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Overview of Volunteer Programs in Thailand

As one of the largest, most populous, and most ecologically-diverse nations in Southeast Asia, Thailand has long been a popular destination for tourists. Visitors are drawn to its friendly people, stunning scenery, and world-renowned cuisine. Beyond the Thailand most tourists experience, however, there are many social and environmental challenges affecting the country. World Endeavors volunteers in Thailand make a meaningful contribution to Thai society through a community-focused volunteer project, all while experiencing immersion in authentic Thai culture.

WHY VOLUNTEER IN THAILAND

Volunteering in Thailand offers a captivating blend of cultural immersion, impactful contributions, and unforgettable experiences. Thailand’s rich history, vibrant traditions, and warm hospitality create an ideal backdrop for a meaningful volunteer journey. By engaging with local communities, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Thai customs, cuisine, and daily life.

Your volunteer efforts in Thailand can directly address pressing issues such as education, healthcare, environmental conservation, and community development. Collaborating with local organizations, you’ll have the chance to empower underserved individuals, support educational initiatives, and contribute to sustainable projects that enhance local livelihoods.

HIGHLIGHTS OF VOLUNTEERING IN THAILAND

Here are just a few of the best things about volunteer work in Thailand:

  • Indulge in Thai cuisine, from street food to traditional dishes, and perhaps even take a cooking class to bring those flavors back home.
  • Engage in Thai arts and crafts workshops, learning techniques like traditional Thai dance, weaving, and painting.
  • Visit bustling floating markets like Damnoen Saduak, where you can shop for local goods and experience a unique way of commerce.
  • Relax on Thailand’s idyllic islands, like Phuket or Koh Phi Phi, enjoying turquoise waters, vibrant marine life, and vibrant nightlife.

Our Thailand Volunteer Projects

Browse all of our volunteer projects in Thailand below. If you can’t find a suitable volunteer program, check out our main program finder to continue your search for volunteering beyond Thailand.

Volunteer Abroad
Thailand

Thailand Kindergarten Hua Hin

Want to know what it's like to engage in creative learning activities with children? This program located in Hua Hin has it all!

Thailand Kindergarten Hua Hin

In this program, you will prepare teaching lessons for children, help them with their daily activities and chores and put them down for a nap. You will have plenty of time to relax from lunchtime onwards and enjoy swimming at a local beach. Alternatively, continue interacting with the children in the afternoon alongside the local teachers and staff.

During your time at this childcare program, you will be working with children from age 2.5 to 6 years old at a local children’s development centre/kindergarten located in Hua Hin. Many children’s care development centres and kindergartens in Hua Hin are facing a teacher shortage problem. In some placements, there are up to 30 children in a classr

Location

About Hua Hin

Hua Hin is a lively fishing town and popular tourist destination, and it has a lot to offer besides just sunbathing, snorkeling and swimming at its golden beaches. Not only are there plenty of seafood restaurants and other eateries to choose from, but visitors can also enjoy golf, spas, shops, markets (including a popular night market), and Hua Hin’s Vana Nava water park.

You might also consider visiting Khao Tekiab, a mountain at the end of the beach with a temple atop that overlooks the beach.

Hua Hin is also surrounded by beautiful national parks and you might decide to go slightly further afield to explore the likes of the Pa La-U Waterfall, located 60 km west of Hua Hin in the Southern side of the Kaeng Krachan National Park. Alternatively, 45 km to the south of Hua Hin is the mystical Phraya Nakhon cave for the more adventurous!

Some projects are located in other areas of Thailand, see project details for more information.

Dates & costs

The World Endeavors Volunteer in Thailand program is flexible in duration and can be tailored to last between 1 to 12 weeks. If you have the time, we recommend a stay of at least 4 weeks. Admissions are rolling, and World Endeavors volunteers can choose when they would like to start their program. Due to holidays, traditional vacation schedules, and seasonal work availability, there might be better times than others to volunteer at a specific location or in a specific project. Please note, some projects are not available for a duration of less than 4 weeks. For more information, please contact World Endeavors.

When you are ready to start planning your volunteer trip to Thailand, contact us. Our experienced advisors will help you sort through any timing considerations unique to your destination or your volunteer project.

Please wait until after you are accepted into the program and you have received the confirmed arrival and departure dates before you book your flight.

