Volunteering - Ajarn Forum

expatwannabe · 22nd October 2006, 19:39

Ok, this may be a sore subject. Pretty much everyone in this forum is getting paid for their work. But I'm interested in volunteering or being a 'scab.' After reviewing a number of volunteering websites, I've notice a common theme -- they want "me" to pay "them" for the privilege of teaching orphans, monks, poor children, etc. Blah, blah, blah..

Does anyone know a decent non-profit in CM to volunteer with, but which doesn't also want my money?

traveler2 · 22nd October 2006, 20:15

I do not understand why these places expect volunteers to pay. I see these ads all the time too. Someone out there should have an answer for the OP.

Asper · 23rd October 2006, 08:09

No reason for this to be a "sore" subject here - volunteer teaching at a temple isn't going to take bread out of my mouth.

I haven't checked out the websites, but here's a few guesses.

The agencies are located at home, and run programs for gap year students, maybe providing airfare and accomodation.

Maybe they're located here, but don't have the resources to pay the administrative costs for foreign volunteer workers, e.g. Work Permits, Non-Immi visas (which I assume is needed for the WP). Maybe they even have to leave a deposit with Immi the way employers do if they want to hire workers from Burma.

panhunger · 23rd October 2006, 09:14

Volunteer teachers please go to Burma, Cambodia or Loas. Thank You...

jimbo · 23rd October 2006, 09:57

Volunteer teachers who like the Thai culture can stay.

keegan · 23rd October 2006, 13:16

up:
where'd everyone go??

expatwannabe · 23rd October 2006, 13:48

Asper .. correct about a lot of agencies being located abroad and needing to recoop costs. Also true that sometimes they provide airfare. But what I've seen is that many are charging administrative fees, food, housing, transportation, etc. Also, I don't think a WP is required for volunteer work (correct me if I'm wrong). I think you only need a WP if you're getting paid. So Thai-based agencies are seeing my generousity not as an opportunity to help poor kids struggling with English, but as an opportunity to take my money in exchange for identifying people who need help. I can do that myself. It would easy to post an Ad in the CM Trader or some such offering free tutoring -- I'd be overwhelmed, I'm sure. I'd just rather serve a nonprofit, if possible. Unfortunately, the there doesn't appear to be any such thing in LOS.

Bruce · 27th October 2006, 21:24

www.culturalextremes.com

Aquaman · 27th October 2006, 21:36

there is a volunteer at my school and she requires a WP.
why not go it on your own. find aplace that you really like, and where they would welcome you and benefit from you, not finiancially. may be a temple, a small school, should be a small school, why do monks need to know english. better teach the kids.

paully · 27th October 2006, 22:40

Don't volunteer. Strictly speaking you still need a WP which your agency/school/'employer' won't pay for, you'll cerainly need health insurance if you've got any brains (again you'll be paying for this) and you're just feeding the profits of the school/agency owners and emboldening them to try on snappy ideas such as paying for voluntary work. Thailand isn't so poor that it requires volunteers to work for free.

Reg Young · 27th October 2006, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by expatwannabe

I'd just rather serve a nonprofit, if possible. Unfortunately, the there doesn't appear to be any such thing in LOS.

The YMCA is a non-profit and the Chiang Mai branch has a language school.
- Reg

peelieorion · 28th October 2006, 18:42

My school is in the North of Thailand. i have volunteers for free. anyone who wants to come stays at my house, free meals, a bike and no cost. anyone who gives my kids the opportunity to speak and use their English is welcome. You will work with small classes with motivated kids teaching a real curriculum that i have written. Their are 3 of us with 40 years teaching experience. you can teach as little or as much as you want to in a range of subjects depending on your skills. if your interested E.mail me on peelieorion@yahoo.com

expatwannabe · 28th October 2006, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by peelieorion

My school is in the North of Thailand. i have volunteers for free. anyone who wants to come stays at my house, free meals, a bike and no cost. anyone who gives my kids the opportunity to speak and use their English is welcome. You will work with small classes with motivated kids teaching a real curriculum that i have written. Their are 3 of us with 40 years teaching experience. you can teach as little or as much as you want to in a range of subjects depending on your skills. if your interested E.mail me on peelieorion@yahoo.com

Your school is in the north of Thailand .. but is it in Chiang Mai?
-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reg Young

The YMCA is a non-profit and the Chiang Mai branch has a language school.
- Reg

Thanks, Reg. And what happened to your karma?

-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by paully

Thailand isn't so poor that it requires volunteers to work for free.

Thanks, Paully, but perhaps I haven't presented my core motivation clearly enough.

I don't need the money. Therefore, I'll enjoy teaching more if I know I'm not constrained by the expectations resulting from my being paid. I.e., "we need you to work on Saturday and Sunday, at English camp, on Thai holidays, and just whenever we feel like it because when you work for us, you are in fact an indentured servant, aka our white bitch."

Of course, I'm not sure they'd phrase it exactly that way.
-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce

www.culturalextremes.com

Thanks for making my point, Bruce. "Program cost: $1,990"

I said I'm not paying for it, and dammit that's what I meant.

Asper · 28th October 2006, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by peelieorion

My school is in the North of Thailand. i have volunteers for free. anyone who wants to come stays at my house, free meals, a bike and no cost. anyone who gives my kids the opportunity to speak and use their English is welcome. You will work with small classes with motivated kids teaching a real curriculum that i have written. Their are 3 of us with 40 years teaching experience. you can teach as little or as much as you want to in a range of subjects depending on your skills. if your interested E.mail me on peelieorion@yahoo.com

Sounds good, expatwannabe.

What's your experience of the WP requirement though, Peelieorion? I've seen on the Immi website (sorry no linky) that you can't do volunteer work on a Tourist Visa.

expatwannabe · 28th October 2006, 21:49

I'm not a tourist visa -- I'm on a non-Imm B, btw.