Kok Payom is the name of a small Muslim fishermen’s village where only 600 people living in. The village is located 7 kilometers away from its district called La Ngu and close to the seawater canal surrounded by mangrove forests. It’s no doubt that every single family regards the fishery industry as a main, permanent career. All the villagers are linked constantly with close relationship between community and related families, and they greatly welcome visitors, activists and volunteers to bring up voluntary projects to their village and join in any useful activity. Volunteers will be able to learn how the villagers lead their lives; it’s an experience you cannot find in the rushes of city life. Lead a life as easy-going as a countryman!

The village really wants to conserve their traditional way of living even if there are a lot of pressure and conditions coming from the city. The villagers want to be actors to preserve their lifestyle, the nature for the next Kok Payom generation. The community wants to be responsible.
So, it's now a real importance for this village to be a challenger of the future of their community and our Earth. They really want to make good choices for the coming children!

The community has recognized their problems and is working hard to find solutions to the environmental and social issues. They want to be creative to avoid the strange way our world is going today!

Since 2009, DaLaa volunteers have been working with the villagers and children. There have been a big improvement and continuation of useful activities and construction. Community members started to be aware of environmental problems and how to preserve the local beliefs and life style, as well as letting young generation learn about all those local values and wanting to remain this precious natural resources and life style. In 2011, there was an initiative of starting “Klong Toh Lem Academy”, an alternative school on the other side of the canal, in the middle of mangrove forest where children can learn about environment, local values, wisdoms, and language in very natural method of learning. The informal class at this alternative school is conducted every Sunday. There are approximately 20 children, aged between 7-12 attending. So far, the main school building and other necessary structures have been constructed from collaboration of both villagers and international volunteers. However, there are still works that need to be done.

Volunteers can do the activities as following...

* Create a place where local people and children can learn and become more aware of the importance of our environment (Alternative School - Klong Toh Lem Academy).
* Organize nature trips with children (awareness of the importance of nature).
* Plant young seedlings in the mangrove forests (occasionally).
* Organize fun and enjoyable activities to the village children.

Students English ability

Their English knowledge is very basic or perhaps you might say that it is lower than that level. It is because of a lack of accurate pronunciation or proper accent. Most students basically know only easy words, short sentences and the letters in the alphabet. With our teaching project we don’t want to teach English like most of the teachers. First we want the children to enjoy the class, show them it can be fun to learn English. That's why we want to make a combination between learning and creativity. How? That will depend on you and the responsible people. In this case you can share your ideas together with the English teachers to enhance the students’ language skill. Let's share our ideas and make a nice program together.

During the project period, international volunteers will have the opportunity to experience Thai culture, language and local lifestyle with the villagers and our Thai volunteers. The villagers of Kok Payom are Muslim so there is no pork or alcohol in the village. Women should dress modestly although you will discover when you live there that the villagers are very relaxed.

- to give non-formal English classes to the local schools and interested village adults.
- to help support activities of the Kok Payom local community.
- to take care of Klong Toh Lem Academy.
- to build friendship between volunteers and local people.
- to organize fun and enjoyable activities to the village children.
- to be part of the local community of Kok Payom village.

You will stay in the triple hut, bungalow-like, dormitory style with the other volunteers.

Kok Payom village, La Ngu, Satun province, Southern Thailand.

Hat Yai (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train).

- Participants are responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participants are responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participants should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendship with local people and other volunteers - let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
- Participants should have the basic skills/knowledge toward the project they apply for.
- Participants should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and officially registered paper.

The minimum period of staying is two months.
The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and for materials used in projects/activities. Also some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro), but if you stay over 3 months, from 4th month onward, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6 months stay volunteer, during months 1 to 3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and months 4 to 6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Alltogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

The minimum period of stay is a 2 months service.

