Hosted by Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)

Volunteer in Thailand with IVI - Charity & Non Profit

Name: Volunteer in Thailand with IVI - Charity & Non Profit
Brand: Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)
SKU: 252958
Rating: 4.88 (8 reviews)

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4.88 Rating

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Location

Thailand
- Hua Hin

Length

1 to 12 weeks

Project Types

Agriculture Childcare Community Development Building Projects Conservation Environmental Conservation Reforestation Education Teaching

Need-based funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Language

English

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Apartment Guesthouse

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Travel Type

Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

395

Price Details

All programs include arrival airport transfers, accommodation, meals, 24/7 local support, orientation, and Certificate of Completion.

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Transportation Wifi

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2024

Last Reviewed: Jan 07, 2025

Wish List

22 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

IVI is a Charity & Non Profit Org, giving volunteers a very real and authentic experience. We have over 35 +years of experience in placing volunteers in meaningful projects. Add volunteering into your next adventure and make it a trip to remember!

Thailand is a beautiful country with delicious food, stunning beaches, temples, waterfalls, national parks and bustling cities. All programs include arrival airport transfers, accommodation, meals, 24/7 local support, orientation, and Certificate of Completion. IVI offer safe, reliable and impactful programs, helping communities in need around the globe.

Stay in a dedicated volunteer house close to the beach in our Hua Hin location, or in the hills of Chiang Mai and meet other like-minded travellers. Programs include English teaching, construction, elephant conservation and environmental conservation.

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

BIPOC Support

IVI are firmly committed to providing full support and inclusivity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) individuals. Through our programs and initiatives, we strive to create a safe and empowering space that acknowledges, values, and uplifts the unique perspectives and contributions of BIPOC communities. Our organisation stands united in the fight against discrimination and is dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive, irrespective of their background.

LGBTQIA+ Support

IVI are dedicated to providing our full support for individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, we strive to create a safe and welcoming space for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Our commitment extends to promoting equal rights, dignity, and respect for every individual, regardless of their LGBTQIA+ status. We aim to create a world where diversity is embraced and everyone can thrive to their full potential.

Neurodivergent Support

IVI are committed to fostering inclusivity, we provide steadfast support to neurodivergent individuals. Our programs create a safe and embracing environment, where diverse neurocognitive perspectives are valued. Upholding equal rights and respect, we aim to eliminate obstacles and empower all members of the neurodivergent community to thrive through our dedicated initiatives.

Accessibility Support

With a strong commitment to inclusivity, IVI offer support for individuals requiring accessibility accommodations. Our initiatives are designed to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate and contribute. Whilst some programs may be more suitable than others, we strive to empower all individuals to engage and excel in our programs and activities.

Impact 🌎

Sustainability

IVI are dedicated to promoting sustainability in all aspects of our work. By embracing sustainable practices, we envision a future where communities thrive, natural resources are preserved, and the Earth's ecosystems are nurtured for generations to come. We are committed to keeping our projects focused on positively benefitting the local communities and environment.

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Ethical Impact

Our programs embody ethical volunteering by placing local community well-being and empowerment at the forefront. We engage in transparent collaboration, focusing on sustainable solutions that respect local cultures and preserve dignity. Through responsible, long-term projects, we foster genuine connections, create lasting change, and uphold the principles of ethical engagement.

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Program Highlights

Charity & Non Profit Org.
Over 25,000 Volunteers placed worldwide.
IVI has 35+ years experience - Offering Affordable and Trusted Programs.
Comfortable and Safe Accommodation (private room or volunteer house).
Stay at a beachside location or in the hills!

Popular Programs

Environmental Conservation

Make a vital difference to the local environment by helping to plant new magroves, collect and sort mangrove pods, preparing the seed and soil, watering the plants, general caring of the mangroves and planting. Take part in beach and community area cleaning, creating garbage bins, washing and sorting garbage, creating campaigns and educating the local community adults and children on the importance of sustainable environment.

Primary School Teaching

Teach English to primary or kindy aged children in the beachside area of Hua Hin. Learning the English language is important for the children to provide future benefits. Bring along your enthusiasm, creativity, and fun, and create daily lesson plans for engaging classes. You can also help to teach English to the local school teachers!

Construction & Renovation

Make an impact and improve the living facilities of local homes and community buildings. Take part in light work such as cleaning, mixing cement, painting, building walls, plastering and repairing roofing. Volunteers will be instructed and supervised closely by our coordinator who has experience in construction work, so no prior experience is required.

