This childcare project is based in one of the temples in the province of Trat, Thailand. It was founded by the Dean of Wat Pai Lom. The aim of the Childcare Center is to provide primary education to children aged 3 to 5, allowing their parents to go to work. Being located in the temple, the center also involves the children in meditation along with their Buddhist studies.
The Wat Pai Lom Childcare Center aims to encourage and guide children to become creative and happy individuals and prepare them for primary school. The volunteer’s role is to play, dance, and sing while providing individual attention to the children.
As a volunteer, you will work alongside the school’s childcare staff. Daily tasks include assisting teachers with the children’s regular routines. You do not need to be a childcare specialist or a native speaker. You only need to have a passion for caring for and enjoying time with children.
The schedule will be organized upon arrival. Typically, you will be working in the morning from 8:00 to 15:00. The Childcare Center is within walking distance from our volunteer house.
– Our Childcare Center is located at Wat Pai Lom (a temple) in the city of Trat, in the southeastern province of Trat, Thailand.
English Teaching Volunteer Program
The aim of this project is to help teach English to students in local schools and institutions in the vicinity of the city of Trat. Our program in Thailand especially works with schools in Trat that do not have the funds to employ English-speaking teachers. There are several primary schools in this area that need volunteers to assist local teachers.
Thai teachers greatly appreciate the help of native English speakers or those fluent in the language to assist in teaching their students how to speak English. Learning English provides Thai students with greater opportunities for future employment. There can be between 20 to 40 students in each classroom. Students are always happy to have volunteers in their classes to help with conversational aspects. The main objectives of this project are to assist students with their English language skills and also help them overcome the fear of speaking it.
In some schools, multiple sessions will be allocated where volunteers will work with small groups of students. You will need to create a lesson plan of your own, which should be loosely inspired by the English subject. So come prepared with plenty of engaging activities to make your classes fun and dynamic.
In this volunteer program in Thailand, volunteers will not be alone in the classrooms but will have Thai teachers or volunteer coordinators by their side.
Our English Teaching Volunteer Program is located in several primary schools in the center of Trat, Thailand.
Dress code: Teachers in Thailand dress in a professional manner.
Materials to bring: If you have any educational software or materials that can help with teaching English, please feel free to bring them. Any children’s English books, fairy tales, and board games are welcome.
Work plan: Usually, the volunteer works alongside another volunteer in one of the schools. Upon arrival, during the orientation day, the local team will inform the volunteer about the assigned school and schedules, among other instructions.
Dates when the program will be closed: The school will be closed during national holidays and school vacations:
Summer vacation: from April to mid-May.
Winter vacation: the entire month of October.
During holiday dates, it is possible to organize extra English classes, provided there is a minimum group of four volunteers.
Sports volunteer program
Volunteers will work with children and get involved in teaching Physical Education (PE) and sports coaching to a group of primary schools in Trat, Thailand. The purpose of this volunteer program in Thailand is to provide sports enthusiasts with the opportunity to become athletes.
Volunteers will work alongside the physical education teacher of each school. Schools will organize sports activities according to the sport that best suits the volunteer. Regardless of whether you will work with a specific sport or the physical education program of the schools, there will always be a Thai teacher present to supervise and assist you.
The sports taught may vary, but typically include track and field, volleyball, table tennis, basketball, and soccer.
You don’t need to be a professional coach to enroll in this program. You only need to have a passion for sports and enjoy working with children. However, participants with experience in a particular sports field or physical education are welcome to enroll and share their knowledge, ideas, and skills.
Eight primary schools in the center of Trat are participating in the volunteer program. Your schedule will be organized upon arrival. Typically, you will work in three or four different schools. Most of the schools you will work at are close to the volunteer residence. If your school is not near the student residence, a school teacher will pick you up and take you to and from the school.
Dress code: You can wear standard sports attire while working, but tank tops are not allowed for both male and female volunteers. Sports attire is only worn when working in the field; otherwise, you should dress like a regular teacher.
Materials to bring: Most of the schools we work with are resource-poor schools where volunteers can support the quality of education, so there is no need to bring materials.