Kuan Mai Bong is a Buddhist village located in Cha-uat district of Nakorn Sri Tammarat province, Southern Thailand. The population of the village consists of approx. 720 people (212 homes). Most villagers make a living on their property such as rubber plantation and fruit orchard. Some others are temporary workers earning wages from occasional hire. The village was named Kuan Mai Bong deriving from its abundance in timber (Kuan Mai Bong = hill of timber). Due to its fertile of natural resources of hardwood and minerals in the past, this province as well as the neighboring provinces, Trang and Pattalung, was announced a concession of forestry by the government in 1971 along with the mine industry. The concession had continuously taken away lots of valuable trees and minerals for years. In the meantime, the government challenged an uprising of anti-government communist groups at the time, it therefore launched a campaign of communist crackdown throughout the nation; the mountainous landscape of the three provinces was thought to be a hidden place of the communists. The forestry and mine concession covering the mountain range of the three provinces was permanently restrained and brought under surveillance by the concerned government. Years later the situation had gradually improved, the government allowed people to make a living on the once-spoiled land. It was possessed by newcomers from nearby villages and soon after, an agricultural community was founded. In 1982, the present-running government proclaimed this area to be restricted and turned it into a preserved forest covering 1100 square kilometers throughout the 3 provinces (Nakorn Sri Tammart, Trang and Pattalung) and launched a policy of pushing settlers to relocate. The villagers rejected but after a negotiation with the government, they were allowed to continue living under the dealt agreement.

In 2005, Kuan Mai Bong villagers began to be aware of their forestry resources. Losses in natural abundance in the past made them concerned on how man and nature can live in balance. Serious forestry preservation and rehabilitation took place. They gathered to explore their forest, paid more attention to natural resources management concerning protection of flash flood and soil problem. They came up with activities such as building a natural dike, making a wildfire-defending range and building a boundary mark between villagers’ land and preserved forest, for example.

Roy Wan Pan Pba project was started from nothing but motivation and solidarity in March 2011 by the initiatives of a local environmental activist Pi Ju along with endless support of Kuan Mai Bong villagers and the work of the pilot international volunteers from Finland, Denmark, Germany and Thailand. The main aim is to focus on participants (kids, volunteers, and local people) to be aware of the importance of staying self-sufficient in their environment and to respect it as a vital part of their life. Of course, it goes along with managing a good community life between all participants, especially with the local community who are the guarantee of the continuity of the project. This atmosphere is the basic key of this alternative school that everyone can feel and learn from when joining. Volunteers are working/learning in the week and spreading their experience/feelings with local kids who are coming on Saturdays. We believe the growing temptation of parents to send their kids to study in the city (for “better education”) and the dream of some young locals to leave their village for the consumption world can be refrained by organizing activities, learning and sharing with volunteers from outside. Volunteers are at the same time students and actors of the project.

In the last 3 years, Pi Ju supervised this project to create a kind of model of sustainable garden, and thanks to a great solidarity between local people and volunteers managed to build most the facilities needed to welcome people to live there and visitors as well. There is now a lot of food available from the garden and big trees already planted.

The alternative school is located in a mountainous village of Ban Tad Mountain Range. It is approx. 16 kilometers far from the main road reaching up to the mountain. It is surrounded by rubber plantations, fruit orchards and scattered settlement of villagers’ homes.

This project is to build and run this alternative school together. Volunteers also dedicate themselves for community work when there’s need. You can this way experience real solidarity in this strong community where money is not as important as some would like to make us believe.

There is still some construction work to be built on/repaired in the school area. As part of the team, volunteers share great support to the local project to help keep the school and its landscape in good order. They are given responsibility to take care of vegetable garden, mushroom shed, compost making, tree nursery and seeds collection. One of the school plans concerning the campaign of agricultural self-sufficiency is that people need no buying food from a market but to grow or to raise whatever edible and make it into meals for their families.

On Saturdays, the kids gather at the school to do activities with the volunteers. Volunteers decide together how the school days are spent. The opportunities are endless: teaching different subjects such as basic English, art, agriculture, games. The kids vary in age (it can be from 6 to 20). This is never a problem. They like to participate in activities together. If you know any activities worth arranging for the kids from your country or any teaching ideas, please bring supplies you may need with you.

