Jason Williams

Photos

Why did you choose this program?

There are lots of projects out there but Globalteer stood out as they are a registered charity. Thailand was already a part of my travel plans and this program looked perfect to volunteer with for a few months. They had an amazing variety of animals and it's a serious rescue and rehabilitation project.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Globalteer provided loads of pre-arrival information, from an orientation guide to visa advice and health and safety. I used their partner to organize my flights which made things really easy and cheaper for me.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Just to be prepared to work hard although the work is so varied and rewarding, it is really worth it to see the results.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

There are lots of animals at this project but there are also lots of volunteers. Every day was different as we switched duties on a rotation basis.

Most of the tasks were preparing food, handing out the food to the animals and giving them water. We also tidied up the center, cleaned enclosures and made sure the animals had the best care possible.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I am pretty well traveled so I didn't have too many fears. The only fear I had was that there wouldn't be enough work as I was there to really work and achieve something. This wasn't an issue at this project as there was always something to do.

What was the best part of volunteering at the sanctuary?

The best tasks at the center were 'enrichments'. This is where we created things for the animals to do to make their lives more enriched!

We smothered honey around the bears enclosure, on trees, in tunnels, and under rocks. We then watched as the bears ran around trying to find the tasty morsel, just like in the wild!