GVI Chiang Mai

I have just returned from GVI Chiang Mai, Thailand following a month of amazing experiences. I had chosen this particular programme as I was interested in doing some sort of women’s empowerment project and as it was being implemented for the first time in Huay Pakoot,and I do love a challenge I embarked on my first experience of travelling abroad alone to volunteer. The fact that this base was also running an elephant conservation project was a huge bonus too as I got to hike frequently with the team to gather data on the elephants they support.
I stayed with a local family in the village and a member of staff was on hand to help me intergrate into village life, my home stay family were wonderful and provided me with my meals each day.
The projects I became involved in evolved spontaneously, the first was my interest in gardening and as the team had begun to set up some raised beds in the garden area it was only natural to me to become part of the gardening team. We made some huge changes which would impact the staff and volunteers by having the opportunity to grow their own food, learn a new skill and have fun doing something new. We had a great time not only planting but crafts in the garden too, everyone got involved which was brilliant. My experience in teaching and organising was a huge bonus and I was doing what I love in a very different environment so I was learning lots too.
My next project involved teaching basic healthcare to the women of the village, I had been retired from nursing for just 1 year and was still exited to teach in this area, however this was very different to home but as I had a brilliant interpreter we began by meeting the women and mothers of the village to find out their needs. By the end of my stay we had implemented a programme in which regular meetings with the women would involve discussion on management of fever ( many of the children were being driven 2.5 hrs to hospital unnecessarily) recognising and managing dehydration and emergency care of choking babies and children.
The success of my projects were due to a number of things.... firstly this is a team of people who are passionate in their work to help the people of Huay Pakoot, and also towards the conservation of the elephants and eco system within the area. I had no problem in getting support for any of my projects and the whole team of volunteers, interns and staff did everything they could to support the projects, my only regret is that I hadn’t stayed longer to see the fruits of my work but I have handed them over to a team which are truly dedicated and have inspired me to go on to do more voluntary work abroad, Thank you all at GVI Chiang Mai