In everyday life, apart from main tasks, you are also expected to help with the family’s daily tasks which are helping preparing meals for family members, doing washing up, watering plants in dry season, and keeping the house area, kitchen, coffee-tea table, bathrooms and restrooms tidy and clean. Moreover, you’re more than appreciated to also spend some time after work with villagers in Kuan Kilom village playing sports or keeping on close relationship with them when you’re not very tired from your main tasks.

- To support Roy Wan Pan Pba project.
- To learn from each other among volunteers themselves, and from volunteers to villagers vice versa through “learning by doing” concept.
- To build good relationship between volunteers and local people.
- To be a part of Kuan Mai Bong community.
- To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere.

Huts shared with other volunteers/home-stay

Cha-uat district, Nakorn Sri Tammarat province, Southern Thailand.

Hat Yai (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train)

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro), but if you stay over 3 months, from 4th month onward, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6-month stay volunteer, during month 1-3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and month 4-6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Altogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

- Participant is responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participant is responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participant should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendship with local people and other volunteers, let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
- Participant should have the basic skills/knowledge toward the project they apply for.
- Participant should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and other officially registered papers.

The minimum period of stay is a 3 months service.

Kataphusin is the project to build a small autonomous community in the vigorous and generous nature of South Thailand. The way of life has to be sober, simple and spontaneous; to respect the nature in any way. Kataphusin knows that a balanced relation with the nature is an indispensable condition to human well-being. The place, a 5 hectares fruit garden crossed by a small river is waiting for determined volunteers to harvest its fruits and plant the seeds of a harmonious future.

This garden has been started 15 years ago by a Thai-French family, and is now like an oasis of fruits diversity surrounded on a side by dangerous oil palm plantations and on the other side by a big national park and a beautiful waterfall. Jean-Luc, the initiator has always wanted to gather people with the common aim of living simply, according to the nature and create this small autonomous community. With DaLaa organization, we have been joining and sending volunteers to this project since 2009. We’ve been gardening, planting, building and doing activities with local kids at the project.

Most villagers make a living from rubber and palm oil trees. The relationships between people are rather difficult since money, properties and drugs have been taken over solidarity and respect of each others. We do our best to include local kids in our activities but it’s true that our volunteer project is not well understood by the villagers around.

Long term volunteers (over 3 months). Will to lead a way of life according to the nature, take a step back from the modern civilization and use this time for spiritual reflexion. French speakers would make it easier for discussions with the host.

Volunteers will help to take care of the agro-forest and the vegetable garden. This work will include planting seeds, nursing young plants, cutting the grass around young trees, gardening, collecting fruits, repair the tools

We can start again activities on the area with local kids on week-ends or evening (environment, gardening, art and craft, sport… depending on volunteers’ skills). It is the easiest way to get in contact with local people and to share our project aims. Let’s share and improve together our love for nature and others.

We would like to build some small huts to be able to welcome more people in the future.

An important part of the project is to manage smoothly our daily life in community. Getting our food, cleaning, cooking, times to get together, times needed for privacy, different opinions or life visions…, we’ll all have to adapt ourselves.

We can start/continue any other projects according to our aims (Ex: distributing seeds or young trees around)

It seems like 2 or 3 hours of physical work in the garden per day is a good rhythm. It may be more demanding when doing construction work. Don’t worry; you will have a lot of time for yourself. Saturday and Sunday would be the best time for activities with kids. A free day in the week for relax or do personal things would be important too.

