If you would like to volunteer by yourself, or do not have the funds to pay for a customised programme as a group, then please apply to our individual volunteer programme - we have set start dates, regular work schedules, and activities to keep you busy and entertained.
Work includes farming, teaching kindergarten and primary grades, and childcare activities.
Volunteering is great way to learn about the issues that ethnic minorities face in daily life, to develop yourself as a person, experience a different culture and leave your comfort zone. It's also a good way to make new friends.
The deposit payment is a confirmation of your placement on our programme, except
We reserve the right to postpone or cancel the placement if required documents are not supplied in time, are incomplete, or do not comply with our terms and conditions
This payment must be received not later than 2 weeks prior to the placement start date
Balance of payment (total fee minus the 3,000฿ deposit) must be paid on arrival at the programme, in cash (Thai Baht)
Please note: this deposit payment is not refundable
The Code of Conduct has been written to keep the communities we work with safe, and our foundation running smoothly.
There's a lot to read in other parts of the website, but if you understand and abide by the following points, we shouldn't have too many problems. Mirror is a long established, and well known, Thai Non-Governmental Organisation, which works very hard to help ethnic minorities in Thailand. It is most definitely not a holiday destination - volunteers are here to work.
Remember, you have applied to volunteer with our organisation - we haven't hit you on the head and dragged you kicking and screaming to come here.
As such, we expect you to abide by our code of conduct. It applies to all volunteers and you will have agreed to these as part of the terms and conditions - it is your responsibility to read the code below, and all other information before you begin your programme.
Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, creeds, colours and genders. Each one has their own moral and ethical code, beliefs and lifestyle. Mirror has many volunteers passing through its doors, and we must run a tight, albeit relaxed and happy, ship - to ensure that our own moral and ethical code, beliefs and lifestyle are maintained.
The volunteer project is only one element of the work we do here, but is considered an important part. So, please remember that while on your placement, you represent our foundation and are seen as potential role models by the students and local community. How you act - at Rai Som school, at the project generally, and in town during your days off... affects our work directly. Inappropriate behaviour will damage the important work done, and will mean you are having a negative, not positive effect during your stay. To help us maintain our reputation and standards, we have a code of conduct which is important for you to understand and adhere to...
Please read The Mirror Foundation's Terms and Conditions carefully before submitting your online booking form. By applying for a placement, directly or through a third party, you have agreed to the following Terms and Conditions.
You will be required to sign a waiver form, and our Child Protection Policy document, at orientation. A copy of each document is attached to the end of this article, for reference only.
The terms and conditions below are mainly common sense, but have been created so that there is no ambiguity about our policies regarding pickups, requirements, refund policy, dismissal policy, and rules. It also covers insurance liability and visas.
Travel
The volunteer is solely responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel, specifically including all airfares or other transport costs to and from the host country as well as any local transport costs other than those associated with scheduled work or otherwise agreed by The Mirror Foundation.
The Mirror Foundation will arrange to pick up volunteers on the day the programme is scheduled to begin, unless circumstances force alternative arrangements to be made, from
Fang town bus station 15:00 hours (3pm)
It is the responsibility of the volunteer to carry all necessary documents when travelling abroad.
The volunteer agrees to provide a photocopy, to be retained by The Mirror Foundation, of their:
insurance policy document;
passport information page;
visa stamp;
TM6 arrival/departure card.
While The Mirror Foundation may advise the volunteer on required travel documentation, The Mirror Foundation are not responsible for any supporting documents necessary for the volunteer's travel needs or other purposes.
Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory to volunteer with The Mirror Foundation
The Mirror Foundation does not provide the volunteer with insurance of any kind. The volunteer is solely responsible for evaluating and determining the type, extent and levels of any insurance coverage they need or desire for their planned volunteer travel period. The Mirror Foundation will require proof of insurance coverage, to be received before the volunteer arrival date. A copy of the insurance policy must be provided on arrival, and will be returned once the programme has ended, in case of emergency.
Visas
The Mirror Foundation does not provide sponsorship letters, or any other form of support, for visas.
The exception to this is for returning long term volunteers who have committed to 6 months - 1 year placement.
Police background checks
All volunteers must provide a clean, recent police check (no more than 1 year old at time of volunteering), by email before the programme begins, and the original to be provided on request.
If a volunteer does not provide an acceptable document, then their programme will be postponed until it can be provided, or cancelled completely.
The Mirror Foundation reserves the right to refuse any application without notice
The Mirror Foundation does not provide sponsorship letters, or any other form of support, for documentation
Refund Policy
It is incumbent upon the volunteer to read all information sent out, or referred to, by The Mirror Foundation before paying the deposit fee.
