Volunteer Work in Thailand

Volunteering is a great way to benefit society, and it is actually a great way to increase you own happiness and sense of peace. This is a truth that not enough people realise; helping other people most often benefits the one doing the helping more than the one receiving the help. This idea is well accepted in Thailand and this is why there is not much fuss made over people who like to help others; there is the knowledge that karma will reward the person planting good karma. You don't have to be Buddhist to appreciate this phenomena and most will agree that doing good will cause good to occur in our lives or at the very least doing good will help take our minds off ourselves and our own problems for at least a while.

There is no doubt that volunteer work in Thailand will bring benefit into your life. It will allow you to feel more a part of the community in which you live and will give you the chance to meet many local people. I taught in a Thai village school for a few years and this was a great experience. It allowed me to feel very much part of village life and meant that I saw all the local children grow. I no longer live in that part of Thailand, but when I go back there most people know me and even the youngest children will at least have heard about me.

It is my belief that doing volunteer work in Thailand should not done with any hidden motives. In the past people have used their offers of help as a means to promote their religious or political views; personally I find such an attitude to be distasteful. I think that it is also wrong to get involved in volunteer work in Thailand with a paternalistic attitude; Thai people seem to appreciate people who want to help, but are less open to those who want to change them. The people in Thailand have great pride in their society and don't seem to believe that they need saving from anything.

The main problem that anyone doing volunteer work in Thailand will face is getting the correct paperwork. It is illegal to do any type of work without a work permit; this includes volunteer work. Technically you could be arrested and deported for doing volunteer work; although I have never actually heard of this happening. Getting a work permit for volunteer work in Thailand can be very problematic if you are not working for an organisation familiar with the process. Schools and other volunteer opportunities in rural locations are unlikely to be familiar with the paperwork involved in this type of work, and becoming legal could turn out to be a real hassle. It is for this reason that many people avoid doing any type of volunteer work in Thailand.

Volunteer work in Thailand is very rewarding, but care must be taken to obtain the correct paperwork and approach it with the right attitude. Remember that you will likely be gaining far more from the experience than those you are helping - this is a winning attitude.