We believe healthy food is directly linked to a healthy mind and we will give a strong importance to our alimentation. Fruits will be in a big part of it. One of the most important is banana, easy to grow and nourishing. There are many different species of fruits and vegetables on the land. There are also many coconuts, pineapples. Depending on the season, there are also avocados, durians, jackfruits, rambutans, wild mangos and many others but in fewer quantities. Some trees (all planted by seeds) are not fully grown. They are also missing people to take care of them.
We work also at the vegetable garden so we can get some safe good food from it. We still need to buy some more food from the markets. We will avoid a maximum industrial (packaged) food and no meat.
We will take turn cooking 1 meal a day in evening (rice or potatoes with vegetables, curries, salads, eggs, soups…) and just enjoy fruits any time. Jean-Luc can introduce you to raw food alimentation ( instinct) but you are of course not forced too.

Two small houses (huts) are available for volunteers in the garden (across the river). There is no electricity there. (but there is at the host house) Mosquito nets are provided

We use dry toilets (2 of them on the main house side), natural toilets are also fine since the land is big.
We can shower and wash clothes in the river (bring some natural soap), there is one private shower room at the main house.

The land is on both side of a small river (stream) coming 1km down of Wipawadi beautiful 9 floors waterfall. It is a mountainous area. It brings some freshness (for tropical Thailand) to this place, a lot of rain and many mosquitoes as well. Wong Pack Wenn is a small, Buddhist village of about 50 houses. At the entry, close to the village main intersection, there is the main house (with electricity), where the host family leaves then the land goes down to the river, this part has been planted since several years and trees are well grown. There are a few neighbors too. There is a small bamboo bridge to cross the stream without being wet. Then on the other side, there is an old house and the new gathering hut where volunteers will sleep on. There is no electricity on this side. This area has been planted recently with small fruit trees and need more care. It is going almost 200 meters long and higher to Khao Sok national park border. The place is surrounded by rubber tree plantations.

The climate is tropical, temperature is usually between 20 in the night and 30-35 during the day, high humidity with rain shower often, rather more rain and cooler at the end of the year, it can be kind of oppressing with all the trees around for people coming from “temperate“ countries.

We love the nature and all of it, snakes, scorpions and centipedes and other less dangerous bugs or mosquitoes are sharing the area with us. There are some precautions to take but no reasons to be afraid.

Most of villagers make a living from rubber and oil palm trees. Apart from work, some spend fare amount of time on lotteries and gambling. There are also some small shops and local restaurants in the village. However, tt’s only a few decades that some people are living there. It was the jungle 50 years ago.

Wooden hut by the waterfall stream.

Wipawadi, Surat Thani province, Southern Thailand.

Pun Pin train station

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro), but if you stay over 3 months, from 4th month onward, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6-month stay volunteer, during month 1-3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and month 4-6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Altogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

- Participant is responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participant is responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participant should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendship with local people and other volunteers, let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
- Participant should have the basic skills/knowledge toward the project they apply for.
- Participant should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and other officially registered papers.

The minimum period of stay is a 2 months service.

Kok Payom is the name of a small Muslim fishermen’s village where only 600 people living in. The village is located 7 kilometers away from its district called La Ngu and close to the seawater canal surrounded by mangrove forests. It’s no doubt that every single family regards the fishery industry as a main, permanent career. All the villagers are linked constantly with close relationship between community and related families, and they greatly welcome visitors, activists and volunteers to bring up voluntary projects to their village and join in any useful activity. Volunteers will be able to learn how the villagers lead their lives; it’s an experience you cannot find in the rushes of city life. Lead a life as easy-going as a countryman!

The village really wants to conserve their traditional way of living even if there are a lot of pressure and conditions coming from the city. The villagers want to be actors to preserve their lifestyle, the nature for the next Kok Payom generation. The community wants to be responsible.
So, it's now a real importance for this village to be a challenger of the future of their community and our Earth. They really want to make good choices for the coming children!!
The community has recognized their problems and is working hard to find solutions to the environmental and social issues. They want to be creative to avoid the strange way our world is going today!!

