Is it even possible to give away labour in this country? I have been living in Thailand for 4 months, and am now confidently teaching English K1 - P5. I am 26 with energy to burn, and wish to help out someone put to a disadvantage by their social or economic situation. I do not wish to affiliate myself with any religious organisation, but have free time on the weekends and from the late afternoon onwards, possibly to teach basic English? I am BTS Bangkok based. Any advice on where to look? I'm sick of procrastinating because this was a self imposed condition on my moving to this lovely place. Cheers, Dave
I'd kindly ask you to volunteer elsewhere. Salaries are low enough for English teachers and volunteers just bring our value down. In all sincerity, Burma, Laos and Cambodia can probably use the help more than Thailand can. Thailand has ample resources. There are a lot of rich people here who do very little to help their fellow countrymen.Originally Posted by djearl
"Goddamn it Lord, bless oh ye this bacon..."
George Liquor American
Moon Lander Champion!I'd advise you to start a soup kitchen, but the mafia would have you shot.
do shutup panhunger!
so your saying dont do charity in non third world countries?
theres poverty in every country and you should help out as much as you can!
just make sure you aim it at the right group of people!
you could do private lessons for very cheap which i have done, or for free!
'im not going to help this poor child because other citizens might go there for free advice aswell, that might put panhunger out of a job'
how selfish is that honestly what you believe lol?
Charity?
Is that an Asian concept?
Well I guess you can volunteer, but you'll look a bit silly working for free while the Thais drive around in their Benz's.
The Flips are already cheap labour here and greatly responsible in my eyes for the low salaries offered to western teachers.
Now we got westerners offering to work for free.
Game? This wasn't meant to be a game!!!...NEVER!!
please re-read my post...
I'd like to add that many Thais expect foreigners to "give" of their time for free like we have the time or the money to do so...
Moon Lander Champion!I did in Thai and will again, and have done so in every country I've lived in. Does that make me a reckless or stupid person? I think not. I'm gonna' have to go with Cass on this one. No reason to belittle those who like to help. Just go on your merry way worrying about yoursselves only, and let others volunteer or give to charity as they like and see fit. Shouldn't be too hard.
Not a big fan of the Goodwill Foundation personally....try this linky winky:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/outlookwecare/index.html
Riddle me this brother can you handle it
Your style to my style you can't hold a candle to it
Equinox symmetry and the balance is right
Smokin' and drinkin' on a Tuesday night
It's not how you play the game it's how you win it
I cheat and steal and sin and I'm a cynic
Of course not.
However, missionaries who come to volunteer by teaching English and others who volunteer by teaching English re-enforce this notion that many Thais have that we are rich and don't need their money for our hard work and effort. When I first arrived, I offered to instruct a fellow teacher's daughter and friends for a reduced rate of 300 baht per hour. When she realized I was going to charge her, she was shocked, assuming I would do it for free! She commented that I must be getting rich on my 35 thousand baht per month school salary.
volunteer anywhere you want mate.Fairplay to you!
Moon Lander Champion!
No way I'd ever work for free. So I teach English, so what? You're a brick-layer. How about dropping off a truck-full of bricks at my house. Oh, you work at the post office, give me 100 stamps.
Well, thanks for the good links : As for the haters, well, In Australia I was a very well paid chef. I still taught some disadvantaged people how to cook. Had a hell of a good time. It's not the actual goods and services provided that count : It's about showing someone that they can be better than all the sludge that life has thrown at them. I'm sure i'll enjoy the experience. Who knows, it may even help me not grow one of those slacker beer guts.
Peace..
Dave
It's hard to imagine the notion of volunteer English teaching inducing anything more than derisive laughter from people who make their (so-called) living here as ajarns.
It appears the OP's got good intentions, and it's not cool to piss on another's dreams, so I'd like to suggest that he/she look around for a paid entry-level English level position.
That'll likely be as close as you need to get to a volunteer experience, and you'll still be able to achieve your goal of "showing someone that they can be better than all the sludge that life has thrown at them." Also, I doubt that as a volunteer you'd be experiencing what it's truly like to live and make connections with people at a grass roots level. Volunteers tend to exist in a kind of bubble from what I've seen.
Fact is, nobody's going to sleep hungry in this country because they don't speak English. It seems to me that the people who truly benefit most from English instruction can well afford to pay for it. Little Somchai out in the fields of Issan ain't getting in Chula no matter how great of an English teacher you are. It don't work like that here.
I'm guessing that there's many more meaningful places to volunteer, if you're looking for a wholesome "people-helping-people" buzz.
Good luck.
Last edited by champagne charlie; 5th September 2006 at 20:47.
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