Elephant Care and Rehabilitation

You will be working alongside experienced mahouts who have dedicated their lives to understanding elephants and providing them with the best care possible. Help to prepare food, bathe the elephants, and clean the elepahnt areas.

Program Reviews

4.88 Rating

based on 8 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 87.5%
4 rating 12.5%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 5
Support 5
Fun 5
Value 4.65
Safety 5

Good for Students, Solo Travelers, Adventure travelers

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

The trip was the most fulfilling, enriching and inspiring experience I have ever embarked upon
It is my second time volunteering with IVI and each time I embark on a new teaching journey I seem to learn more, take new things away from the program and leave with new friends from all over the world!

I was fortunate enough to volunteer in Chiang Mai, Thailand for 2 weeks wherein I got to teach at 2 schools within the local area. Each day was filled with joy, excitement, friendship, compassion and new opportunities to which I grasped with both hands.
One of the most awesome things about volunteering abroad would be the everlasting friendships you create. I adored spending many of my afternoons exploring the local culture with both our coordinators and other volunteers as well as spending many late nights learning new languages, cultures and travel stories from across the world. These friendships hold a very special place in my heart and continue to flourish outside of the volunteer space.

My favourite part of the volunteering had to be the lesson planning as it was the most rewarding experience when the lessons and games I had planned were so well received and enjoyed by the kids!
If you are considering volunteering … this is definitely your sign as it is an unmatched experience that has countless affordances

The local team made my stay like home wherein I became apart of this close knit family. We were all so well looked after, with all facilities well maintained, drivers readily available, existing connections across all of Chiang Mai and major attractions we all wanted to visit as well as endless resources to utilise within the classroom setting. The food was definitely locally sourced with many dishes being traditional to Thailand however the food was well prepared and delicious. A few more Western dishes would have been adored but not necessary!

It was awesome! I’m so very grateful! THANK YOU

I really liked the volunteering because it gave me so much insight on Thai culture and also on the school structure. It was interesting to see how different the individual schools and children were. I also really liked socializing with the other volunteers. The accommodation was good and I also really liked the pool. The Team was always nice and helpful and provided a great Support. The food was good especially on Thursday. Maybe longer blankets for the bedrooms and also more western food.

It's an incredible experience that you have to do at least once in your life. It is a great pleasure to help these clerks. They are welcoming and caring people. All our coordinators are there with us and take care of us so that everything goes as well as possible and that we enjoy our humanitarian mission. The local team is superb! The food is very good too. It allows you to taste local food and it's incredible. As for the room, it is a dormitory for 6 people but it is possible to request a private room. What's great is that it's still time to volunteer we have free time to visit.

I enjoyed the trip. It was nice to meet new people, visit new places and experience a new culture. The highlights include meeting the wonderful children of the school. This was a new experience for me and I’ve definitely gained some valuable lessons and skills from it. Another highlight is being able to explore and travel with the free time I had.

Gwen was very kind and helpful. The local Thai food in restaurants was incredible. The accommodation was nice but a little far from the city so it could be a little inconvenient at times to go there especially when Bolt drivers would cancel repeatedly because of the distance.

Cons

I think a sofa in the kitchen/common area would be nice to provide a place for volunteers to chill with each other. Along with providing board games, cards etc.

My time volunteering on the remote island teaching program in Fiji with Involvement Volunteers International....

It was such a beautiful experience. everybody on the island is so accommodating and welcomes you with open arms, it is difficult however to adjust to the different routines but so worth it!

Comments on local team, food and accommodation: Again, so accomodating, felt so supported the entire trip, always providing what was needed.

Highlights of the trip:

-Interacting with the kids, who are so genuinely excited to see you. It’s amazing how accepting, grateful and respectful they are!

-Meeting people from all around the world, particularly Europe! Made friends with girls from all over Europe and America, whom we met up in Bangkok for the weekend!

-The locals: everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and more than happy to help with directions.

The team, particularly the team leaders, were lovely and always tried their best to answer your questions and were very informative regarding plans, times, meeting points etc. The shared dorms were also great, and were important in getting to know to others. The food was nice most days too, and kept us going throughout the day.

