Being a volunteer in Thailand with the Thai Child Development Foundation will be a great new experience and adventure and for sure it means a lot of fun for many people.

But it also means living in a simple dormitory with a lot of people, or in a old wooden house with a mattress on the floor, or sharing rooms with people you do not know. It means cooking your own meals and eat rice three times a day.

Not all people realize this when they prepare their trip to Thailand. So, this page is made to prepare you a little bit for this way of living, so you will be prepared for the 'jungle' of Thailand.

• Volunteers should be aware that working and teaching conditions are basic and cannot be compared with the situations you might have 'back home'. You are working on the country side of Thailand, in rural area and in a tropical climate. The level of the students (on English) is basic. ABC is known, and basic sentences, like 'how are you', but do not count on real conversations, or that kids understand you right away. That is why bodylanguage, games, songs are part of the program!

• If you need material to do something special (like music or drama, etc.) you should bring it yourself. Regular material, like notebooks and pens can be provided by the foundation. And there will be some (basic) material available in the schools (only for educational project in schools). Check with us if you consider coming to us, we can inform you about it.

• Volunteer will live in a dormitory when they stay with the foundation. Twelve people can live there and they have to share 6 bunk beds. The dorm has a kitchen and an eating area. When you live there, we expect you to cook your own meals (fresh food is provided). Cleaning is an important part of living in the dorm. Not cleaning means insects. Insects means frogs, frogs means snakes and other unpleasant visitors. So daily task should be organized with all volunteers living in the dorm

• When you do an educational project, you will stay for a period of three days in the school. There you will have simple living conditions too. Actually on the premises and at the schools, you will live like Thai people live. Be prepared for that.

• We would like you to bring a sleeping bag and a sheet and pillow by yourself. It is nice to sleep on that and in most places a mattress, pillow and a blanket is available, but no sheets or pillow cases.

• Doing a project as a volunteer with the Thai Child Development Foundation varies from 1 to 3 months, depending on the length of stay of the volunteer. After this period of time a new volunteer will continue with his/her program. Projects are done in different places, like the area of the foundation, but also in schools.

• Being a volunteer with the Thai Child Development Foundation also means you understand and sympathize fully the aims and goals of the foundation. Informing people on the work being done in Phato is one of the things we expect you to do too.

• Besides doing the project the volunteer is also expected to be active in the daily live in the place where he/she will live (by doing dishes, work in the garden, clean the area and so on).

• If you want to develop more initiatives, besides the project you are doing, you are more then welcome to do so! All ideas are welcome!

• All volunteers, no matter what project they are in, will work together on a project and in workshops on Thursday and they will meet in the weekly seminar on Friday. This seminar is used for preparation of the program for the coming week, learn about educational ideas and methods, know about the other projects done for the foundation, meet all volunteers and coordinators and exchange experiences. This seminar day is obligatory.

• All projects have a two day period of free time scheduled. During this free time you can explore the area, do some activities - like a jungle trek, horse back riding, swimming, tubing, hiking and so on - visit Ranong or Lang Suan (2 cities in the area of Phato, or just relax and have a good time.

• Volunteers of the Thai Child Development Foundation stay and work on their own risk. The Foundation does not have an insurance for them and cannot be held responsible for any injuries or damage and loss of goods. We recommend you to take care of an individual health and travel insurance.