Baan Ta Yang is 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.

The villagers of Baan Ta Yang are Muslim so there must be no pork nor alcohol products brought to the village.

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.

The first idea of Bang Leem is to give opportunities to local kids to learn English. He sees it is 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. In addition, sustainable agriculture is one of the local values that the project host hopes villagers of Baan Ta Yang will see the importance of it.

Our first work camp in this village was in February 2014 where a compact lodging hut for volunteers was built. Not long after that, the village hosted the first middle-term volunteers coming in mid-2014. After the first crew of volunteers, several other camps were organized following volunteers from different countries. This work camp will be another to support this long term project site that its main aim always remains the same, “Learning Home for Better Education”.

It will be summer holidays for kids in March every year. The main activity for volunteers will be to organize activities with kids at the Learning Home and in the neighboring village, in other community. You can decide together in your team for what subjects you want to teach or activities you want to do; English of course in a creative way, art, agriculture, sport, culture sharing, games, etc. Remember that you will have to deal with language barrier and you won’t always have a translator. So, the instruction needs to be very easy, use body language, pictures, examples… Other activities will include:Taking care of the project’s non-chemical vegetable garden
Learning local wisdom of handicraft-making products from the river palm leaf, Bai Jaak, from the elderly as well as learning a fisherman’s way of life.

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.

In a wooden hut of a project host’s compound

8,000 Baht (approx. 200-210 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.

http://www.dalaa-thailand.com/wordpress/?page_id=1124

Tamek (ตะเหมก) is a Buddhist village consisting an estimate of 500 homes. It is located in a small community of Lamor sub-district of Nayong in Trang province, Southern Thailand, around 11 kilometers away from the main road. It’s an old village founding itself for more than 200 years in which it is embedded in Bantad Mountain range (เทือกเขาบรรทัด), a mountain ridge known well for people living in the area. Main occupation of villagers is farmer (rubber plantation, vegetables and fruits).

Its mountainous and steep-like landscape lies beneath a canopy of tall trees where underneath are clear-water streams in which villagers’ houses can be seen a bit distantly from each other alongside the streams. Tamek demonstrates rich abundances in nature where villagers have worked hard for years to keep their forested watershed undisturbed. In addition, villagers themselves have also formed a team creating groups of community co-op, forested watershed conservation, etc.

However, since this village is located in a conserved forest as declared by the Thai government in which properties of villagers are part of it, villagers are not allowed to do anything to damage the forest, no cutting trees nor planting more rubber trees though the village itself was founded before the proclamation of conserved forest by government. Still these days, villagers of Tamek have continuously fought to officially acquire a land deed for the right to make a living on their generation-to-generation properties.

In the village, there is one primary school (grade 1 to 6) located 4 kilometers away. It has around 140 students and 9 teachers. The school is called Baan Klong Lam Pring (บ้านคลองลำปริง). Also, farther away but closest to the village, a Buddhist temple called Mong Kol Stan (วัดมงคลสถาน) around 12 kilometres away.

During this work camp, we will get a chance to join hands with the community members to preserve nature, while we can learn about their way of living. Moreover, we will be creating activities and games with children and young people to open their views and let them learn about international culture together with the volunteers. We will need your creativity and ideas of games and activities that will create a multi-cultural atmosphere for them.

As discussed with Tamek crew, here are possible activities to run the camp...

Managing water supply from the natural streams by local folk wisdom
Organizing activities with kids in the village and the local school
Helping plant typically edible flora
Adjusting surroundings of the community learning center

To support the community.
To be wisely aware of using natural resources.
To give ideas or knowledge from home to inspire youths in preserving their nature.
To learn to be part of the community.
To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere.
Kids at least can interact with volunteers in English.

Community centre.

8,000 Baht (approx. 200-210 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.

http://www.dalaa-thailand.com/wordpress/?page_id=747

Kok Payom is a small fishermen’s village with a population of about 600 located 7 kilometers away from the town of La Ngu in Satun Province, Southern Thailand. The village is next to a big river and because it is only 10km for the sea the water is salty and there is a tide. It is a very peaceful location surrounded by an area of mangrove forest. Almost all the families of the village are linked to the fishing industry, usually being involved in either fish or shrimp farming and there is a strong community with many of the families having lived in the village for over 100 years. While fishing remains a strong industry their traditional way of life has changed a lot and the village faces lots of challenges.