Pros

the kids!
Meeting people from around the world

Cons

More preparation for classes- i.e information on the best/most effective way to teach the kids
Regarding food, more vegetarian options

I am not the same person I was when I arrived in Thailand. Just when I thought I gave enough of myself with the work that I do, I have now uncovered another level of giving that I never knew existed. My heart is filled with love for all of the children and of course this beautiful country and it’s amazing people. They have all taught ME so much!

Thailand is definitely the land of smiles. It will be extra special to me now after this experience. Everyone wasnothing but supportive and welcoming. I have made so many amazing friends who I will cherish for the rest of my life and I definitely know that this is something I will continue to do forever. I’m hooked!! I am going to encourage people to consider volunteering, it has been one of the most humbling, incredible experiences- words just can’t explain what I feel right now. I’m so sad it has come to an end, but I know I will be back for more.

Once again thank you for everything- your support before and during my trip was much appreciated. You are all amazing!! Kind regards.

Highlights of the trip:

-Interacting with the kids, who are so genuinely excited to see you. It’s amazing how accepting, grateful and respectful they are!
-Meeting people from all around the world, particularly Europe! Made friends with girls from all over Europe and America, whom we met up in Bangkok for the weekend!
-The locals: everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and more than happy to help with directions.

Comments on the team, food and accommodation:
The team, particularly the team leaders, were lovely and always tried their best to answer your questions and were very informative regarding plans, times, meeting points etc. The shared dorms were also great, and were important in getting to know to others. The food was nice most days too, and kept us going throughout the day.

What would you improve about this program?

-More preparation for classes- i.e information on the best/most effective way to teach the kids.
-Regarding food, more vegetarian options.

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory

Wow, this is a tough question! Sometimes it’s not the place that sticks in your mind, but the people you meet! I have travelled around the world and met some real characters along the way. Every destination is unique, for me I love the feeling of exploring somewhere new and not knowing what you will come across next.

My first volunteering experience when I was 18 will always be special to me. I worked on an amazing wildlife sanctuary for two months, and it was the first time I was away from home. I gained some independence and confidence on that trip and got to see some awesome places on days off. I felt so free and inspired on my return home!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I learn on the job and have enjoyed progressing through roles and learning more about the company I work for. I love being part of such a small and friendly team of people. This is the first job where I get to work from home, and I love the flexibility it can bring.

I have volunteered in the past and I know how it can really change people’s lives for the better- both for the people you help and for yourself also. I enjoy being part of something that brings about positive change and would encourage all those thinking about volunteering to give it a go.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I think for me, I love hearing about how the volunteers grow whilst on their projects. We had a girl named Marina who helped with our nutrition project in Fiji. She was studying dietetics and, although she was taught how to take blood pressure on her course, she had never actually learnt how to take blood pressure manually. This is something she got to do in Fiji, and she took back her new skills which could really help her in her future career. As well as that, she got to practice talking with people from all over the world, and another culture. Learning these life skills can be excellent for young people to really push their learning and to help them grow in confidence.

I am also very pleased to see so many people raising funds for our projects, before or after their placement. We've had many volunteers who have raised money to buy vital supplies to our worldwide projects and we can't thank them enough!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Wow, another tough question! I would go on any project really, but probably somewhere where I haven't been before, as I love exploring new places!

Nepal is very appealing to me and we have some exciting projects there, such as teaching Buddhist monks up in the Everest region. Costa Rica also sounds exciting as it has some incredible biodiversity there and some more remote type placements.

IVI has impactful projects all over the world that really give back to the local communities, so I know I could find a meaningful project in any of our destinations.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I love that we are a non-profit organisation that’s passionate about giving back to developing communities around the globe. We are a small team that works hard to sustain our mission to fight poverty and help underprivileged communities all over the world.

I am proud of our team who are all so passionate and generally care about the people on our projects. Our health projects in Fiji and Bali are a testament to the dedication and commitment the health & nutrition team shows, to really make a change over there - and we are seeing great results from it.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think teamwork, respecting each other and getting along well are key components to any company thriving. All the people on the team being fully aware of the main purpose and mission of the company is also very important, so we can communicate our values to our customers in a consistent manner. I think if a team is passionate about its work, this can only be a recipe for success.

About Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)

Established in 1989, IVI are pioneers of volunteer overseas experiences. Together with our many partners worldwide, our mission is to educate, fight poverty, improve health and empower change through sustainable volunteer work in developing communities abroad. As a Non Profit Org, we have placed over 25000+ volunteers worldwide! A volunteer travel...