The program
To learn, children need a safe and solid environment with the right facilities and resources. Schools in Thailand are severely under-resourced and volunteers are desperately sought to help maintain existing facilities and to build additional ones. The maintenance of the buildings, classrooms, tables, chairs, canteen, bathrooms, playgrounds and buildings are often overlooked at schools in Thailand, simply because there just isn’t enough money to go around. Classrooms don’t have enough tables or chairs for the students, and blackboards are worn out and can’t be used. Windows, doors and mosquito screens are missing, and playgrounds are a health and safety nightmare. It doesn’t take much to brighten up a classroom, replace a broken door hinge, construct a new blackboard or remove rusty nails from a child’s swing, but schools need to prioritize their spending. This is where volunteers step in, assisting with these jobs which make a world of difference to children at school. This program offers true support to schools by supplying them with an international volunteer labor force that allows them to repair and maintain school facilities that they would otherwise be unable to afford.
Goals of this Project:
- Provide free volunteer labor to maintain school facilities in under-resourced schools in Koh Samui
- Improve the future prospects of the children by supplying them with safe spaces to learn and play
- Expose the locals to new and innovative ideas and a different way of doing things
- Enable inter-cultural exchange which benefits both students and international volunteers alike.
How you can help
Without adequate facilities, a school is unable to teach their students effectively. This program allows schools to continue to support children’s educational needs by providing them with much-needed assistance in providing safe facilities. Volunteers play a major role in ensuring safe classrooms, facilities and playgrounds are supplied to students. Those volunteering on this program will see first-hand what a difference this help has made and how the children will benefit. Love Volunteer’s partner in Thailand works with a number of communities and their schools on Koh Samui that can’t afford the additional funding to brighten up a school or improve the health, safety and sanitation. Volunteers on this project will be making a donation of not just their time but also money to purchase the necessary materials to fix that window, replace that sink, improve the running water and more. Participants don’t need to be a DIY expert either, as regardless of skill level, the local team will find a project that will be safe, fun, improve health and safety and make the children’s surroundings more conducive to learning.
Volunteers will need to be physically fit and can expect to undertake the following tasks:
- Building maintenance
- Construction
- Painting
- Gardening
- Networking with local program staff and other volunteers
- Interacting with children.
Typical day
A volunteer’s work day on this project will generally last between 4 and 6 hours and while we ask all volunteers to be flexible in this regard, a typical daily schedule is likely to go something like this:
7:30am Breakfast with the Host Family
8:15am Pre-start meeting with the program supervisor
8:30am VOLUNTEERING DUTIES START
Lunch is taken on the project site from 11:30am to 2:00pm as per local custom
4:00pm VOLUNTEERING DUTIES END
4:15pm De-brief with the program supervisor
Afternoon/Evening Free time to relax, keep in touch with friends and family, socialise, run errands and explore the Island.
Dinner is self-catered and can be prepared in the Volunteer House or eaten out at one of the cafes, bars and restaurants nearby.
Details on Arrival
Free-time activities
Koh Samui lies perfectly on the Thai Gulf only a short boat ride away from the largest marine park Ang Thong. With some of the most stunning white sandy beaches, best seafood restaurants and epic night life scene, Koh Samui really does have it all! Other island attractions include coral beds at Laem Set and Thong Takhian; the nearby butterfly garden and aquarium; a snake farm; a monkey theatre at Bo Phut, and a massive seated Buddha image on Fan Isle.
For a taste of Thailand, Island style, away from the hustle of the city Koh Samui is the perfect choice.
Program Requirements
Included Services
Before your journey
On-site services
- Airport pick-up on arrival
- Orientation & full safety briefing
- Accommodation
- Lunch on weekdays provided, Breakfast while in Bangkok
- 24/7 local support network
- Project placement & onsite supervision
- Registration Fee included
Volunteers are collected at Bangkok airport and spend the first two nights at the volunteer guesthouse located on amazing Khao San Road in the heart of Bangkok. Friday is free to settle in before commencing the orientation and city tour on Saturday.
On Sunday volunteers are assisted to the coach terminal where they board a comfortable coach to Surat Thani and ferry to Koh Samui Island. What a fantastic way to begin a volunteering placement!
The airport pick-up, all accommodation and transport are arranged by our local team and included in the program fee.
- Arrival Day: FRIDAY 6AM TO 9PM
- Departure Day: SATURDAY
- Arrival Airport: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand (Code: BKK)
Once on Koh Samui Island volunteers are accommodated in one of two comfortable volunteer houses located in a small community on the island. Rooms are shared between 2 - 4 volunteers and split by gender. Air-conditioning is provided (at an additional cost) for the comfort of volunteers during the summer months.
All standard amenities are provided in the volunteer house including western bathrooms, kitchen and laundry facilities and WiFi. Bed linen is provided but volunteers should bring their own towels and toiletries.
When arriving in Bangkok, breakfast is included as is a welcome meal on Saturday whilst the day is spent enjoying this vibrant city in the capable hands of our local team.
When on Koh Samui, Volunteers are provided with lunch during the week at the school (included in the program fee). Breakfast and dinner are self-catered and volunteers can either purchase items from local markets and shops and prepare food in the volunteer house or take the opportunity to sample the delights of Thai cuisine at one of the many restaurants and eateries within easy reach of the volunteer house.
Thai food uses lots of fresh ingredients including an abundance of herbs such as coriander, lemongrass, ginger and Thai basil. Coconut based curries are common and seafood features often. Delicious!
Program Fees
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