Since 2009, DaLaa volunteers have been working with the villagers and children. There have been a big improvement and continuation of useful activities and construction. Community members started to be aware of environmental problems and how to preserve the local beliefs and life style, as well as letting young generation learn about all those local values and wanting to remain this precious natural resources and life style. In 2011, there was an initiative of starting “Klong Toh Lem Academy”, an alternative school on the other side of the canal, in the middle of mangrove forest where children can learn about environment, local values, wisdoms, and language in a very natural method of learning. The informal class at this alternative school is conducted every Sunday. There are approximately 20 children, aged between 7-12 attending. So far, the main school building and other necessary structures have been constructed from collaboration of both villagers and international volunteers. However, there is still work that need to be done.

- Create non-formal classes at local schools.
- Create a place where local people and children can learn and become more aware of the importance of our environment (Alternative School - Klong Toh Lem Academy).
- Organize nature trips with children (awareness of the importance of nature).
- Plant young seedlings in the mangrove forests (occasionally).
- Organize fun and enjoyable activities to the village children at the village meeting place.

Their English knowledge is very basic or perhaps you might say that it is lower than that level. It is because of a lack of accurate pronunciation or proper accent. Most students basically know only easy words, short sentences and the letters in the alphabet. With our teaching project we don’t want to teach English like most of the teachers. First we want the children to enjoy the class, show them it can be fun to learn English. That's why we want to make a combination between learning and creativity. How? That will depend on you and the responsible people. In this case you can share your ideas together with the English teachers to enhance the students’ language skill. Let's share our ideas and make a nice program together.

During the project period, international volunteers will have the opportunity to experience Thai culture though it’s Muslim village, language and local lifestyle with the villagers.

Villagers of Kok Payom are Muslim so there is no pork or alcohol in the village. Women should dress modestly although you will discover when you live there that the villagers are very relaxed.

- to help support activities of the Kok Payom local community
- to take care of Klong Toh Lem Academy
- to build friendship between volunteers and local people
- to be part of the local community of Kok Payom village

You will stay in the triple hut, bungalow-like, dormitory style with other volunteers.

Kok Payom village, La Ngu, Satun province, Southern Thailand

Hat Yai (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train).

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro), but if you stay over 3 months, from 4th month onward, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6-month stay volunteer, during month 1-3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and month 4-6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Altogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

- Participant is responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participant is responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participant should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendship with local people and other volunteers, let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
- Participant should have the basic skills/knowledge toward the project they apply for.
- Participant should ask for a visa "Non-Immigrant type". DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and other officially registered papers.

The minimum period of stay is a 2 months service.

Baan Ta Yang is a Muslim village located a few kilometers away from the coastline of Andaman Sea in Satun province, Southern Thailand. It is geologically an island in which it is connected by the 2 bridges leading to La Ngu town, district of Satun province. Villagers’ occupation is mainly individual labor making a living on their rich natural resources that is river palm tree of which its particular leaf, “Bai Jaak” (Thai name), is well-known for making roofs, handicraft like baskets and tobacco roll. Its landscape and quality of soil in general are really suitably appropriate to this kind of tree, and the products processed are of good quality. The second main occupation of the villagers is fishery industries as the village is surrounded by river leading to the Andaman Sea.

Bang Leem is one of Baan Ta Yang villagers and he is an initiator of this project. He believes that the village and children’s homes should be a principal place to learn about life. However, nowadays, the community is facing difficulties to manage this role as some parents start to think that to acquire better education for their children is to send them away to schools in town including private ones that intuition fees are so costly.

To be noticed, this project this year 2014 has been firstly commenced as one of our new ‘DaLaa long-term project sites”. Pilot volunteers are strongly welcome but we would inform they should be told of occasional absence of responsible DaLaa project coordinator as he also has responsibilities in the office. However, you will have Bang Leem, he's always there.

