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Volunteer in Thailand

Volunteering in Thailand is the best way to enjoy the beautiful beaches and help the community...

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Volunteer Opportunities in Thailand

Looking to volunteer in Thailand? You’ve made a great choice! Thailand, also known as “Asia for beginners”, is a place you’ll feel at ease. It is a country full of beautiful beaches, lots of smiles, and simply a place where you will find it easy to let go of everything. Temples, ancient cities, and tropical rainforest with exotic wildlife are a playground for volunteers who are looking for an adventure abroad. Volunteer in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or one of the islands and help the local communities or the environment of this world-renown tourist hotspot.

Being a volunteer in Thailand will be an excellent experience. We want you to be perfectly prepared for your travels abroad and the work at your volunteer program. That’s why we are here to teach you all about the available volunteer projects in this South-East Asian country. Volunteer opportunities in Thailand are very diverse.

Before you continue reading to find out all about the best volunteer programs in Thailand, let’s take a look at some interesting facts:

  • Did you know that Thailand is the number one exporter of rice in the world?
  • 90% of the Thai population is Buddhist,
  • Thailand has over 1430 islands which is why it’s such a coveted destination for island hopping.
  • Its national symbol is the elephant. There used to be 100,000 elephants a century ago, now, there are only 2000 elephants left in the wild.
  • Thailand’s name in the Thai language means “Land of the Free.” It is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by a European nation.

🇹🇭️ Why Volunteer in Thailand?

There are so many volunteer opportunities in Thailand that no matter what your interests are, you’ll find the right volunteering program for you.

As a developing country, Thailand has plenty of opportunities for volunteers to contribute. Whether you’re a social butterfly eager to learn more about the culture and connect with the local communities or are more drawn to nature and wildlife, Thailand has a wide range of volunteer projects waiting for you.

English skills are a big pain point for many locals for example. By teaching English, you can give many people better future opportunities.

Volunteers drawn to nature will find volunteer opportunities with wildlife on land and in the sea very inspiring. Learn all about the threats endangered wildlife species are facing and how to protect their habitats.

This is just scratching the surface of available options, continue reading to find out more about where to volunteer in Thailand!

🐘 How to Volunteer with Animals in Thailand

While the elephant might be the most popular animal in Thailand, they aren’t the only animals that need the help of volunteers. The Thai wildlife population is diverse but is also threatened for a number of reasons. Some of the biggest threats to wildlife in Thailand are wildlife poaching, loss of natural habitat, and illegal attempts to capture them and make them household pets.

Especially smaller animals, like monkeys, are taken away from their parents as babies and illegally sold abroad as pets. Tragically, the mother is often killed in this process. Once the monkeys have grown up, they develop behavioral disorders due to their traumatic experience and are no longer wanted by their owners.

That’s when animal sanctuaries step in to rescue and care for traumatized animals. These are some of the species you will find if you volunteer in Thailand for an animal sanctuary:

  • sun bears
  • asiatic black bears
  • wild cats
  • gibbons and other monkeys.
  • tigers

The main goal of these sanctuaries is to release the animals back into the wild after they have recovered. However, this isn’t possible for the majority of the rescued animals because they wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild after being dependent on humans for so long.

Wildlife conservation projects can’t exist without the help of passionate volunteers doing hands-on work and supporting their day-to-day tasks.

Volunteer in Thailand for a wildlife rescue center and play an important role in protecting endangered wildlife as you support daily tasks like:

  • feeding
  • cleaning enclosures
  • organizing games and other enriching activities
  • spreading awareness among tourists