Work plan: Usually, the volunteer works alongside another volunteer in one of the schools. This program not only focuses on physical activities but also on teaching in the classroom related to sports, such as the rules applied to the physical activities that the volunteer will engage in.
It’s important to note that outdoor activities may be affected during the rainy season (May to October).
Program Closure Dates: The school will be closed during national holidays and school vacations:
- Summer holidays: from April to mid-May
- Winter holidays: October
Note: If there are groups of at least three volunteers during the summer holidays, summer sports camps can be organized with the school students. One week of volunteer program is available for this option.
Computer Teaching volunteer program
Volunteers in this program will assist teachers in Thailand with teaching software, Office programs, and using various general computer functions. As a volunteer in this program, you will also have the opportunity to teach specialized computer topics such as basic programming, design, photography, music, and animation.
Our computer and technology volunteer program in Thailand is located in several primary schools in the center of Trat, Thailand.
Most of these schools are only a 15-minute bike ride from the volunteer house. You will be assigned to one or several schools. Most of these schools have a computer class with around thirty computers. Computer classes are part of the curriculum, and school classes will be led by a Thai teacher with the collaboration of volunteers. Most Thai teachers have very limited knowledge in this field, so they greatly appreciate your assistance through the volunteer program.
You don’t have to be a computer expert to participate in this program. Any college student who uses a computer for their university work will have sufficient skills.
Dress Code: Teachers in Thailand dress elegantly.
Work plan: Typically, the volunteer works alongside another volunteer in one of the schools. Upon arrival and during the orientation day, the local team will inform the volunteer of the specific school they have been assigned to, schedules (computer classes are 50 minutes long), and other instructions.
Program Closure Dates::
Schools will be closed during the summer holidays, but they will organize reinforcement programs during the summer.
- From May 16th to October 10th and from November 1st to April 30th, volunteers will teach in schools.
- From May 1st to May 16th and from October 11th to November 1st, volunteers will participate in summer classes organized by local teachers.
English Teaching Volunteer Program in Monasteries
Teaching English to Buddhist monks in Thailand is a truly enlightening experience. Many of the monks come from impoverished backgrounds and do not have the opportunity to acquire knowledge in regular schools like many others.
Your main role at the temple school will be to assist the English teacher in the daily classes for monks aged between 10 and 18 years old. On a typical day, you will teach for two hours, conducting two classes in the afternoon. You will provide speaking and listening skills in English to the monk students and are also encouraged to lead your own activities with the assistance of Thai teachers. The monks’ English proficiency is usually quite low, so it is important to be enthusiastic, patient, and flexible. Volunteers offer the monk students the opportunity to learn about life outside their country, a perspective that will undoubtedly benefit their religious development.
In addition to teaching, you will need to dedicate time each day to prepare lessons for the next day. In Thailand, it is very common for temples to have daycares and schools on their premises. If you wish to extend your teaching hours, you can also participate in the daycare located on-site.
You can spend time with the monks during your free time or lunchtime, engaging in conversations, exchanging life stories, and, in return, listening to their stories and their different way of life.
Special needs volunteer program
The Trat Special Day Care Center is run by the Thai government and is located on the outskirts of the city of Trat. Trat Special Day Care is dedicated to providing lifelong care and support to all special needs individuals in the province of Trat, currently serving approximately 206 individuals with special needs.
The children have various degrees of special needs, including autism, mental and physical disabilities, and Down syndrome. Not all 200 children can attend the center, so the care staff visits them and educates other family members on how to care for them on a regular basis. The volunteer will assist this project by helping teachers and care staff in the day-to-day operation of the center, including providing personalized care to the children. Ideally, this project requires volunteers with experience in this field. However, volunteers who have the drive and enthusiasm to work with children with special needs and are interested in the teaching methods and practices used in Thailand are welcome to apply.
You may be studying in the field of special needs education, psychology, or nursing; all of these disciplines have transferable skills that can be used for the project. The center aims to provide children with a caring and stimulating environment to help them develop their potential in life.