The community has recognized these problems and is working hard to find solutions to the environmental and social issues they face. They greatly welcome visitors, activists and volunteers who can contribute to these efforts. Becoming part of this close community is a special experience for our volunteers and you will learn a lot about village life away from the rush of the city. Lead a life as easy-going as a countryman!

The villagers of Kok Payom are Muslim so there must be no pork nor alcohol products brought to the village.

During the past 6 years that 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 lifestyle, 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 20-25 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 some work that needs to be done.

As discussed with the villagers and the project coordinators, possible main activities agreed will be...

Construction or renovation work of the project properties namely volunteers’ huts, kitchen, pier at the mangrove forest, buildings of alternative school, Klong Toh Lem Academy, etc.
Organizing activities with kids on Sundays at Klong Toh Lem Academy
Learning the local life of this fisherman’s village, Kok Payom.

Other activities, possibly if time allows, cultivating seedlings in the nursery, planting trees in the mangrove forest, visiting villagers’ homes, helping on village matters, etc.

To support and be part of Kok Payom local community.
To bring awareness among locals to preserve their community values and life style.
To build a good relationship between volunteers and local people.
To learn about local cultures and wisdom.

tent pitching at/around the village meeting hut.

8,000 Baht (approx. 200-210 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.

http://www.dalaa-thailand.com/wordpress/?page_id=1130

Tamek (ตะเหมก) is a Buddhist village consisting an estimate of 500 homes. It is located in a small community of Lamor sub-district of Nayong in Trang province, Southern Thailand, around 11 kilometers away from the main road. It’s an old village founding itself for more than 200 years in which it is embedded in Bantad Mountain range (เทือกเขาบรรทัด), a mountain ridge known well for people living in the area. Main occupation of villagers is farmer (rubber plantation, vegetables and fruits).

Its mountainous and steep-like landscape lies beneath a canopy of tall trees where underneath are clear-water streams in which villagers’ houses can be seen a bit distantly from each other alongside the streams. Tamek demonstrates rich abundances in nature where villagers have worked hard for years to keep their forested watershed undisturbed. In addition, villagers themselves have also formed a team creating groups of community co-op, forested watershed conservation, etc.

However, since this village is located in a conserved forest as declared by the Thai government in which properties of villagers are part of it, villagers are not allowed to do anything to damage the forest, no cutting trees nor planting more rubber trees though the village itself was founded before the proclamation of conserved forest by government. Still these days, villagers of Tamek have continuously fought to officially acquire a land deed for the right to make a living on their generation-to-generation properties.

In the village, there is one primary school (grade 1 to 6) located 4 kilometers away. It has around 140 students and 9 teachers. The school is called Baan Klong Lam Pring (บ้านคลองลำปริง). Also, farther away but closest to the village, a Buddhist temple called Mong Kol Stan (วัดมงคลสถาน) around 12 kilometers away.

During this work camp, we will get a chance to join hands with the community members to preserve nature, while we can learn about their way of living. Moreover, we will be creating activities and games with children and young people to open their views and let them learn about international culture together with the volunteers. We will need your creativity and ideas of games and activities that will create a multi-cultural atmosphere for them.

As discussed with Tamek crew, here are possible activities to run the camp...

Making a second natural dike in the streams (the first one was done by a Japanese volunteer group).
Organizing activities with kids in the village and the local school.
Creating a garden to grow typically edible plants.
Adjusting surroundings of the community learning centre.

To support the community.
To be wisely aware of using natural resources.
To give ideas or knowledge from home to inspire youths in preserving their nature.
To learn to be part of the community.
To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere.
Kids at least can interact with volunteers in English.

Community centre.

8,000 Baht (approx. 200-210 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.

http://www.dalaa-thailand.com/wordpress/?page_id=2298

Koh Yao comprises of 2 islands; Kao Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai, which covers 137.6 Sq.Km. The islands are situated in Andaman Sea, and the east is close to Krabi province. There are other smaller islands around in the same area. 99.9% of the population is Muslim. The rest is Buddhists and other regions. The ancestors of Koh Yao community migrated from Trang province to Koh Yao Yai since early 1785. Because of Thai-Burmese war, those who escaped from the war found these islands as a suitable place to seek refuge; therefore, they decided to settle down here.

Baan Klong Hia, the project community, there are about 150 families settling in this community. Most people make their living from rubber plantation, fishery-related work (making fishing tools, owning prawn/ lobster farm and fish farm), and doing other labor work or running small business. The community is situated on the island which is on the low land. At the southern part of the island, there is Klong Hia canal which is about 10 Km. long.

