Work with disadvantaged children

Project at a glance

Location: Bangkok , Chiang Mai Start point: Bangkok End Point: Bangkok Duration: 2-12 weeks Hours: 30-40 hours per week Food: Local food (3 times a day) Room: Host family or hostel Date: First and Third Monday of each month

Project Summary

In Thailand , poor farmers, factory workers, and people with local income cannot pay for often-expensive childcare services. Local government and Buddhist temples have established childcare centers to support children between the ages of 2-6; especially those from poor families. Most of these child care centers are located near or with-in the compounds/confines of local schools with the purpose of providing educational as well as recreational opportunities for the children. The parents usually drop the children at the respective childcare center prior to work and retrieve them at the close of the workday.

Skills/Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications needed to join the disadvantage children program in Thailand. However, volunteers are expected to be flexible and patient as well as possess a passion and love for children.

Volunteers' Responsibilities

As a volunteer in Thailand helping disadvantaged children, volunteers will teach children to speak and write, walk and run, sing songs, play sports and fun games, shape clays, dance, etc. Volunteers can create their own lesson plans to conduct within class which best suits the needs and interests of the young children. Volunteers working with young children will be provided teaching and playing materials for use in the centers. The working hours are between 8:00am-12:00pm. Volunteers will also work in nearby primary schools during the day, teaching English for 3-4 hours a day.

Room/Food

IFRE arranges room, food, and supervision for volunteer for the entire duration of the program. During the first week's program of language and cultural immersion, volunteers will stay in IFRE's hostel and/or with a host family. IFRE's hostel in Bangkok is located in the outskirts of the city, granting easy access to all parts of Bangkok . During the language program, volunteers eat out in different restaurants. Our local staff members supply volunteers a coupon or make dining arrangements directly with restaurants. IFRE does not offer expensive meals, but offer local food three (3) times a day.

During the assigned-work period, volunteers stay in a hostel or with a host family. IFRE manages a separate room along with a shared bath for volunteers both in host families and hostel. In host families, volunteers' "host moms" cook food. But for volunteers living in the hostel, our local staff members arrange food in local restaurants or provide a coupon. The details pertaining to room/food will be furnished in volunteers' final placement details prior to departure to Thailand.