Creative Education

The first idea of Bang Leem is to give opportunities to local kids to learn English. He sees it an important tool for their future. Percentage of local kids’ language abilities is very low. They only know very basic words, few conversations like “How are you? “I am fine” “Thank you and you?” even if their verbal pronunciation is not really right. It reflects hard situations why quality of kids’ education in rural areas is still undeveloped. Bang Leem is now taking this project very seriously and wish that international volunteers can help support him. Therefore, his place will be offered a place where kids can come in which activities will be organized for the

this would literally go along with this proverb “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. By embedding yourself as a long-term volunteer being part of the village life, to solve your curiosity about our Thai culture though its Muslim community, we hope by living in the community of Baan Ta Yang, you will get deeply into our traditions that we live, learn and work together!

Around his area, there’s a compact land that volunteers can grow their own vegetables. Non-chemical, self-sustainable agriculture is one of the aims the host and villagers are taking into consideration. And it also is our aim to spread this action “food autonomy”.

- Supporting ideas of the project host with benefits towards better education of the village kids.
- Locals become able to communicate in English.
- Preserving the local traditions and wisdom.
- Long-lasting learning exchange between villagers, their children and international volunteers.
- Acknowledging importance of sustainable agriculture.
- Understanding the importance of the village community life.

A big hut shared with other volunteers.

Baan Ta Yang village, La Ngu, Satun province, Southern Thailand.

Hat Yai (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train).

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro), but if you stay over 3 months, from 4th month onward, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6-month stay volunteer, during month 1-3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and month 4-6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Altogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

- Participant is responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participant is responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participant should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendship with local people and other volunteers, let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
- Participant should have the basic skills/knowledge toward the project they apply for.
- Participant should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and other officially registered papers.

Kok Payom is the name of a small Muslim fishermen’s village where only 600 people living in. The village is located 7 kilometers away from its district called La Ngu and close to the seawater canal surrounded by mangrove forests. It’s no doubt that every single family regards the fishery industry as a main, permanent career. All The villagers are linked constantly with close relationship between community and related families, and they greatly welcome visitors, activists and volunteers to bring up voluntary projects to their village and join in any useful project in their village activity. Volunteers will be able to learn how the villagers lead their lives, it’s an experience you cannot find in the rushes of city life. Lead a life as easy-going as a countryman!
The village really wants to conserve their traditional way of living and face the challenge of the modern societ. The community wants to be responsible and make good choice for the new generations.

They have recognized their problems and are working hard to find solutions to the environmental and social issues. They want to be creative to avoid the strange way our world is going today!!

Since 2009, DaLaa volunteers have been working with the villagers and children. There have been a big improvement and continuation of useful activities and construction. Community members started to be aware of environmental problems and how to preserve the local beliefs and life style, as well as letting young generation learn about all those local values and wanting to remain this precious natural resources and life style. In 2011, there was an initiative of starting “Klong Toh Lem Academy”, an alternative school on the other side of the canal, in the middle of mangrove forest where children can learn about environment, local values, wisdoms, and language in a very natural method of learning. The informal class at this alternative school is conducted every Sunday. There are approximately 20 children, aged between 7-12 attending. So far, the main school building and other necessary structures have been constructed from collaboration of both villagers and international volunteers. However, there is still work that need to be done.
Volunteers can possibly do the activities as follows...

- Create non-formal classes at local schools.
- Create a place where local people and children can learn and become more aware of the importance of our environment (Alternative School - Klong Toh Lem Academy).
- Organize nature trips with children (awareness of the importance of nature).
- Plant young seedlings in the mangrove forests (occasionally).
- Organize fun and enjoyable activities to the village children at the village meeting place.

Their English knowledge is very basic or perhaps you might say that it is lower than that level. It is because of a lack of accurate pronunciation or proper accent. Most students basically know only easy words, short sentences and the letters in the alphabet. With our teaching project we don’t want to teach English like most of the teachers. First we want the children to enjoy the class, show them it can be fun to learn English. That's why we want to make a combination between learning and creativity. How? That will depend on you and the responsible people. In this case you can share your ideas together with the English teachers to enhance the students’ language skill. Let's share our ideas and make a nice program together.