By paying the deposit fee, the volunteer agrees that it is a non-refundable charge.
The Mirror Foundation offers no refund if a volunteer leaves the programme before their due end date, for whatever reason.
If the volunteer has paid the deposit fee and full programme fees before their arrival date, and then cancels the programme before the programme start date, The Mirror Foundation will refund up to 70% of the programme fee only.
If the programme is cancelled or shortened, on or after the programme start date, or the volunteer is told to leave the programme for any reason, no refund will be given.
Deposit Fee
The deposit must be paid a minimum of 2 weeks before placement start date.
The deposit fee is non-refundable, and payable via Paypal only. The volunteer agrees to pay the deposit fee of 3,000 THB at least two weeks before programme start date.
The Mirror Foundation reserves the right to revise the deposit fee without notice. Deposit fee revisions are not applicable to volunteers who have already submitted their deposit payment. The Mirror Foundation does not accept partial payments of the deposit fee.
Programme Fee
Details of the programme fees are set out on our website. Programme fees can be paid in full before arrival, but only the deposit is actually required. Any remaining balance must be paid on arrival at The Mirror Foundation. Volunteers cannot begin their programme until fees are paid in full.
If a volunteer wishes to extend their programme, they must get approval from a relevant staff member and pay the extra fee before the extension begins.
Personal Risks
The volunteer acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks associated with their agreement to travel to, temporarily live in and provide volunteer services in a developing country. Such travel and volunteer work can be often hazardous and involves a certain degree of risk, inherently dangerous activities and personal perils to the volunteer, both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are fully accepted by and solely assumed by the volunteer. Therefore, The Mirror Foundation including any and all of its employees, managers, directors, host families and host country partner organizations are not liable, to the maximum extent of the law, for any loss or harm the volunteer or associates may suffer, including but not limited to loss caused directly or indirectly by:
Personal injury;
Emotional injury;
Death;
Illness or disease;
Damage to or loss of property;
Hostage situations; or
War or terrorism.
Indemnity
The volunteer agrees to indemnify The Mirror Foundation against any and all liability which The Mirror Foundation incurs arising directly or indirectly out of, or in connection (in any way) with, the volunteer's travel to, living in and providing services in Thailand.
Drug and Alcohol Use
The volunteer must abide by the rules put in place by The Mirror Foundation, other related volunteer placement institutions associated with The Mirror Foundation, and relevant host family in regards to alcohol consumption. Drug use (unless prescribed by a doctor) is strictly prohibited and will result in instant dismissal from the programme. The Mirror Foundation will also report any illegal drug use to the Thai authorities, relevant embassy, and pursue prosecution to the full extent of the law, which in Thailand can lead to the death penalty.
Behaviour
Behaviour which is either illegal under the laws of Thailand, deemed to be detrimental to the reputation of The Mirror Foundation, or causes problems within the programme, will be dealt with on an individual basis. This can result in a volunteer being told to leave the programme without notice, and information being passed to the local police, and relevant embassy.
Miscellaneous
The volunteer agrees to comply with The Mirror Foundation's Code of Conduct.
The Mirror Foundation reserves the right to use feedback and images provided by volunteers for website materials such as testimonials.
To the full extent permissible at law, all representations, terms, warranties, guarantees, or conditions whether implied by statute, common law or custom of the trade or otherwise, including, but not limited to, implied warranties and guarantees, are excluded.
Notwithstanding anything else contained in any agreement, the liability of The Mirror Foundation to the volunteer shall not in aggregate exceed the amount of the registration fee paid by the volunteer.
This website is presented solely for the purpose of promoting The Mirror Foundation. This site is controlled and operated by The Mirror Foundation in Thailand. The Mirror Foundation makes no representation that materials in the site are appropriate or available for use in other locations. Those who choose to access this site from other locations do so on their own initiative and are responsible to the extent local law is applicable.
The Mirror Foundation does not warrant or make any representations regarding the correctness, accuracy, reliability, or otherwise of the materials in this site or the result of their use.
Force Majeure
The Mirror Foundation has no liability for any lack of performance, unavailability or failure of the services or its website, or for any failure of The Mirror Foundation to comply with these terms and conditions, where the same arises from any cause reasonably beyond the control of The Mirror Foundation.
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.
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If you would like to volunteer by yourself, or do not have the funds to pay for a customised programme as a group, then please apply to our individual volunteer programme - we have set start dates, regular work schedules, and activities to keep you busy and entertained.
