Are you ready to help improve the future prospects of children in northeastern Thailand through your efforts? With our teaching project, you’ll immerse yourself in the authentic life of village communities and help teach children English. Due to socioeconomic conditions, many families live in poverty or must travel long distances to their workplaces, which is why children often grow up in disadvantaged circumstances. They must actively contribute to supporting their families and take on responsibilities such as caring for siblings or older family members. In such circumstances, their own personal development and education usually take a back seat. In addition, the school system in the region often struggles with a shortage of teachers and teaching materials. This is where this project comes in, offering you the opportunity to make an enormous contribution to the children through your commitment—children who benefit significantly from exposure to other cultures.
In this project, you’ll become part of everyday life. By contributing your passion and skills, you can support the project in many different ways. There are various activities that help the community achieve sustainable development, such as growing their own food, craft or baking classes, and art, music, sports, or computer lessons for children of all ages.
A unique experience awaits you here in rural Thailand, where your support will help the local community and where you’ll gain a great deal for yourself and your personal growth.
Our partner organization focuses on community development in northeastern Thailand and works closely with schools, villages, and local families throughout the region. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in Thailand and long-standing partnerships within local communities, the project has developed a unique approach that combines education, cultural exchange, and sustainable village development. Today, the organization collaborates with 12 schools in surrounding villages and supports a wide range of educational and community initiatives that benefit children, families, and residents alike.
The project’s mission is to create meaningful opportunities for learning, personal growth, and intercultural exchange. Through educational programs, language instruction, creative workshops, sports, music, and community projects, children gain valuable experiences that broaden their horizons and build their self-confidence. At the same time, volunteers have the opportunity to learn about local traditions, become part of daily village life, and contribute their own skills and talents. This exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences is at the heart of the program and fosters lasting connections between people from different cultures.
To carry out this mission, the project welcomes volunteers who support local schools and community initiatives. Volunteers have the unique opportunity to experience authentic village life and gain insight into a part of Thailand that is deeply rooted in its traditions and local culture. Depending on your interests and skills, you can assist with English classes, lead creative activities, support sports or music programs, help with agriculture and food forest projects, facilitate language and cultural exchanges, or support other community initiatives. By sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm, you’ll become part of a long-term commitment that strengthens educational opportunities and community development while creating valuable experiences for everyone involved.
The partner organization serves as a central hub for educational, cultural, and community activities. Through its network of schools, villages, local authorities, and community partners, the project creates opportunities for volunteers and residents to learn from one another and work together on meaningful initiatives. The combination of decades of local experience, strong community ties, and practical, village-based projects makes this program unique in Thailand.
Above all, however, this project is shaped by the people of the region and designed with them in mind. It is carried out in close collaboration with local communities, schools, teachers, village leaders, and public institutions, ensuring that all activities are firmly rooted in village life and aligned with local needs and priorities. A respectful partnership with community members is at the heart of all activities. The number of volunteers is deliberately kept small to facilitate an authentic experience, foster meaningful relationships, and preserve the strong sense of community that makes this project so special.
The partner organization focuses on supporting local schools. It currently collaborates with 12 schools in 12 villages in the region. An important part of the volunteer work is assisting with classes, particularly in English, but also with other educational and recreational activities in schools and temples. As a volunteer, you’ll actively participate in daily school life and help design lesson plans together with local teachers. You’ll always receive professional guidance and support throughout this process. The goal is to teach younger children basic English skills in a playful and creative way. Games, music, role-playing, and interactive learning methods are especially encouraged. Class sizes vary between 6 and 30 students depending on the school, so flexibility and creativity are essential.
During school breaks, various educational and recreational programs are organized on the project grounds. These include sports activities, games, music, creative workshops, language activities, and other projects carried out together with the children and their families. The children participate in the activities either on their own or together with their families. Depending on your interests and skills, you can contribute your own ideas and help shape the projects.
In addition to teaching, the partner organization offers numerous other opportunities to get actively involved. Volunteers support projects in areas such as sustainable agriculture, the food forest, gardening and environmental projects, craft activities, language exchange, and creative and cultural activities. Qualified physical therapists can also assist with local healthcare services. The project places great emphasis on incorporating volunteers’ individual talents and interests. Together with the project leadership, you’ll discuss the areas where you can make the greatest contribution while gaining the most valuable experiences.
The workweek runs from Monday through Friday; weekends are free for volunteers to spend as they wish. Each morning, volunteers are assigned to tasks based on the current projects and activities. Some teams support the schools, while others contribute to agriculture, the food forest, cultural and recreational programs, or other community projects. Many tasks are seasonal and vary throughout the year. A typical day begins at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast and a group morning meeting. At 8:30 a.m., the respective project groups begin their activities. After a lunch break, work on the projects continues in the afternoon. The evening offers free time or the opportunity to participate in group activities with other volunteers and the villagers.
Through your contribution, you’ll not only develop new skills but also become part of a vibrant community. Your own ideas and initiatives are always welcome and actively supported. The people in the communities benefit from the cultural exchange and the diverse experiences that international volunteers bring with them. At the same time, you’ll have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of daily life in a Thai village, gain new perspectives, and gain practical experience in various fields. Working closely with the villagers fosters meaningful connections that result in an enriching exchange for everyone involved.
