Project Options:
1) Teaching
Duration: 1 Week (Extendable)
Location: Singburi (Thailand)
2008 Program Start Dates: Every Monday, Year-Round
This program consists of working with students at various schools (we have strong relationships with several primary, secondary, and high schools), the age of the students will be between 7 and 18 years old.
The different schools encourage a non- formal approach to teaching. This means that we will not have to conform to the local teaching methods or style, but everyone will be free to choose their own way of teaching and may bring their own ideas into class. It is important to understand that the methods of teaching are less important than the attitude of the participant towards the students. In addition, the subjects to be taught can alter, depending on current activities in the schools and might include, for example, environmental issues.
The teaching program serves a dual purpose; of course it is meant to help children in rural Thailand to have a chance to speak more English (usually even their teachers aren’t up to standard) and secondly it will give an insight into the Thai education system as well as it is a good chance to become good friends with students and teachers.
Sample Teaching Schedule and Activity
Sunday
In the evening, there will be a short introduction on the Teaching Project along with the other volunteers.
Monday-Friday
- In the morning you will teach young students in a primary school and in the afternoon in a secondary school. You are welcome to bring presents with you for students. In our experience the students are less interested in toys (some typical toys of your country might be interesting), but pictures of your family/house or pets has been a standard success.
- You will have lunch at the school and work from 8.30 hrs in the morning until just after 15.00 hrs.
- Thai schools show respect each day to the Kingdom of Thailand. They invite participants to join a few 8 o'clock morning ceremonies and be part of the morning exercises.
*** Note: Thailand is a tropical country with occasional violent storms, heavy rains and floods. During such times, the above schedule may be subject to change.
Teaching Project - Food and Accommodation
Your new home will be one of our 3 ‘Eco Houses’ in Singburi in central Thailand – the Lemon House, the Twin House and the Brown House.
This camp is situated about 10 km from the town of Singburi and takes about 15 minutes from the eco- houses you will be staying in. In Singburi you will find all the amenities you could need i.e. internet, shops, swimming pool, hospital, pharmacy, banks and restaurants. There are plenty of trips into Singburi or you can easily take a taxi.
The houses sleep from 20 to 50 people. All houses have single gender shared dorm rooms with the number of beds ranging from 3 to 12. All houses have western style toilets. Each bathroom has a shower and the water is always cool – nice and refreshing in the heat. All houses have a communal area where you can eat, relax and meet.
Most of the houses are within walking distance of a local shop and a make-shift bar provided by the friendly locals.
The doors and windows are screened (to protect you from mosquitoes). There are fans in the room.
For your valuables, we have lockers available. We strongly encourage you to use them, even if our centers are generally very safe.
There are limited laundry facilities so expect to wash your clothes by hand. All participants are expected to be environmentally aware and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and organized.
All food is included during your stay. The meals will be typical Thai fare, including plenty of rice dishes.
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2) Orphanage:
Duration: 1 Week (Extendable)
Location: Singburi (Thailand)
2008 Program Start Dates: Every Monday, Year-Round
Most large orphanages in Thailand have integrated on their grounds their own primary (and secondary) school for their pupils. The school is also open for poor families. Of course the orphanage provides housing, food and teaching materials for these poor students as well. Besides teaching English on a non-formal basis the volunteers are able to work with the children in their vegetable garden (for their own consumption) and to create activities for the students or arrange workshops for cultural exchange, environmental and other important issues. In cooperation of our own full time coordinator we will create each month a special program for all people who are involved in this initiative.
Sample Orphanage Schedule & Activity
This program consists of working with an orphanage 20 km away from Singburi City. We have our own accommodations 40 km from the orphanage where we can prepare activities as well as have some leisure moments. If it is preferred, we can arrange for you to stay at an orphanage, allowing you to become further involved with the childrens activities. But before we start we will introduce each participant into the orphanage system, the work and the possibilities for the coming weeks. In our own place we will prepare with the coordinator some of the activities and buy where necessary some tools for the program.
The Active in Asia program has much experience in informal teaching methods, arranging sports, after school programs, giving workshops, gardening in the vegetable garden and some special environmental awareness campaigns like Clean Up The Orphanage with youngsters of the orphanage. Depending on the particular skill of the participants or group ideas we may do some art or handicraft as well.
The coordinator will keep a close watch on the logistics and almost each day we leave the center around 8 to 9 to be present at the orphanage and leave in the late midday to our center again. The teachers are typical Thai and there is one teacher who is fairly good in English and three people can speak a little. The classes are old and a bit dirty, but the students are lovely and are so happy to see our participants each day.
*** Note: Thailand is a tropical country with occasional violent storms, heavy rains and floods. During such times, the above schedule may be subject to change.
Orphanage Project - Food and Accommodation:
Your new home will be one of our 3 ‘Eco Houses’ in Singburi in central Thailand – the Lemon House, the Twin House and the Brown House.
This camp is situated about 10 km from the town of Singburi and takes about 15 minutes from the eco- houses you will be staying in. In Singburi you will find all the amenities you could need i.e. internet, shops, swimming pool, hospital, pharmacy, banks and restaurants. There are plenty of trips into Singburi or you can easily take a taxi.
The houses sleep from 20 to 50 people. All houses have single gender shared dorm rooms with the number of beds ranging from 3 to 12. All houses have western style toilets and one even as an Asian toilet! Each bathroom has a shower and the water is always cool – nice and refreshing in the heat. All houses have a communal area where you can eat, relax and meet.
Most of the houses are within walking distance of a local shop and a make shift bar provided by the friendly locals.
The doors and windows are screened (to protect you from mosquitoes). There are fans in the room. For your valuables, we have lockers available. We strongly encourage you to use them, even if our centers are generally very safe.
There are limited laundry facilities so expect to wash your clothes by hand. All participants are expected to be environmentally aware and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and organized.
All food is included during your stay. The meals will be typical Thai fare, including plenty of rice dishes.
