Section about the options for helping us with the Rai Som school project

Volunteering at our Rai Som project

If you are interested in volunteering at our school for a period of one week or more, please contact us directly. It is an amazing opportunity to give AND receive so much during the experience.

Overview

Our volunteer programme is a liberal mix of teaching, childcare, and farming work. We also include work which continues to build and/or maintain the project. If you prefer to concentrate on one type of work over another, then just let us know in advance so we can adjust our schedule.

Teaching

Our school runs classes from Childcare through Kindergarten, and onto Primary 1. As we move forward, the plan is to add a new grade each year - so by 2023 at the latest, we will have extended up to Primary 6. The total number of students will be approximately 300, and we already have 126 (May 2018) registered and attending school. English language is the main lesson taught by our volunteers.

Teaching volunteers are expected to plan and write their own lesson plans, input into a database, write evaluations after each class, and be proactive and open to other jobs.

Childcare

The childcare students sleep after lunch, so volunteers have time in the afternoon to plan and prepare for the following day. However, if there is spare time, we are looking for volunteers who are also willing to get their hands dirty in the garden. Childcare classes run educational activities, improving physical and mental development, not teaching.

Farming

The onsite farm is designed to help support the school by supplying food (rice and vegetables, fruit), and financial aid from paying guests. The childrens' diet at home is generally poor and unhealthy. Lunches are their main meal of the day, and by growing and supplying fresh vegetables and fruit, we can help ensure a nutritious meal. Volunteers will help with all types of work, depending on the season and weather. It may include planting, weeding, harvesting, spraying (natural), and other jobs.

Last week, our team of volunteers - Thai and international - helped local villagers in clearing scrub and weeds from the rice paddies, in preparation for planting. A lot of sweat was spilt as everyone worked hard to finish before returning to our foundation on Friday. After the job was completed, a tractor was brought in to plough the paddies and then water from the local stream was diverted for irrigating the land.

Our Rai Som project runs a volunteer programme for individuals and groups. For those who wish to spend time helping us at the project as an individual, we offer an inexpensive volunteer programme, which combines teaching, childcare and outdoor work. Accommodation is in gender-separated dorms, with basic facilities. Built in a rural setting on old rice paddies, the volunteer work is literally outside your front door! Individuals pay a living fee to cover the costs of accommodation, food, transport and other overheads.

If you would like to volunteer as a group, this is a great place to do so. You will live onsite, with dedicated staff, working on customised projects organised by our team. Groups pay a living fee per person and a project fee for the work materials and other project related expenses.

Be part of a project which is changing the lives of young migrant children, giving not just hope for the future, but the skills to succeed.