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How long can I
be a volunteer with the Thai Child Development Foundation?
What kind of project
or work can I do with the foundation?
When can I start
as a volunteer?
Is there any material
available for educational activities?
Who can apply?
What should I bring?
Is there an age limit for volunteers?
What can I expect when I do
a project with the Thai Child Development Foundation?
Do I have free time during my
stay?
Where will I stay when I come
to Phato?
Why do I have to pay when I
come and work as a volunteer?
How is the money of my participation
used?
Do I need a special visa for
working as a volunteer?
Does the foundation have an
insurance for volunteers?
Is there a bank in Phato?
Can I use Internet or make
international phone calls?
Do I need to have experience
on the subject?
How can I go from Bangkok
to Phato?
Can I contact other volunteers
about their experiences with the Thai Child Development Foundation?
How long
can I be a volunteer with the Thai Child Development Foundation?
That depends if you are a long-term or a short term volunteer with
us. The minimum period for long term volunteers with the Thai
Child Development Foundation as a volunteer is one
month. The maximum period is three months.
Short term volunteers can participate in one week or two week projects.
What kind
of project or work can I do with the foundation?
At this moment there are 7 projects for volunteers to participate
in. You can check the page "Projects"
for more information.
When can
I start as a volunteer?
A long-term volunteer can enter the program every week on Thursday.
Is there
any material available for educational activities?
There are numerous handbooks available at the CLC. You can find
some of them on this web site too. Click on 'Handbooks' (here
or in the menu) to see an overview. Feel free to download whatever
is useful to you. Books on English language, horseback riding, fruit
and vegetables, animals, nature, culture and so on and so are also
available in our library. Next to that we do have some material
for drawing and so on, but you can always bring your own stuff if
you want to do something special.
Who can apply?
Anybody, who :
has affinity with the subject of the voluntary work he/she likes
to participate in
likes to work in a team and can work independent
like to organize things and start new initiatives
wants to experience life in rural Thailand
wants to live and work with local people.
For each project we developed an information sheet with specific
information on application. If you want to know more, you can
check the projects-page.
Is there
an age limit for volunteers?
No, anybody from 18 to 80 (and up) can apply. You need to be in
good physical health though. The area is not suited for people with
a physical handicap.
What can
I expect when I do a project with the Thai Child Development Foundation?
Upon arrival an introduction on the Thai
Child Development Foundation, the projects and program
will be given. On Friday the volunteers participate in a weekly
seminar with the other long-term volunteers. Saturday and Sunday
are usually free time, where you can visit the area, relax, prepare
or do anything you want to do. On Monday work will be done as scheduled
with your team. The long-term volunteer coordinator will visit your
project frequently to support you and answer questions.
Do I have
free time during my stay?
Volunteers have two free days per week and free time in the evening.
During this time they can stay at the foundation or make a trip.
Trips longer then the two days should be planned after the program.
No exceptions are made.
Where will
I stay when I come to Phato?
The place where you will live depends on the projects. Sometimes
in the village, with local people, some times at the dormitory volunteer
house) on the premises of the foundation. Anyway, your stay will
always be simple. Mattresses, pillows and mosquito nets are provided.
You should bring your own sleeping bag (or blanket), pillow and
bed sheet
Why do
I have to pay when I come and work as a volunteer?
The foundation has limited income. All funding will be spent entirely
on the children and projects for the children. This is one of the
reasons that all the work with the foundation is done by volunteers.
By paying a participation fee you contribute for your stay, food
and board, transport and on establishing the projects done
by the foundation.
How is
the money of my participation used?
The participation fee of the volunteers is for food, transport and
a place to live during your stay. And some of it for the organization
of the project, guidance and mentoring by the Thai
Child Development Foundation, the seminars, pocket money
for Thai volunteers and the material used. Also maintenance of the
volunteer house is included in the participation fee.
Do
I need a special visa for working as a volunteer?
Participants can get a tourist visa at the Thai embassy in their
home country. The length of a tourist visa differs from 1 to 3 months
(depending on the embassy). When no visa is obtained, anybody
who enters the Kingdom of Thailand as a tourist, can stay for a
period of 30 days. Crossing the border with Myanmar can easily prolong
this period with another 30 days. The border with Myanmar is about
50 km from Phato. After visiting Myanmar and returning to Thailand
a stay of another 30 days is granted. Thailand does not have a visa
for voluntary work as this is also regarded as work for which a
work permit is needed. The Thai Child Development
Foundation cannot grant this.
Does the
foundation have an insurance for volunteers?
The Thai Child Development Foundation has
no insurance for participant of projects. Volunteers join the projects
on their own risk and can not hold the foundation responsible for
any damage, accidents and so on. We advise volunteers to take a
personal insurance on health and accidents (which is wise anyway
if you are traveling).
Is there a bank in Phato?
No. Since volunteers will stay in rural area and small villages,
banks or ATM machines are not on every street corner. For financial
transaction one has to go to Ranong or Lang Suan (50 km from Phato).
Can
I use Internet or make international phone calls?
In the villages there are not many telephones or Internet connections
to be expected. One can buy a SIM card for their mobile phone in
Thailand, so contact with family and/or friends is possible. Mind
you, because you will be in mountainous area, most mobile phones
have no connection. On the premises of the foundation it is possible
to do Internet and some schools also have a connection. Of course
Internet can be done in Ranong or Lang Suan (50 km from Phato).
Do I need
to have experience on the subject?
For some of the project some experiences is needed (horse back riding
for example). If you have knowledge and experiences on the subject
that is - of course - a pre.
For most project the foundation want you to:
be able to speak and understand English language
be able to to work independently
be flexible and creative.
have affinity with the subject, children and education
work in a team (co-volunteers and the Thai Child Development
Foundation coordinators)
be open minded
For each project we developed an information sheet with specific
information on application. If you want to know more, you can check
the projects-page.
How can
I go from Bangkok to Phato?
You can go from Bangkok to Phato by bus or train. It is a trip of
ca. 500 km. You can read the information sheet 'How
to get there' for more information.
Can I contact
other volunteers about their experiences with the Thai Child Development
Foundation?
Yes, by all means! The foundation is very proud of the volunteers
who joined the projects and likes to keep in contact with them.
There is a special Hyves page for the foundation where you can contact
other volunteers.
What should
I bring?
The list you will find below is a general overview. For each project
we developed an information sheet with more specific information.
If you want to know more, you can check the projects-page.
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Sleeping bag or blanket, a pillow case and /sheet for your
mattress
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Towel, shampoo, soap and so on
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Flashlight
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Clothes, both work and casual (not too revealing)
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Dress shirts and long pants. (in case you will attend an formal
meeting.)
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Clothes for trekking, swimming, free time
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Rain cloths (it is rainy season from May on....)
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Medicine and first aid material, mosquito repellent
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Sport shoes or any old pair of shoes for working and trekking,
flip flops (sandals)
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Sun lotion, hat, sunglasses
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Medicine and first aid material
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Insect repellent (mosquito's)
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Traveling papers with a visa for your period of stay
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and some pictures and nice things from your home and family,
to share with other volunteers and students.
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Camera
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Books for children to read (different level), if you like
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Maybe a dictionary?
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All extra material needed you like to use for the projects
(material or information) if you like
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