Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Thailand
- Although Thailand's economy is improving, there is still a wide gap between the rich and the poor.
- The majority of Thailand's poor live in rural areas, with a lack of education being a main contributor to poverty.
- Due to economical developments, environmental degradation is evident. The decline of biodiversity and deforestation is increasing.
- The expliotation of animals in Thailand is a big problem. With many being beaten and held in small cages for the tourist trade.
HOW can you help?
- Volunteer along side local tradesman to assist in the construction of houses & schools
- Join ongoing and existing projects at homes, schools and other community buildings
- Work alongside skilled local workers
- Get stuck in and 'hands dirty' on this active project
WHAT you can do?
- Help to renovate and re-build homes and community centres
- Work as a team with fellow volunteers and local workers
- Get involved in laying bricks, doing carpentry, painting, laying tiles, and landscaping/gardening
- Improve the safety of buildings under the supervision of a tradesman
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: HUA HIN
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
There are many families in Thailand that live under poor housing conditions and many of its local community areas and facilities such as temples, hospitals or schools still need a lot of improvement.
This program can help to improve the living facilities of local homes and community buildings, something which the local people are very grateful for! You will be helping in much needed construction and renovation work by creating proper sanitation facilities, make housing safer places to live in and ensuring communities have a greater authority over their own development initiatives.
Volunteers can take part in light work such as cleaning the area, mixing cement and painting to, as well as harder tasks such as building walls, plastering and repairing roofing. Participants will be instructed and supervised closely by our coordinator who has ample experience in construction work to make sure that all the processes are safe, and the housing conditions are safe for the local people to live.
This is a rewarding project where you can see your hard work paying off and would suit anyone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty and working as part of a team.
Location
Hua Hin, is a lively fisherman-town and popular tourist spot these days offering all the standard beach stuff like snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing and with plenty of restaurants and tourist things like spas, water park, golf, shops and markets. There is a mountain at the end of the beach called Khoa Tekiab, with a temple that overlooks the beach. Surrounded by national parks, it’s a mountainous region where you can explore waterfalls and caves on various adventures. Buddhism is very prominent here and you will certainly get a good taste of the Buddhist way of life.
Project Tasks
- Work with local tradesmen and engage with the community
- Gain practical experience in light construction and renovation work
- Support the local community by improving their living standards
Food & Accommodation
You will be placed in one of our two centres in Hua Hin: Lotus House and Sunshine House (roughly 7km apart). Allocation is random and requests cannot be made in advance. Both are located in a village closer to Hua Hin with easy access to all daily necessities so that the participants can be at ease. The centres include a canteen, an outdoor swimming pool, and a garden. All rooms are equipped with bunk beds, shared bathrooms, and air conditioning. Rooms are single gender and sleep 4-12 people. The accommodation has wifi, hot showers, and western toilets. There are also private room options available.
*To ensure the security of our facilities, a key deposit of 300 THB (in cash) is required from every participant. This needs to be paid at the check-in time of your upon arrival at the accommodation and then you will receive your keys. This deposit will be refunded when the keys are returned, provided none are lost. If any keys are lost, the deposit is non-refundable. We advise you to bring a padlock if staying in Lotus house and for Sunshine house you will get a locker key.
Hua Hin centre has access to local shops, and laundry and easily get a transport facility by using the app GRAB.
- – 10 Km from the accommodation to Hua Hin airport (15-20 mins)
- – 11 Km from the accommodation to the Bus stop to go to Suvarnabhumi airport
- – 8 Km from the accommodation to Hua Hin night market/ mall
- – 9 km from the accommodation to Hua Hin Private Hospital
- – 5 Km from the accommodation to medical center
You will receive 3 meals on weekdays, and 2 on weekends. All the meals served inside the accommodation are homestyle, vegetarian-friendly and you can expect that they will be typically Thai, including plenty of rice or noodle dishes with vegetables and occasionally some meat will be provided as well, along with seasonal fruits for dessert.
While we do our best to accommodate our participants, what we provide for most meals is local cuisine. If you are a picky eater, have dietary restrictions, or if you think that you will not be satisfied with the local dishes provided, you might want to consider supplementing our menu with your own western type foods and snacks that are more to your liking.
*Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.
Standard
Projects
- *Cultural Orientation Week, Hua Hin
- Childcare, Hua Hin
- Beach & Environmental Conservation, Hua Hin
- English Teaching, Hua Hin
- *Construction & Renovation, Hua Hin
- Sports Coaching, Hua Hin
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1 Week - $445
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2 Weeks - $500
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3 Weeks - $645
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1 Month - $845
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2 Months - $1845
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3 Months - $2705
- Private rooms cost additional $400 p/week
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
No construction skills are necessary for this placement, however tradesmen of all types (eg. carpenters, plumbers, electricians, builders) are very welcome! If you are an active and energetic person, who loves to get invovled with a team and to get your hands dirty, then this could be the project for you.
