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Volunteer for a social project outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thailand
Last activity : 26 Dec 2024

Profile information

Host rating
80 %
Last replied
16 Nov 2024
Reply rate
53.5 %
Usually responds within 10 days
Feedback
24
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Email verified

Badges (4)

Dec 2015

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Availability

2024

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are looking for:

1. Experienced or qualified Mandarin and English teachers to volunteer in the community
2. Experts who can train our team in English for hospitality/ tourism related work
3. Chefs to share food from their home country and help us create training material for refugees from Myanmar
4. Teachers of dance, martial arts or similar (shorter-term volunteers may be accepted for these disciplines)

We are a social business that runs an eco-lodge 1 hour outside of Chiang Mai. Our proceeds help us to run education and training programmes that benefit local hill tribe communities and Burmese refugee women and girls at risk of trafficking. We organise various activities for our guests that enable them to explore the region, discover more about the local communities and help to promote the humane treatment of elephants.
We seek genuine volunteers who are dedicated, open-minded, culturally aware, and passionate about serving others, and who understand how society can be transformed through the education and empowerment.

We offer free basic accommodation (Private room in a house with outside bathroom) and 2 meals per day. The third may be subsidised. Not included are transportation costs outside of working hours or those unrelated to your volunteer role, additional meals, alcohol, entertainment and any other incidental expenses. However, as we are located by the river in a mountain region, there is little to spend your money on but plenty of opportunities for fun and personal fulfillment in our daily lifestyle and surroundings! If you like hiking you will be in for a treat.

Please send us a message answering the following questions, if you wish to volunteer:

Date / month you would like to join
How long can you stay (we may give preference to longer term volunteers depending on skills)
What experience or qualifications do you have in the position of interest?
Why would you like to volunteer here?
What languages do you speak?

Thank you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Language practice
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Hospitality/Tourism
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Help
We are not seeking general help. We are looking for individuals with a particular skill set - as described in the listing. Thank you.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Burmese: Fluent
Thai: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
Our team speak Burmese, Thai, Karen, and English fluently, and a little bit of Chinese. We would like to learn Spanish, German, Japanese and Chinese.
Accommodation
Private bamboo bungalow with fan on lodge property. Facilities are basic, with outdoor bathroom.
What else ...
Our staff work from 6:30am to 9:30pm. Helping hours for volunteers take place between these times and may vary depending on your role or project needs.

We can arrange airport pickup for you via songtaew (Thai-style covered truck with bench seating). The cost is 800 baht and is divided among the number of passengers if you are sharing the songtaew with other guests. Alternatively, we can help advise you how to take a yellow taxi to the nearest town from the lodge, where we can also arrange for a songtaew to collect you.

Scooter / Motorbike Hire:
You can do this in Chiang Mai, if arriving from the city. Having your own scooter or motorbike does allow you greater independence to visit the beautiful local attractions (waterfalls, temples, Royal organic projects, lovely mountain drives) and, as a social enterprise, it also helps us keep our transportation costs down! Scooters can be rented daily, weekly, or monthly in Chiang Mai for around 200-250thb per day or 2-3500 baht per month. PLEASE NOTE: We only recommend that you hire a scooter/motorbike if you are an experienced rider or feel confident enough to do so. By law you MUST hold an International Drivers Permit obtained from your home country. Helmets are a must!

Any medical, health or travel insurance is at the volunteer's expense.

Before confirming any volunteer we may ask to schedule an informal Skype call. Confirmed volunteers will then receive a Volunteer guide book before arrival that includes useful information about the region and guidelines.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two

Host ref number: 617675959674

Feedback (18)

16 Nov 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Chelsie & Jordan)

Thank you so much, Chelsie and Jordan for sharing your knowledge and being a part of our family. We are so grateful for your time and dedication in organizing the hospitality-related capacity-building training and providing hands-on guidance to the staff/trainees at Chailai Orchid Ecolodge, our social business.
Your support has improved our… read more

(Excellent )

26 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer (Chelsie & Jordan) for host

Volunteering with here in Chiang Mai was hands down one of the most fulfilling experiences we’ve ever had. Jordan and I came in with a background in hospitality/tourism, so we were excited to help with English practice and share some tips and tricks with the team. We ran a few classes to talk about professionalism and the hospitality industry, but… read more

(Excellent )

24 Oct 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Humberto)

Humberto, you are very kind, super creative, and super helpful. The kids love to do lessons and activities with you. Spanish classes for adults are also fun. Having you here with us for a month seems super fast. Thanks for helping our community and supporting our mission. We hope to have you again. Thanks for helping us!

(Excellent )

1 Mar 2019

Left by Workawayer (Audrey) for host

I spent just one week teaching kung fu to the staff and it was honestly one of the best experiences of my trip thus far. There’s such a familial atmosphere at Chai Lai that makes it hard to leave! All the girls are so friendly and eager to learn, and Alexa and Fran are so inspirational and great to learn from. I look forward to returning soon!

