“The energy was unbelievable. Kids who were shy during the week were suddenly dancing and shouting out answers. And we got to work with the other volunteers properly, sharing ideas and teaching methods. It was the highlight of my whole trip.”
Listen to Gwyneth’s full story here:
“Just Go”: Gwyn’s Two Weeks Teaching in Hua Hin, Thailand
A volunteer story from the Thailand – Hua Hin Teaching and Childcare program
Some volunteer trips take years to happen. Gwyn’s took almost two, with multiple reschedules along the way, and when she finally landed in Thailand she found an experience worth every one of those delays.
We sat down with her after her return to talk about teaching, the friendships she didn’t expect, and why she’s already planning to go back.
Arriving as a stranger, settling in like a local
From the moment Gwyn touched down, the logistics were handled: airport pickup, bus tickets, and a comfortable volunteer house waiting for her in Hua Hin, pool included. But what stood out to her wasn’t the smooth arrival. It was the people who met her on the other side of it.
“Travelling alone, you’re just a tourist. Here, the coordinators were with us, sharing the history, the culture, the little things you’d never find on your own. It felt completely different.”
The local coordinators didn’t stop at the classroom. They organised mall visits, beach trips and evenings out, turning what could have been a work placement into a genuine introduction to Thai life.
Teaching on her own terms
Volunteers on the program teach in local schools, and Gwyn loved how much say she had in what her lessons looked like.
“We could choose our own topics, which made it feel like ours. Most days we finished by lunchtime, so there was plenty of time to plan lessons and still go explore.”
That flexibility, she told us, made the teaching feel less like a task and more like something she owned.
The Friday she’ll never forget
Ask Gwyn for her single favourite memory and she doesn’t hesitate: English camp.
On Fridays, students from several schools came together in one big venue, somewhere between 200 and 300 kids, all playing games, dancing and practising English in a way no classroom could match.
“The energy was unbelievable. Kids who were shy during the week were suddenly dancing and shouting out answers. And we got to work with the other volunteers properly, sharing ideas and teaching methods. It was the highlight of my whole trip.”
Friendships that formed on their own
Gwyn travelled solo, and like a lot of solo travellers she wondered how easily she’d connect with people. As it turned out, she didn’t need to worry.
“Nothing was forced. We ate together, hung out at the pool, and the friendships just happened. I got closer to people in two weeks than I have in workplaces after months.”
She also noticed how many women were volunteering alongside her, something she found reassuring as a solo female traveller and part of what made the group feel so safe and open.
Two years, several reschedules, zero regrets
Life got in the way of Gwyn’s original travel dates more than once. Every time, the GoEco team adjusted her booking, her program length and her plans without any fuss.
“I rescheduled so many times and they never made it difficult. The communication was clear the whole way through, so by the time I finally left, I felt completely prepared.”
Her advice for anyone still thinking about it
Gwyn is still in touch with her coordinators and is already looking at her next trip, whether that’s another program in Thailand or somewhere new entirely. Her advice for anyone hovering over the application button is simple:
“Stop overthinking the logistics and the costs. Starting fresh in a new country is so freeing. Just go, and let yourself enjoy the purpose of it.”
Feeling inspired by Gwyn’s story? The Thailand – Hua Hin Teaching and Childcare program welcomes volunteers year-round, whether you’re travelling solo, taking a gap year, or simply ready for a trip that gives something back. Your own version of this story could be a few clicks away.
