About Youth Basketball Coaching in Thailand
Basketball is a popular sport in Asia, and for children and youth, the game can be a powerful tool to build confidence and create social bonds. World Endeavors Youth Basketball Coaching volunteers in Thailand work in sports centers in Bangkok and around Thailand to assist with local youth basketball teams. Depending on their experience and local needs, volunteers may assist the club’s coach or coach a team on their own. Volunteers teach the participants about athletic skills, strategies, and team-building, and they may help organize other activities for the youth in addition to basketball practice. By participating in this program, volunteers can make a difference to Thai children and build friendships they will never forget.
A Typical Day in the Life of a Volunteer in Thailand
World Endeavors volunteers in Thailand can expect their days to be a combination of meaningful volunteer work, cultural experiences, and free time for relaxation and reflection. The sample schedule below represents a typical day for a volunteer in Thailand. Keep in mind that when volunteering abroad, a typical day can be anything but typical!
7:30 am – 8:00 am: Breakfast with your host family. Breakfast in Thailand consists of porridge or boiled rice, local dumplings or fried flour, rice with curry, or bread with jam and tea or coffee.
8:00 am: Travel to your volunteer placement.
9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Work at volunteer placement.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Grab lunch at one of the affordable restaurants in the volunteer project area.
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Work at volunteer placement.
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Thai language course.
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Enjoy free time by hanging out with new friends, visiting the internet café, riding a bike around the city, taking a Thai cooking class, or exploring Bangkok’s beautiful temples, museums, parks, flower markets, or Yaowarat (Chinatown).
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Dinner with your host family. Dinners in Bangkok often include rice, curry, and a fried vegetable.
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Relax at home, practice your Thai with your host family, read a book, prepare for the next day’s volunteering, or plan a weekend excursion to visit some of Thailand’s many palaces, temples, floating markets, beaches, and national parks.
Project and class schedules, meals, and free time activities may vary depending on the details of your placement.
Eligibility
Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. Successful volunteers are hardworking, flexible, and open to truly immersing themselves in Thai culture.
The volunteer placement shaped up to be exactly what I was looking for. I learnt much about Thai customs and practices through my colleagues and the placement coordinators. I met several great individuals, many of whom I will keep in touch with for a long time to come.
-Mehrdad, Volunteer in Thailand
Emily is from Vancouver, Canada. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Psychology. Emily and three friends volunteered at a hospital and an orphanage in Bangkok, Thailand...