First Week: $3,390 | Each Additional Week: $1,490

Eligibility

  • Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, though exceptions to this age requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis.
  • Successful volunteers are hardworking, flexible, and open to truly immersing themselves in the culture.
  • Keep in mind that all countries have different visa restrictions for varying types of passports.

Housing

Volunteers stay in a shared volunteer house and stay in shared rooms by gender. Three meals a day on weekdays (two on weekends) are included during your stay. Food will be simple home style meals prepared by locals, which are typical to the region, based on whatever fresh fruits and vegetables are in season at the time. You can expect lots of rice and noodles, vegetables, and occasionally some meat will be provided as well.

Our center is located in the hilly countryside of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, amidst green surroundings. The accommodation has spacious rooms, a common area with a refrigerator, hammocks and a large commmunal swimming pool where volunteers can relax after the day at their projects.

Every World Endeavors Volunteer Project Includes

Our carefully designed international volunteer programs encompass everything necessary for your success and well-being while abroad.

YOUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

  • Volunteer project customized to match your interests and goals and meet community needs
  • Year-round program availability
  • Flexible durations from 2 to 12 weeks

PEACE OF MIND

  • Comprehensive travel medical insurance
  • Mental Health First Aid-certified staff
  • 24/7 emergency travel assistance

ACCOMMODATION

  • Host family or shared volunteer house, depending on destination
  • Vetted and hand-selected with quality and safety in mind
  • 2 to 3 meals per day included

PREPARATION AND SUPPORT

  • Airport pickup
  • Pre-arrival and on-site orientation
  • 24/7 local support

TEAM OF EXPERTS

  • Dedicated one-on-one advisor
  • Local on-site coordinator
  • Volunteer project supervisor

RE-ENTRY AND CAREER INTEGRATION

  • Re-entry handbook and support
  • Assistance with resume updates
  • World Endeavors Alumni Network

HEALTH & SAFETY

When you feel safe and respected abroad, you will flourish. World Endeavors participants are transformed through enriching, rewarding and safe experiences around the world. We meticulously monitor travel recommendations and will only facilitate programs where we can ensure our participants’ safety. 

We take key steps to ensure our participants’ well-being, including providing a pre-trip success guide, 24/7 local support, in-country trained staff, pre and post-arrival orientation, comprehensive travel medical insurance, and Mental Health First Aid-certified staff. Please contact us if you have any specific questions or concerns.

WHAT TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME IN THAILAND

Thailand offers a wealth of activities to enjoy during your spare time, providing a blend of cultural exploration, natural beauty, and relaxation. Here are some exciting things to do:

  • Visit Temples and Historical Sites: Immerse yourself in the country’s rich history and architectural marvels.
  • Indulge in Thai Cuisine: Experience the vibrant mix of sweet, sour, spicy, and savory flavors that make Thai food so renowned globally.
  • Relax with Thai Massages and Wellness: Treat yourself to traditional Thai massages and wellness treatments, which are deeply rooted in Thai culture. Visit spa resorts and wellness retreats to rejuvenate both your body and mind.
  • Visit Elephant Sanctuaries: Experience ethical elephant interactions at reputable sanctuaries, where you can feed, bathe, and learn about these majestic animals while supporting responsible tourism practices.

How to choose the best volunteer program

Choosing your volunteer program is easy when you evaluate your priorities. Follow these steps to guide you toward your ideal program.

Explore a New Career

Interning abroad offers a great opportunity to explore your professional and personal interests, and help define your career path. Peruse our internship fields and past examples to find the best fit.

Choose Your Dream Destination

Finding a meaningful way to combine interning and travel to your dream location is a big incentive. Carefully consider which destinations suit your interests and international internship goals.

Improve Language Skills

Immersing yourself in a language-rich environment is the ultimate method for developing fluency. If language-learning is your goal, favor destinations that use your language of choice.

Fit your budget

Explore scholarships and financial aid to determine if these may impact your destination options. Consider the overall cost of the program and cost of living in-country to identify the optimal match.

Try our program finder to filter based on your choices.

SEARCH

Recent Thailand Testimonials

Samhita BInternship in Thailand

Want an ultra responsive and helpful team in your internship program? Then this program stands on the top! Being my very first internship, World Endeavours helped me in every way, providing me informative advice before my trip and even during my stay at my internship destination.