During the project period, international volunteers will have the opportunity to experience Thai culture though it’s Muslim village, language and local lifestyle with the villagers.

Villagers of Kok Payom are Muslim so there is no pork or alcohol in the village. Women should dress modestly although you will discover when you live there that the villagers are very relaxed.

- to help support activities of the Kok Payom local community.
- to take care of Klong Toh Lem Academy.
- to build friendship between volunteers and local people.
- to be part of the local community of Kok Payom village.

You will stay in the triple hut, bungalow-like, dormitory style with other volunteers.

Kok Payom village, La Ngu, Satun province, Southern Thailand.

Hat Yai (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train).

The minimum period is a 2 months service.

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro). If you stay over 3 months, from the 4th month onwards, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6-month stay volunteer, during months 1-3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and months 4-6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Altogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

- Participants are responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participants are responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
Participants should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendships with local people and other volunteers - let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
- Participants should have basic skills/knowledge towards the project they apply for.
- Participants should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and other officially registered papers.

Baan Ta Yang is a Muslim village located a few kilometers away from the coastline of Andaman Sea in Satun province, Southern Thailand. It is geologically an island in which it is connected by the 2 bridges leading to La Ngu town, district of Satun province. Villagers’ occupation is mainly individual labor making a living on their rich natural resources that is river palm tree of which its particular leaf, “Bai Jaak” (Thai name), is well-known for making roofs, handicraft like baskets and tobacco roll. Its landscape and quality of soil in general are really suitably appropriate to this kind of tree, and the products processed are of good quality. The second main occupation of the villagers is fishery industries as the village is surrounded by river leading to the Andaman Sea.

Bang Leem is one of Baan Ta Yang villagers and he is an initiator of this project. He believes that the village and children’s homes should be a principal place to learn about life. However, nowadays, the community is facing difficulties to manage this role as some parents start to think that to acquire better education for their children is to send them away to schools in town including private ones that intuition fees are so costly.

To be noticed, this project this year 2014 has been firstly commenced as one of our new ‘DaLaa long-term project sites”. Pilot volunteers are strongly welcome but we would inform they should be told of occasional absence of responsible DaLaa project coordinator as he also has responsibilities in the office. However, you will have Bang Leem, he's always there.

the first idea of Bang Leem is to give opportunities to local kids to learn English. He sees it an important tool for their future. Percentage of local kids’ language abilities is very low. They only know very basic words, few conversations like “How are you? “I am fine” “Thank you and you?” even if their verbal pronunciation is not really right. It reflects hard situations why quality of kids’ education in rural areas is still undeveloped. Bang Leem is now taking this project very seriously and wish that international volunteers can help support him. Therefore, his place will be offered a place where kids can come in which activities will be organized for the.

this would literally go along with this proverb “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. By embedding yourself as a long-term volunteer being part of the village life, to solve your curiosity about our Thai culture though its Muslim community, we hope by living in the community of Baan Ta Yang, you will get deeply into our traditions that we live, learn and work together!

Around his area, there’s a compact land that volunteers can grow their own vegetables. Non-chemical, self-sustainable agriculture is one of the aims the host and villagers are taking into consideration. And it also is our aim to spread this action “food autonomy”.

- Supporting ideas of the project host with benefits towards better education of the village kids.
- Locals become able to communicate in English.
- Preserving the local traditions and wisdom.
- Long-lasting learning exchange between villagers, their children and international volunteers.
- Acknowledging importance of sustainable agriculture.
- Understanding the importance of the village community life.

A big hut shared with other volunteers.

Baan Ta Yang village, La Ngu, Satun province, Southern Thailand.

Hat Yai (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train).

The minimum period is a 2 months service.

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro). If you stay over 3 months, from the 4th month onwards, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6-month stay volunteer, during months 1-3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and months 4-6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Altogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

- Participants are responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participants are responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participants should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendships with local people and other volunteers - let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
- Participants should have basic skills/knowledge towards the project they apply for.
- Participants should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and other officially registered papers.