Before Bobbi left for Thailand, he had one real worry, and it wasn’t the heat or the food. It was his age.
It’s a fair thing to wonder about. Volunteering abroad gets talked about as something you do in your twenties, so signing up later in life can feel like turning up to a party you weren’t sure you were invited to.
Bobbi joined GoEco’s Teaching & Community Volunteering for Mature Adults program in Hua Hin anyway. He came home with a pretty clear answer:
“Being an older person, I thought it would be challenging, but with the great support, I felt very comfortable.”
The kids were the highlight
Ask Bobbi what he enjoyed most and he doesn’t have to think about it.
“Working with the young children was my greatest enjoyment.”
On the Teaching & Childcare side of the program, volunteers help out in local kindergartens and primary schools around Hua Hin, working alongside Thai teachers. A lot of it is English through play: songs, games, art and simple conversation, with plenty of room to bring your own ideas to the lesson.
Many schools in the area are short on teachers, so an extra adult in the room makes a difference. It means more one-on-one time for kids who are just starting to get comfortable speaking English with someone new.
A team that had his back
The support is what Bobbi keeps coming back to. He said as much in the Trustpilot review he wrote after his trip, where he gave credit to the local coordinators who looked after him in Hua Hin.
“All of the coordinators I was involved with were extremely helpful, professional, and organized.”
That’s by design. The program comes with a designated coordinator for mature adults, an experienced local field team on the ground, and GoEco’s 24/7 emergency hotline if anything comes up.
And it wasn’t just once he was on the ground. Bobbi summed up the whole process, from booking through to heading home, in five words:
“Great communication from start to finish.”
The living setup helps too. Mature volunteers stay in private, air-conditioned en-suite rooms at a three-star hotel, a short drive from the main volunteer house, with daily transfers for meals, activities and volunteer work. It’s a bit quieter, which a lot of people appreciate after a morning in a classroom full of five-year-olds.
More than just the classroom
Volunteering was the reason Bobbi went, but he didn’t want to spend the whole trip without seeing Thailand. The team made sure he didn’t have to.
“Making sure I was able to also see some sights and engage in the Thai culture, I will always be very grateful for.”
The program week is built with that balance in mind. It opens with a day at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, where rescued elephants and gibbons live, followed by an orientation that covers Thai customs and some basic language. Afternoons can include Thai language or cooking lessons.
Midweek, volunteers can pick an optional outing to suit their energy levels: a chance to spot wild elephants at Kui Buri National Park, a 90-minute Thai massage, or Huay Mongkol Temple and the Artist Village. Saturdays are for exploring, whether that’s the hike up to Phraya Nakhon Cave, a slower day at Hua Hin Beach, or the Cicada and Tamarind Night Markets once the sun goes down.
So, was it worth it?
We asked Bobbi what he’d tell a friend who was on the fence. He kept it short.
“It was very well worth it.”
In that same review, he said the trip lived up to what he’d hoped for, and that he’d like to do another one. We’re taking that as a good sign.
That’s the bit we’d want anyone over 60 to hear. The worry about age is real, and Bobbi had it too. With the right program and people around you who know what they’re doing, it doesn’t have to be the thing that stops you.
Want to follow in Bobbi’s footsteps?
The Teaching & Community Volunteering for Mature Adults program in Hua Hin is recommended for adults aged 60 and up. You can join for anywhere from one to 16 weeks.
You choose your focus when you sign up: Teaching & Childcare like Bobbi, Environmental Conservation, or Community Renovation. Stay two weeks or more and you can switch to a different focus partway through.
Not sure if it’s the right fit? Get in touch and we’ll help you work out which program suits your pace, your interests and the kind of trip you’re after.
Thailand – Teaching & Community Volunteering for Mature Adults – Click Here To Apply Now
