Volunteer Abroad Experiences & Adventures in Thailand

Name: Volunteer Abroad Experiences & Adventures in Thailand
Brand: Starfish Volunteers
SKU: 21527
Rating: 4.5 (10 reviews)

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4.50 Rating

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Location

Thailand
- Surin
- Ko Samui
- Chiang Mai

Project Types

Childcare Community Development Building Projects Conservation Wildlife Conservation Education Teaching Health Medical

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Program Details

Language

English

Housing

Guesthouse Host Family Hostel

Pricing

Starting Price

500

Price Details

Included: Airport pick up on arrival, Bangkok tour, transfers to and from volunteer projects, accommodation, some meals, friendly and knowledgeable local guide.

Last Updated: Jan 30, 2017

Last Reviewed: Oct 05, 2014

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8 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Starfish Volunteers offers the very best volunteer programs and adventures in Thailand. Projects include caring for and living alongside elephants, building and community development in an authentic Thai town, teaching English to underprivileged children, childcare and early learning opportunities in a rural communities, and a worthwhile hands on medical placement program. Away from all of the over crowded tourist areas, our volunteer experiences provide support for small communities across Thailand. Not only will your experience be making a real difference but you will also discover the real Thailand. Programs range from 1 to 12 weeks in a variety of stunning locations, such as the jungle and mountains of Sangkhlaburi to the serene paradise of Koh Samui. Start your holiday with a difference today.

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Video and Photos

Incredible elephant volunteer opportunities with Starfish Volunteers.

Building volunteering in the local rural Thai community - Thailand.

Starfish Volunteer teaching in rural Thailand or on Koh Samui

Medical volunteer program in Surin, a local Thai community.

Extend your trip with our extra Koh Phangan beach party extension!

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Program Reviews

4.50 Rating

based on 10 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 80%
4 rating 10%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 10%

Impact 4.4
Support 4.6
Fun 4.6
Value 4.6
Safety 5

Showing 9 - 10 of 10 reviews

I've never done volunteering before, and mid backpacking round the world, stumbled upon starfish - best decision I ever made. The projects are really useful to the community, the staff are amazing, supportive, and really, I felt like I was a Thai local - an experience you don't get from just backpacking your way through. Seeing the Thai people's response to your assistance, and even in the local community where you're living, was great, you get to have heaps of fun, whilst ensuring the serious business of your project gets done - I did medical volunteering, working in a small local clinic, who provided well-being and regular check ups for the surrounding farming community, and met some amazing individuals. As for living like a Thai person - even managed to attend a Thai wedding! The guys at starfish are awesome, and look after you well - still in contact with them, and hope to meet them again someday....with starfish you will have an awesome experience, guaranteed!

Hi everybody,

I volunteered together with my husband last September (2011) for 2 weeks. I did volunteering as a nurse and my husband did the construction part.

Basicially we had placement 4 times a week. I started at 7ish whilst my husband started at 8/9am.

My placement took place in different places. I worked in a health centre where i basically did wound cleaning, removal sutures or administered im injections. Specific days like wednesday we would be taking routine vitals and blood samples. I worked within the ER of a hospital and once out to the fields to test the farmers for pesticide contamination.

Throughout my placement I always had someone there to help me with my translations and answer any questions I had.

Apart from being able to help the people of the Surin village the experience taught to be an educational one. I encountered different diseases due to the poor conditions most of these people live in.

My husband on the other hand was basically painting part of the school. He was the only worker there at the time and so it would sometimes get a bit lonely. Nonetheless nearby there we plenty of children being taught by other volunteers so it was nice for him to just see the children enjoying themselves.

During our placement we found lots of help not our regarding volunteering but help with our other travels from the staff at the Starfish office. Plus they were always up for a good night out!!!

Our accommodation was simple but enough! Surin is a fairly quiet area, but a good place to relax and have a good cheap beer!

This experience was also great to make new friends. It was great to hear about other's experiences during their travels and in addition it helps to plan out the rest of ur travels.

All in all the experience was amazing!! We would love to have the opportunity to do some volunteering with starfish again!

I would recommend that if you have more time on your hands, shift through different volunteering placements!!

Wishing you a fruitful experience,

Christianne&Jo :))))))

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you decide to volunteer with Starfish Volunteers in Thailand?

I decided to volunteer with Starfish after searching the internet for volunteer experiences that involve animals. After finding a few projects in Thailand that work with elephants, I read reviews on a couple of websites and found that previous volunteers that have worked on the elephant project in Surin with Starfish volunteers had a great experience. It was that easy!

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Volunteering with elephants was an incredible experience. We were driven to a village, about an hour away from Surin City, in which we slept in a Thai house from Monday to Thursday. The Thai family were incredibly welcoming. As well as making us feel at home, they were excited to teach us a few Thai words. In the mornings, we would head to the sugar cane fields, and either help cut the sugar cane to feed to the elephants, or prepare the soil for planting. After a delicious Thai lunch, cooked by the Starfish volunteer coordinators, it was time to ride the elephants to the river for a bath. This was my favourite activity, as these animals are so gentle and smart. It is a great time to bond with your elephant and mahout (elephant trainer). Sitting on the neck of such a large creature, while looking out over the abundant rice fields and chilli plantations, is something that has to be experienced to be appreciated. Night times were spent playing games with the village children, who loved coming over to the homestay and interacting with the volunteers.

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How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?

This experience surpassed any expectation I had when heading into this volunteering project. To be able to be immersed in a culture where all of the little things in life are appreciated, has definitely impacted on my future. It has made me realize the important things in life, and to not take things for granted. I have now added more volunteer projects to my life plan, as it was such a rewarding and eye opening experience. As a university student in a health profession, I feel that my acquired skills would be beneficial in places such as Thailand, and would consider working in said areas in the future. Volunteering is definitely a life changing experience and I urge anybody who wants to work with elephants, to apply through Star fish Volunteers, as the staff go beyond their job description to ensure your stay in Thailand is safe, and enjoyable.

Ruth Tofler-Riesel

About Starfish Volunteers

We offer the very best volunteer abroad experiences in Thailand. We have been bringing eager and enthusiastic volunteers and curious adventurers to Asia for over 10 years, so we know all there is to know about volunteer travel and adventure tours in this part of the world. Whether you are thinking about volunteering with animals on our elephant...