(Excellent )

View all 18 feedbacks

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Feedback

16 Nov 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Chelsie & Jordan)

(Excellent)

26 Oct 2024

Left by Workawayer (Chelsie & Jordan) for host

(Excellent)

24 Oct 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Humberto)

(Excellent)

1 Mar 2019

Left by Workawayer (Audrey) for host

(Excellent)

22 Jan 2019

Left by Workawayer (Jessica & Melanie) for host

I just left this workaway about a week ago after spending nearly a month here! This was without a doubt, one of the best experiences I've had in my 9 months in Thailand. I was teaching English to the staff twice a day (usually for about an hour to an hour and a half a session). The girls were so kind, friendly and eager to learn - which made it… read more

(Excellent)

10 Jul 2018

Left by Workawayer (Melike) for host

I came to this amazing place for 10 days, and this is one of the highlights of my life. Alexa and all family are super nice and has a BIG smile all the time! The organisation is really significant and it is so meaningful being part of it.
Also being with happy elephants, play with them make you feel super happy! This is the great organisation who… read more

(Excellent)

2 Apr 2018

Left by Workawayer (Dustin) for host

I spent just over 2 weeks here for my first Workaway experience. I've never been so bummed to leave a place or a group of people. Alexa brought me in and immediately made me feel like family. Outside of the actual volunteering, I loved how I was invited along for adventures and encouraged to get out and actually experience all that the area has to… read more

(Excellent)

26 Feb 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Michelle)

Michelle is a considerate guest and hardworking volunteer. We actually already invited her back a second time because we enjoyed having her so much. Very lucky and thankful for her help.

(Excellent)

21 Dec 2017

Left by Workawayer (Michelle) for host

A wonderful, life changing experience! The orchid is a beautiful place not only because of the grounds, but also because of the people (and elephants) that are part of it. This was my first workaway experience - I hope my future experiences are even half as amazing as this one was.

(Excellent)

9 Jan 2018

Left by Workawayer (Yanicha) for host

This is the greatest experience!
First I came here because I just want to learn about elephantes but I got a lot of thing more than that! All staff are friendly, we had a really good time together, Mahouts are nice and elephantes are awesome and cute (Thank you Tangmo and Chailai!) Karen, Burmese and even the guest make me see the world… read more

(Excellent)

22 Jun 2016

Left by Workawayer (Estefanie) for host

This has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have taken a while to write it because I was so full of emotions of joy and nostalgia of leaving. I made beautiful friends here. From the second you arrive you walk across a bridge overlooking elephants bathing in a river. I volunteered doing English lessons and modeling. They really embrace… read more

(Excellent)

14 Jan 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Myrte)

Myrte was such an amazing addition to our team for the time she was here. She took initiative and accomplished more in her two weeks than others have completed in months. We would love to have her back and we wish you the best of luck, Myrte. Thank you for all your help!
-Claire

(Excellent)

3 Jan 2016

Left by Workawayer (Myrte) for host

This was probably the highlight of my travels through South East Asia so far. I really respect Alexa and everyone else working at the eco lodge. They're working so hard to give the elephants from the neighboring camp a better life while also doing so much for the local community. It's incredible and I'm very grateful for being able to contribute… read more

(Excellent)

6 Oct 2015

Left by Workawayer (Bea & James) for host

We had the best time here ! Alexa and Allie were so welcoming and we felt part of the family, In fact all of the staff that work here are so lovely and we had so much fun exploring the Jungle and spending time with the Elephants. Alexa and Allie are very hard working and really passionate about helping the local communities, in particular the… read more

(Excellent)

5 Oct 2015

Left by Workawayer (Kayti & Anthony Christian) for host

This was my first workaway experience and I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was. I came without expectations, hoping to stay for around 4 weeks, but ended up staying for 6. If I could have stayed longer, I'm scared I would have ended up moving in! The staff, volunteers, mahouts, elephants.. everyone there is phenomenal. It is THE BEST… read more

(Excellent)

5 Jul 2015

Left by Workawayer (Manda & Anthony ) for host

Awesome. This was our first work away experience. We did not know what to expect but it was over and beyond our expectations. You must be bubbly and outgoing. You need to be social and open to the fact that you are at an ecolodge with guests. You need to be self driven. If you possess even a little bit of these qualities, you will feel quite… read more

(Excellent)

19 Jun 2015

Left by Workawayer (Leo) for host

This place is like a magnet; I met many people who went there as visitors and ended up being long-term friends and volunteers.

The ecolodge is a great place to live and enjoy amazing activities. Moreover, Alexa, Gaynor, the Burmese refugee women/girls and the other volunteers are amazing people to hang out with.

