these programs like?
Volunteering Solutions present to you some of the most popular and best volunteer programs to attend in Thailand. Check them out and choose the one that suits you the best!
1. Volunteer with elephants and feel the love!
This is one of the most popular volunteer programs in Thailand. Volunteers looking to work for the welfare and development of wildlife in Thailand can choose to volunteer for these elephant volunteering projects. There are two options to choose from;
Both the programs include helping the mahouts in various tasks; such as, taking care of elephants, preparing food for them, taking them for a daily bathe in the river, learning a thing or two about handling the Gentle Giants, etc. While the first project is located at an elephant camp situated at a distance of about 45 minutes from main Chiang Mai town, the second program will take you to an elephant village, located on the outskirts of Surin city.
In both places, you’ll have the opportunity to experience a typical Thai village life. You’ll get to indulge in knowing how the animals are reared and taken care of, as well as experience something offbeat while exploring the places. Try your hands in cooking some authentic Thai delicacies, meet some amazing people from different parts of the world and have fun!
2. Childcare Volunteering Opportunities in Thailand
As the name suggests, the Childcare Volunteering Program caters to the needs of small kids, ranging from the age of infants to 10-year-olds. Under the Childcare programs, volunteers can choose to work for several different causes and make a difference in the lives of the little ones! The projects run at childcare homes, daycare centers, and kindergartens.
These projects are highly recommended for those who love to be around kids and know how to handle their tantrums – you know how kids can be! The major tasks involved in these projects include feeding the children at the centers, assisting them with studies, playing with them, and spending some quality time with them. Above all, you should be open enough to shower these kids with utmost love and care, treating them as your own. In return, you’ll receive unconditional love from them!
3. Volunteer as a Teacher in Thailand
If you are keen to teach the little ones and help them shape their future in a better manner, then what can be better than volunteering as a teacher in Thailand? You can either join the English Teaching Programs in Surin or Bangkok, or head off to Chiang Mai and teach the young monks there. You certainly don’t need any TEFL certification to be a volunteer teacher in Thailand. All you need is a little patience and a lot of enthusiasm to teach these naughty bunch!
At a time, there could be around 30-40 students in a class where you’d be teaching. Volunteers can either start with assisting the local teachers and gradually take individual lectures or can start solo from the first day itself. This is a nice platform for volunteers to gain some hands-on experience of working abroad and escalate their future career as well as academic prospects.
4. Medical and Healthcare Volunteering Program in Surin
A great platform for pre-med, nursing & medical students to acquire first-hand international work experience. You’ll get to work with the doctors and nurses in the hospitals and healthcare centers, shadowing and learning things while observing.
Not only does this helps in boosting the career graph of students, but it also helps them understand the healthcare segment of a foreign country. Volunteers joining the healthcare program will be assisting the local staff at selected government and private hospitals, and clinics. Even professionals can join the Healthcare Volunteering Program in Surin, Thailand and contribute effectively. Volunteers will also join the medical team in conducting awareness and check-up camps in remote areas and villages around Surin. It’ll be a great opportunity for you to learn more about the medical system of developing Asian nations.
5. Medical Internships in Bangkok & Chiang Mai
While medical volunteering is mostly for those students who are in there 3rd or 4th year of studies & for professionals, the medical internship programs are designed for those who have lesser experience & knowledge, yet keen to brush up and work with experienced people. Thailand has become a medical center for much of Asia and westerners travel half-way across the world to receive expert, inexpensive medical care. Thailand’s medical system is well known for its highly qualified doctors, staff and new medical equipment. The medical internship program in Thailand is available in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
No more than two interns at any one time will be paired with each full-time doctor. The amount of “hands-on” involvement while interning will depend upon the intern’s experience, education, comfort level, the length of the internship and the consent of both the attending doctor and the hospital administration. Being a medical intern in Thailand will surely help you to boost your career while gaining first-hand work experience.
6. One Week Special Volunteering Opportunity
If you’ve just a week’s time and thinking of volunteering in Thailand, then we have got the best program in store for you! Join us for an amazing 1 Week Special program in Surin, experience the goodness of living in a Thai village, while soaking up the intrinsic beauty of the place. You’ll get to work for a school renovation project, and add some colors to the environment. And not just that, but you’ll also get to soak in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, party hard at Khao San Road, binge on some delicious Thai cuisine and meet some crazy (yet, like-minded) souls from different parts of the world.
7. Two Weeks’ Special Voluntour in Thailand
Adventure activities, weekend excursions, volunteer work, exploring the places, savoring the local cuisine and more – al these are a vital part of any travel expedition, and if you’re looking for all these combined in one program, then we have the best-curated ones for you! For those who have a couple of weeks in hand and planning to explore Thailand differently, can choose to go for the Two Week’s Special Voluntour in Surin. Get ready to feel the thrill of adventure activities and weekend excursions, and the excitement of volunteering under a project while making a difference. And not just that, but you’ll also get to experience the nightlife at Khao San Road in Bangkok and later, set sail for Koh Phangan, the party capital of the nation!
8. Summer Volunteering Opportunity in Thailand
As we’ve mentioned in the beginning as well, Thailand is a paradise for gap year travelers and backpackers, as well as for students who are seeking to travel meaningfully. Just in case you have a month’s time in hand and planning to spend your summer abroad – then we have the best Summer Volunteering Program in Thailand for you! In a span of 3 weeks, you’ll get to volunteer for several projects such as childcare, elephant conservation, community development, etc. You’ll also have enough time to explore the cities of Bangkok and Surin. To add the element of fun activities and adventure thrills, volunteers will get to visit the Khao Yai National Park, trek through the jungles of Pha Daew Dai, and witness the breathtaking views of the region.
And if you crave for a beach retreat after that, then hop on for a week by the golden sands and turquoise waters, soaking in the sunshine at Koh Tao & Koh Phangan!
9. Journalism Internship Program
This is an incredible internship opportunity for those who are pursuing Journalism or Media Studies, and looking for first-hand work experience abroad. Being an intern for this program, you will work alongside Thai staff in different departments in the publishing house. Interns will be working with established firms in Chiang Mai, and the main focus of this project is not only to gain experience but also to contribute to the magazine.
A brief orientation and tour of the organization will be given to new interns and guided by the professionals so that they get accustomed to the work environment and be at ease while working. You’ll get ample scope of peer learning, nurture your creativity and explore the avenues in this stream. It’ll surely be a great boost to your CV as well and help you immensely in your career ahead.
10. Elephant 2 Beaches Voluntour in Thailand
Well, the name says it all! This is one of the most popular programs in Thailand – and if you are a fan of the gentle giants and love to soak in the sun as well, then what can be better than the Elephant 2 Beaches Voluntour? Get ready to spend a week in Chaing Mai, taking care of the elephants, and learn how the mahouts have dedicated their lives for these animals, protecting & nurturing them. Explore the quaint town, before you head off to Koh Tao and have crazy days by the beaches! Join a Marine Conservation Project in Koh Tao, and get closer to Mother Nature, ethically and responsibly. It will surely be something incredible to experience.
Not being able to decide which program to choose?
Not to worry!
Our advisers will help you choose the program that suits you the best according to your field of interest, educational background, budget, and time in hand. Send in your queries at [email protected] and start your journey to volunteer in Thailand, today!
And in the meanwhile, if you’ve anything more to know, then you can take a look at the Comprehensive Thailand Volunteering Guidebook as well.
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