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
Volunteers in Thailand are encouraged to take up the orientation week to help you ease into the lifestyle and pace of Thailand. You will get to know your town and it’s facilities and everything required to make your stay comfortable. You may choose after the first few days to move straight into your chosen volunteer placement if desired or otherwise just enjoy the company of your new friends and extended family!
When confirming your dates please take note of the long holidays (mid-March till mid-May and October). During these times, renovation work continues, with the option to join special classes and English camps that are regularly requested by the local Thailand communities involved.
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Bangkok BKK (Suvarnabhumi) Airport, Level 2, Entrance 4. You must arrive between 06.00 and 16:00 on Sunday.
If arriving outside the pickup times, you can book a private transfer and any extra nights accommodation for an extra fee.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From the airport to the accommodation in Hua Hin, it takes around 4 hours by public bus and then a shuttle bus.
Monday to Friday
After breakfast, you will head off to the construction project; this will mainly be at local houses and community facilities. There you will be briefed on your tasks by our coordinator about the day’s project. Expect to do construction and renovation work at the project location for 4-5 hours per day with a lunch break in between. Lunch can be at the volunteer house or near the project site.
*Schedule possible to change due to the project and community needs at the time. Volunteer flexibility and adaptability is important to a positive volunteering experience.
Tuesday & Wednesday Evening
Volunteers have the option to go to the night market in Hua Hin city. Try some of the delicious local food that is freshly cooked in front of you. The street food is super cheap and tasty!
Friday Evening
You can go to the Cicada Market, a colourful night market offering freshly cooked food from different stalls. Look around the many art exhibitions, see the local handmade products and souvenirs and listen to live music featuring local artists.
Apart from chilling out at the beach, on weekends you can also try snorkelling, eat at the many seafood restaurants, play a game of golf, relax at a spa, go shopping, visit local markets (including a popular night market), and Hua Hin’s Vana Nava water park.
Khao Tekiab, a mountain at the end of the beach with a temple above, is also a popular spot, overlooking the beach. Hua Hin is also surrounded by beautiful national parks. A little further away is the Pa La-U Waterfall and the mystical Phraya Nakhon cave for the more adventurous!
Minors traveling to Thailand
Minors traveling to Thailand with/without parents/legal guardians are required to adhere to instructions of the Thai immigration. For more information, please check here.
Motorbike Hire
Please note, motorbike hire is strictly prohibited for volunteers, including when outside the centre on weekends. If a participant is found to have hired a motorbike, this will result in termination of the program with no refund.
For information on holidays and any programs affected, please see the following link: TH – Holidays – All Programs
With a long sandy coastline and jungle-topped islands anchored in crystal blue waters Thailand is a tropical getaway and favorite traveling destination for holiday makers and volunteers from all over the world. Thailand’s culture is generous, warm and outgoing and the cuisine is world renowned for a tropical abundance of fresh and varied flavors of spicy, sweet, salty and sour.
Thailand is a fascinating and exotic country to explore. Through volunteering, you’ll gain a love in the people, culture, scenery, cuisine and in the overall lifestyle of Thailand.
We offer diverse project options catering to many different interests. Volunteering is the ideal way of assimilating into the local Thai culture and experiencing the real lifestyle in Thailand.
November to Febuary is the best time to visit Thailand, with a pleasent temperature through most of the country. From March to May temperatures can get very hot. The monsoon rains start from about June to October. Showers usually are quite predictabe and come in short bursts, so this time of year can be great to visit, as everything is so green and there are fewer crowds!
Temperatures are around 30 degrees on average throughout the year. If in the North of Thailand in the winter, evenings can get quite chilly, so bring some warm clothes too!
Vietnam has one of the oldest cultures in South East Asia, creating a rich history with ancient traditions dating back thousands of years. It also has a large Chinese influence. Elders are very well respected in Vietnamese culture, the older you are, the more respect is shown to you. ‘Saving face’ is a concept shown by most Vietnamese people and is thought of as extremely important in their culture. This means that if you feel angered or annoyed by someone, you do not show it and remain respectful. If you lose your temper/ are rude, then this is seen as losing face and therefore a loss of reputation and self-respect.
Vietnamese is the most widely spoken language, other languages include Chinese, Khmer, Cham and tribal dialects. Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism are the main religious beliefs in Vietnam, and you will find many temples dotted around the country. You will often see the local people giving fruits and burning incense to give as offerings.
30 Years Non Profit Experience
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
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