John GIntern in Thailand

Skeptical at first how beneficial this program would be especially considering the costs but I can confidently say it was all well worth it. Pre-program support was amazing - I was applying for an internship and hoping/needing it to start within 3-4 weeks for it be beneficial for me. Natalie from World Endeavors was able to stay on top of all processing, reviewing, and clarifying that eventually eased my worries about the program and short time frame. The internship itself was something I could not have obviously experienced in my own country and culture but it was much more than that. My supervisor was more like a mentor who was genuinely interested in teaching and exposing me to situations one cannot find in a book or on the internet. I owe much of my positive experience to my supervisor, the university I was able to work in, and my coordinators who were able to bring me to this opportunity. Opportunities like these may need some luck but no matter what support from World Endeavors was always there. From the very beginning, all the way through, and even once the program was over - World Endeavors was genuine invested and greatly contributed in my program success.

Rachael CIntern in Thailand

I had the most incredible experience interning in Bangkok, Thailand through World Endeavors. They placed me in a host family that was so kind and the Thai advisor was always there for me when I needed anything during my stay. I learned so much about Thai culture and Buddhism and had a great internship that taught me a lot about the medical field. I would highly recommend to anyway who is ready for an adventure.

Maria PVolunteer in Thailand

I have always wanted to combine volunteering, travelling and discovering new cultures. This summer thanks to World Endeavors I made it! I went volunteering for 3 weeks in Thailand, and it was one of the best experiences of my life! I had the possibility to work in a school, helping the kids improving their English, and living with local people there, which was amazing and so involving because I could get to know Thai people’s lifestyle and habits in depth, which is impossible as a normal tourist.
I think that World Endeavors is a great organisation, that helped me step by step. First through informative emails, second with Skype calls, third with the help of the in-coordinator in Bangkok, a person I could always count on during all my stay.
All the staff is very kind and helpful and they were very fast at answering any questions I had.
I strongly recommend it for everyone who is interested in a life changing experience!

Madison OIntern in Thailand

My experience with World Endeavors was truly life-changing! The staff and my host family went above and beyond to make me comfortable and give me a truly immersive experience. Additionally, I got hands-on clinical experience that I could not have gotten in the United States.

Thailand FAQs

When is the Rainy Season in Thailand?

The rainy season in Thailand typically starts in May and ends in October. The heaviest rains are usually during September, but there can be some rain throughout the rainy season.

Is Thailand a Tropical Island?

No, Thailand is not an island. It is in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. It is connected to the mainland by land bridges, but it does have more than 3,000 islands off its coastline. Thailand is tropical, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Thailand has warm temperatures and high humidity, ideal for tropical plants and animals.

Is Thailand Cheap?

Thailand is considered to be a budget-friendly destination. The cost of living is relatively low, and many goods and services are inexpensive compared to other countries. The country’s diverse landscape and vibrant culture make it an excellent option for travelers looking to explore without spending too much.

What Should You Bring to Thailand?

It’s important to bring appropriate clothing for the climate; lightweight, breathable fabrics are best. Additionally, a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent are essential for protection from the sun and bugs.

Is Thailand Safe to Travel to?

Thailand is generally considered safe for travel. However, travelers should know health advisories, follow good hygiene practices, and use mosquito repellent. Respecting local customs and laws is also essential, and precautions against scams and petty theft are advised in tourist areas. Staying informed about travel advisories and seeking reliable information from recent travelers can ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.

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Our Top Volunteer Abroad Destinations

World Endeavors volunteers support communities in several destinations in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. Our programs are located in a variety of sites, including urban and rural, economically developed and developing, and English-speaking and non-English speaking.

How to apply for a Volunteer Abroad Program

You’ve decided to volunteer abroad – congratulations! Applying for your World Endeavors program is easy and stress-free. We can’t wait to get you on your way!

STEP 1
EXPLORE & ASK

Research and compare. If you can’t decide on a program, we can guide you toward the best fit.

STEP 2
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Fill out our online application form to share all your relevant details with our team.

STEP 3
ENROLL & PREPARE

Receive your official acceptance and enroll. We’ll give you all the info you need to get ready!

STEP 4
START YOUR ADVENTURE!

You’ve researched, planned and saved. Now you’re ready. It’s time to PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!