Care & Community - THAILAND Project Information for Care & Community in Thailand

Our Care & Community Placements in Thailand

Our Care & Community placements in Thailand are mainly based in and around the town of Mahachai, one hour South of Bangkok. There are also some placements on the outskirts of Bangkok or 6 hours south of Bangkok, in and around Chumphon. Volunteers work predominantly in day care centres and orphanages. Those with previous experience can work with in centres for handicapped children.

The role of the volunteer depends on the placement where they are working. However, flexibility on both sides is the key to all our placements. As long as you are prepared to work hard and put both time and energy in to your tasks and activities no one will insist on you doing something you are not happy about.

A Typical Role of a Volunteer:

On arrival at the placement the volunteer has a meeting with a member of the PA staff and the care placement supervisor to discuss what the project involves. Volunteers work Mondays to Fridays, 9:00am to 4.30pm with a break for lunch and weekends free to travel and explore other nearby regions of Thailand. When caring for the younger infants, the work involves giving hands-on help with bathing, dressing, feeding, nappy changing and of course playing with them and amusing them. The older children need to be taught to eat properly, and wash and dress themselves. Volunteers also need to teach them about personal hygiene and general behaviour and help them to communicate and interact both with you and with each other. These things are usually taught using a one on one method. Other activities with them can include music, art, story-telling, water play, painting, singing and sport. You may be asked to accompany them on field trips too. Volunteers could be working with all ages from new-born babies to young adults, and with disabilities such as blindness.

The thing all the care placements have in common is that they are designed to help children who have precious few other people to whom they can turn. This work can be challenging, but it is also fun and enjoyable, and greatly appreciated by the children and staff. Probably the greatest value of a volunteer is to bring some fun into the lives of these children. Simply by being there, playing games, showing affection and providing some much needed love and attention you will be making an important contribution.