The program location is in northeastern Thailand, on the Khorat Plateau, also known as Isaan. It is a very rural region. The local population is poorer than the national average. Due to the climate, the landscape is very dry in the summer and is often flooded during the rainy season. These conditions therefore do not allow for intensive agriculture and shape the lives of the local people.
The project site is nestled within a traditional farm on the edge of a rice paddy and is surrounded by similar farms and small villages. The project site is a 20-minute drive from Amphoe Phen and about 1.5 hours from Udon Thani. The surrounding villages have small grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, and street food stalls. For smaller errands, you can drive to Amphoe Phen. For larger purchases or errands, a trip to Udon Thani is recommended. There you’ll find markets, specialty stores, and adequate medical care. Emergency medical care is also available locally, and there is a large hospital in Amphoe Phen.
Over the weekend, you’ll have the chance to explore the surrounding area. The project organizers offer exclusive, personalized, and customized minibus tours. You’ll get to see the highlights of Udon Thani and have a unique opportunity to experience Thailand up close. You can explore the region’s enchanting landscapes and cultural heritage while getting to know the vibrant sense of community in rural Thailand. From Saturday morning through Sunday evening, a varied weekend full of activities awaits you, allowing you to discover the heart of Udon Thani in a special way. Udon Thani is a true treasure trove of activities and sights. You can experience breathtaking sunrises over the Red Lotus Sea, explore national parks, visit ancient temples, and take leisurely walks along the banks of the Mekong River.
The provincial capital, Udon Thani, is just over an hour’s drive from the project site and is known for its authentic culture and rich history. Laotian influences blend with Thai ones and are reflected in the city’s architecture, cuisine, and everyday life. Nong Prajak Park is very popular with locals. The park features a lake and a variety of restaurants and cafés. Here, you can relax, mingle with the locals, and enjoy authentic Thai cuisine.
Arrival:
If you're traveling from Chiang Mai or Bangkok, your best bet is to take a flight or a bus to Udon Thani. From the airport or Bus Station 2, take a tuk-tuk or minibus to Rangsina Market, which is located just outside Udon Thani. From Rangsina Market, you can either take the orange bus to Amphoe Phen or the green bus that goes directly to Ban Nong Phong. From Amphoe Phen, take another tuk-tuk to Ban Nong Phong (about 17 km away). However, this option isn’t always available.
It’s also possible to be picked up from Udon Thani, though this is subject to availability and requires a fee, as the drive is 150 km. If you use the pickup service, the project management team can stop at larger supermarkets along the way so that you can do all your personal shopping together. Taking a taxi is also an option, but it’s the most expensive choice.
Above all, you should be flexible, open-minded, and proactive. Prior knowledge in the field of education or experience in teaching, agriculture, the creative sector, or other specialized areas is a plus, but not a requirement. Personality, initiative, and a willingness to actively contribute are far more important than formal qualifications. If you’re planning to study to become a teacher or pursue a career in teaching, we can issue you an official internship certificate upon request.
If you're willing to help others, you can make a valuable contribution to the local community. All you need is an open mind, a positive attitude, respect for other cultures, and the motivation to share your talents and skills with others.
During your time on the project, you’ll occasionally be faced with unfamiliar situations and will likely have to step outside your comfort zone on several occasions. At the same time, you’ll gain unique experiences through intercultural exchange, get to know daily life in a Thai village, and further develop your personal and social skills.
Since public transportation in the region is limited, it’s helpful if you can ride a motorcycle or drive a car. An international driver’s license is required to drive. However, this is not a prerequisite for participating in the project. Cycling, on the other hand, is not recommended, as road conditions take a heavy toll on bicycles and neither suitable repair facilities nor replacement parts are available locally.
You should have a basic knowledge of English, as you will be assisting teachers in English classes and interacting regularly with the schoolchildren. Knowledge of English is also helpful for communicating with staff, other volunteers, and the villagers. However, fluency is not required. A particular advantage is that the project founder is a trained interpreter and speaks German as a native language, in addition to Thai and other languages. This means you’ll always have support if you have questions or face language challenges.
The entire project site consists of several air-conditioned bungalows, farm buildings, and a modern clubhouse featuring a language café, a table tennis room, a fitness area, and a Thai boxing training center. In addition, there is a communal kitchen with a herb garden, a family house, an arts and crafts workshop with a pottery studio and kiln, a seminar room, a library with educational materials, a stage, and a music room with various instruments.
Meals include three meals a day, seven days a week. The volunteers cook together in the modern communal kitchen, which is equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, electricity, water, and gas. Since the meals are prepared in-house, vegetarian and vegan diets are easily accommodated. The project management team regularly handles the shopping for basic food items. Drinking water is, of course, also available.
Accommodations are in shared rooms with air conditioning. Bed linens, pillows, sheets, and blankets are provided. Family rooms are also available for participants traveling with their families. The facility features modern washrooms with hot water and restroom facilities that meet Western standards. Typically, there are 6–12 volunteers working on the project at any given time. A washing machine is available for laundry, and there is also the option to wash clothes by hand. A laptop can be helpful in some situations, but it is not necessary unless it is part of your project.
The accommodation is located in a very rural area. You should expect to encounter small animals such as cats, mice, snakes, toads, or insects. Since the buildings have been modernized and are equipped with air conditioning, mosquito nets are not necessary in the accommodations. If you keep your accommodations clean and follow a few basic rules of conduct, this is usually not a problem.
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