The most important thing,… read more

(Excellent)

24 Mar 2015

Left by Workawayer (Michelle) for host

On my 3-month journey, this experience has certainly be the highlight. Not only do you get to see and play with beautiful elephants, you work to improve the lives of others. Alexa is brilliant, generous, and a perfect ambassador for the cause. I would recommend this place to anyone, and will definitely return in the near future. Everyone is… read more

(Excellent)

10 Mar 2015

Left by Workawayer (Svéa & Alejandro) for host

Truly amazing !!!

A big thank you to Alexa and the rest of the Chai Lai family!
Alex and I had spent 10 days - an unforgettable time!
Living with the elephants, mahouts and lovely karen/kayan girls was a special experience.
The combination of two great projects, is truly unique.
We wish you all the best for the future - you should be very… read more

(Excellent)

9 Mar 2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Catherine & Zachary)

Diligent, trustworthy, and compassionate, you can not ask for a better volunteer than Kat. This amazing girl worked tirelessly to help our organization grow and positively affected the community in ways that will continue long after she's left. We have been so lucky get to know Kat and host her and hope to welcome her back again some day. She is… read more

(Excellent)

16 Feb 2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Kathryn & Becky)

Kathryn and Becky came here to volunteer Immediately we could tell that their presence here was to help as much as they can. They were each assigned individual tasks and accomplished them to the best of their abilities. During their stay one of our staff members was injured in a scooter accident and I had to stay in town at the hospital several… read more

(Excellent)

30 Jan 2015

Left by Workawayer (Kathryn & Becky) for host

WOW, what a fantastic host!

Becky and I arrived here and were planning on originally staying for one week, which was extended to two and a half weeks, which is now being extended further and we are still here. We have the utmost respect for the director, Alexa, and her model of social and sustainable business. The organisation proceeds support… read more a program that empowers women at-risk for human trafficking. This includes English lessons, education on human rights and women's health, paid vocational and skills training, and then assistance with job placement in the hospitality industry to support themselves. If that wasn't enough, they have a range of side projects running simultaneously, such as supporting local Karen girls' college education, creating, distributing, and educating women with clean birth kits, supplying clean water filtration systems to local village families, creating a mobile health clinic, raising funds to support an elephant retirement farm, collecting warm clothing for families in the winter months, and sponsoring mothers. So we really hope people do not come here for a free ride, but serious about contributing to some very needed services.

From our experience here, we think that volunteers who are self-starters and able to take initiation without much direction will do best. If you want or require a set schedule and step-by-step instructions how to do tasks, then you may struggle a bit in the beginning. With that being said, the coordinators here have a lot of faith in their volunteers, will never give you anything you can't handle, and are more than happy to offer support if you ask. Some things we did while we were here included: buying and planting an herb garden and water lilies for the pond, taking inventory of medical supplies, creating a drink menu for the cafe, making a price system for the shop, teaching daily English classes, and washing dishes. They are open to projects and ideas that you may create. Often they need people with more specialized skills such as experienced ESL teachers, graphic designers, and grant writers.

Volunteers can either have a hut on the property or there is a volunteer house a ten minute walk down the street. The volunteer house has three bathrooms with squat toilets and showers, though there are western style toilets on the property. The house was clean and each person had their own bed and mosquito net. Volunteers are given three VERY delicious meals a day and free water. You must pay for your own drinks and any activities you join (bamboo rafting, elephant riding, treks, zipline, etc.) but you do get the special volunteer discount.

What we loved most about being here though was being close to nature and of course, the people! We loved being able to hike in the jungle, be near the mountains, and meet the elephants. Mae Wang is an hour outside of Chiang Mai, so a lot of free time is spent relaxing, reading, hanging out with other volunteers, etc. But most of all, we loved all of the amazing volunteers, staff, and mahouts we became friends with. The nightly bonfires (and often beers) were lots of fun and will always be a great memory.

A big THANK YOU to Alexa and everyone there for this amazing experience; we hope we gave back as much as we received. Best of luck with your projects, don't work yourself too hard Alexa, and we hope our paths cross again in the future!

(Excellent)

15 Feb 2015

Left by Workawayer (Pablo) for host

Volunteering here has been a unique experience personally and professionally. I stayed for seven weeks, time enough to realize the big impact of this project, the social work involved, so many people are being helped to have one chance, a hope for the future.

I have been doing photo and graphic design (brochures, pdf's, web contents…) for the… read more

(Excellent)

2 Nov 2014

Left by Workawayer (Claire & Fraser) for host

We had an amazing two weeks in Mae Win! Teaching English to the staff and helping to write grant proposals. We felt so at home and comfortable and met such lovely people. The volunteer house we stayed in has an incredible view and is a great set up for someone to stay a long time Thank you so much for letting us come and work with you guys :) We… read more

(Excellent)

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Volunteer for a social project outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Reply rate

Feedback

Facebook verified

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Badges (4)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

How many Workawayers can stay?

Feedback (18)

Photos

Feedback