Location
Volunteers will be based in Chiang Rai, and the project will take place in various hill tribe villages around this area. Chiang Rai province covers some 11,678 square kilometers with a population of 1.23 million. The average elevation is 580 meters above sea level, Myanmar borders on the north, and Laos on the north and northeast. The provincial capital is 829 kilometers north of Bangkok.
Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai and was the first capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of a Million Rice fields). The province contains Thailand's northernmost point at Mae Sai which is well known for its crisp mountain scenery, and hill tribes. North Chiang Rai and falls within the region known as the Golden Triangle, the area where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge.
About the project
This project gives you the opportunity to volunteer for the indigenous AKHA tribes of Northern Thailand. As a volunteer you will be able to experience first hand and learn about their unique culture and traditions. The aim of the project is support the AKHA way of life while promoting sustainable cultural exchange between them and the international volunteers.
During the 2 week project volunteers will work together with AFECT, an organisation that supports the AKHA minority group in Thailand. We will stay in one of the AFECT centres and/or in homestays. The volunteer work with AFECT is very diverse, from construction to teaching and working with the villagers, depending on the needs of the community and on your personal preferences! Of-course during these two weeks we will also visit local markets and help local initiatives.
About the Akha hill tribes
The Akha are hill tribe of subsistence farmers known for their artistry. The ethnic group may have originated in Mongolia around 1500 years ago. Most of the remaining Akha people are now distributed in small villages among the mountains of China (where they are considered part of the Hani by the government, though this is a subject of some dispute among the Akha themselves), Laos (where they are considered Lao Sung), Myanmar (Burma), and northern Thailand, where they are one of the six main hill tribes.
The Akha began arriving in Thailand in the early twentieth century and continue to immigrate, with some 80,000 now living in Thailand's northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai at high altitudes. Many of these villages can be visited by tourists on trekking tours from either of these cities. They speak Akha, a language in the Loloish (Yi) branch of the Tibeto-Burman family. Akha has a very closely related language with the Lisu and Lahu as they once belonged to the Lolohunter tribe people that once ruled the Paoshan and Teinchung plains before the invasion of Ming Dynasty (A.D 1644) in Yunan, China. The practice of their mythology includes ornately carved village gates made of wood where the guardian spirits are said to dwell. They have en extensive recollection of ancestors going back 15 generations and exhibited in chants.
Schedule and volunteer activities
This volunteer program requires cutural sensetivity, flexibilty and open mindnes in order to work and interact with the AKHA people. Typical project scedule for 2 weeks:
First Sunday
- Airport pickup and evening departure from Bangkok to Chiang Rai by bus. The travel takes more then 10 hours.
First Monday
- Arrival in Chiang Rai during the early morning
- After some rest, a short explanation of the program and a general volunteer schedule for the next 2 weeks will be given.
- Upon arrival in the AFECT centre, their will be lectures about the area, AKHA customs and do's and don'ts.
- In the afternoon, departure to the hill tribe village.
First Tuesday-Friday
- Thai and AKHA people are very spontaneous and act instead of following precise a schedule. Below are some possibilities of what can happen.
- Visit the local market and use this as a starting point to learn on how to bargain (in Thai).
- Construction & renovation of the nearby areas/ places.
- Agriculture & environmental work is also possible in the villages.
- Helping in the herbal garden.
- Volunteers can help the students with homework. Of course playing and making fun activities with the students is part of the job.
- Getting familiar with the public transport system.
First Saturday
- Excursion
- Back in the evening.
- Possibility to stay on one's own in Chiang Rai and return Sunday evening.
First Sunday
Second Monday-Friday
- We will continue with volunteering and different activities.
- Don't be surprised by an unexpected change in schedule this week: It keeps everyone alert and enables our coordinator to show you more of the area and culture.
Second Saturday
Sunday
- departure or join eco-trip (see below0.
*** 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.
Accommodation and facilites
Volunteers will stay in a Homestay or in the AFECT centre (please note that the accommodation is very basic: Thai bathrooms, with Asian toilets and ‘shower' only.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 organised. All food is included during your stay. The meals will be typical AKHA / Thai fare, including plenty of rice dishes. You have the opportunity to learn how to cook - Thai style, by preparing your daily meals with the help and assistance of your new Thai friends and other volunteers. Sleeping bag is also required.
Eco-adventure trips
After the project you can join one of the following eco-trips in Thailand for one week:
Thai Boxing
The boxing program is the perfect way to learn either the art of Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) or advance Muay Thai skills in the country of the sports' origin. Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing as it's known in the West, is the national sport in Thailand and one of the most popular forms of martial arts in South East Asia. Known as the "art of the eight limbs", this sport teaches combat techniques, using 8 different points of contact on the body - feet, knees, elbows and hands. It is one of the most physical martial arts; but also one of the most exclusive.
Central Thailand Tour
During this week, we will have the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful spots in central Thailand. First, we will go to the Uthai Thani province, where we can enjoy the Thai nature in one of the least visited areas of Thailand, while staying in local village homes. We will also be able to visit several monuments: the famous Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok city and the historical park of Sukhothai. Sukhothai is one of the former capitals of Thailand. During the Sukhothai rule in the 13th century, the city became famous for its innovative style of Buddha statues and architecture. This distinctive style influences Thai art until today. We will have plenty of time to see examples during the program, both in the Sukhothai Historical Park as well as in the Rama Khamheng Museum in modern Sukhothai. The program also includes a visit to the Greenway elephant sanctuary. Therefore, this option shows participants the best of Thailand: local culture, nature and Thai history.
Culture week
During the Culture week, two special sides of the traditional Thai culture are presented: First a short documentary is shown about Thai Buddhism. Later we visit a monastery and are able to put questions to a highly respected monk in Thailand. We have the opportunity to stay in an authentic temple and experience firsthand the life of the monks. Of course, meditation is part of the daily routine of monks. Later during this week, we will visit a village, a traditional Thai pottery factory and a 100-year old market.
Diving
The scuba course will take place on the pristine island of Koh Tao. Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand and offers one of the best locations for year-round diving in Thailand. The Island has thousands of breeds of tropical fish, corals and often whale sharks.
Isarn Tour
The Isarn region, culture and heritage is defined by agriculture (rice fields wherever we travel through Isarn), Buddhism (We will see the temple life in the village.), the old Khmer heritage (We will see the Panom Rung temple complex that was built the same time as Angkhor Wat by the same Khmer.) and elephants (They were active in Isarn in the past and still inhabit Surin). We will travel by local buses and try to minimize travel time. However, pack lightly for easy travel. Everywhere we stay in villages, where we shall enjoy the warm hospitality of local hosts (except for the last night in Nakorn Ratchasima).
Trekking
During this program, we will be trekking in the jungle & rainforest of the Phutoei National Park, a lush park that is not a usual tourist destination. This week also gives us the chance to experience the lifestyle of a hill tribe in a nearby village. This week ends with a night in a real bed at a local hotel in Suphanburi province. This will be a unique experience. We will be roughing it in beautiful surroundings, surviving with the basics, whilst at the same time having a lot of fun. The guides are very friendly and it will be a great experience.
Beach week
It is well known that Thailand has the perfect conditions for a great time at the beach. The beaches in Thailand are beautiful and, on top of that, the weather is great. During this week, we will enjoy one of the finest beaches in the Gulf of Thailand, with free time for relaxing, reading, snorkeling and swimming. This is also the time for everyone to relax in the company of the other Active in Asia participants and compare notes.
Minimum requirements
- Min age 18
- Good level of English
- Motivation to work with children and meet new cultures
- Full travel & medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)