Since the island started to become a tourist attraction, the number of bungalows, resorts, and shops has increased causing changes in the community lifestyle. The villagers started to change their careers from fishing or agriculture to tourist industry-related work or running small business. The villagers started to lose their connection to the old lifestyle, by not having voluntary mind, not sharing so much with each other, as well as creating more environmental problems and pollution.

Baan Klong Hia School and schools in Koh Yao Education Development Network

Baan Klong Hia School is situated in Koh Yao Yai. The school offers classes from Kindergarten 2 – Primary 6. There is one administration officer. In Kindergarten level, there is one teacher and 7 students. In Primary level, there are 4 teachers and 57 students. In total, there are 64 students and 5 teachers. The school has got a good cooperation from all the parents; therefore, all the children on the island got an opportunity to study. The school has got a good financial support from parents, and the local Administration Department to improve the education every year.

In 2015, Mr. Wira Suebpong, the Director of Baan Klong Hia School and Mr. Anucha Ban-amad, the Director of Baan Pru Nai School, have set up a network of 13 schools on Koh Yao to seek an alternative way to develop education which will support students to learn happily and effectively, as well as maintain the voluntary mind for their own community. The two directors met Mr. Boonchan Saengfai who once coordinated with International Volunteers for Social Development Association (DaLaa) and discussed the possibility to organize a short-term work camp in August 2016. The activities will focus on creative teaching, as well as activities with community, in order to seek a possible future co-operation.

1) Organizing creative English teaching activities with kids at Baan Klong Hia School and Baan Pru Nai School (School in Koh Yao Education Development Network).
2) Learning village lifestyle and increasing participation of the villagers.
Host family and learning village lifestyle.
Learning community agriculture- growing vegetables at backyards.
Learning fisher folk lifestyle.
3) Voluntary service activities with the community.
Big Cleaning Day activity together with the villagers.

1. To support alternative education for students.
2. To bring awareness on voluntary mind and public participation among the community members.
3. To develop cultural exchange and multicultural learning among the community members.

A small group of volunteers: at teachers’ residence and for a big group of volunteers: with host families.

8,500 Baht (approx. 220-230 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.

Roy Wan Pan Pba project is located not far from a small Buddhist village called Kuan Mai Bong (hill of timber), situated in a remote area of Cha-uat district of Nakorn Sri Tammarat province, Southern Thailand. 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.
The project was started from nothing but motivation and solidarity in March 2011 by the initiatives of a local environmental activist Pi Ju ( Mr Surasak Yentua)along with support of Kuan Mai Bong villagers and DaLaa volunteers. Its objective is to focus on participants (kids, locals, volunteers and visitors) to be aware of importance of staying self-sufficient in their environment and to respect it as a vital part of their life. This atmosphere is the basic key of the site that everyone can feel and learn from. Local kids gather on Saturdays and volunteers organize activities with them. On a larger scale, P Ju strengthens the relationship with neighboring communities and develops a cooperation to preserve soil, forest and water in the area, from the strong community of Lang Hai Mee, at the top of the mountain to the community of Kuan Ki Lom close to Roy Wan and they are really involved in the project. Since May 2015, volunteers also help to organize activities with Lang hai Mee School 2 days a week. They started there a local tree species nursery and try to diversify the agriculture like sweet potatoes for food security and economic sufficiency.
Since 2011, thanks to great help from the locals and volunteers, they managed to build most facilities to welcome people to live and visit. There is now adequate availability of food from the vegetables garden, fish and frog farming, and fruit trees which are already planted.

Food Autonomy is indeed vital to man and Alternative Education is important as well as to give kids the possibility to learn some basic skills of life that are often neglected at regular schools. The environment preservation is possible only if the members of the community have enough understanding of the situation and enough solidarity to join this action together.
The project site 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 plantation, fruit orchards and scattered settlement of villagers’ homes.

For your entire stay, you’ll live with Pi Ju’s family. They are a father (Pi Ju), a mother named Pi Nong and their son named Roy Wan. You know now where the project’s name is derived from :)

As a short term volunteer in this long term project, you are expected to join activities going on together with the host (Pi Ju’s family), villagers and long term volunteers.
You will have the opportunity to learn way of agricultural self-sufficiency by taking part in the everyday routine (working in the vegetables gardens), making compost from natural materials, cultivating seeds in a nursery and planting the ready-to-grown ones out around school area.

Saturday activities with kids at the project site. Kids from the village and nearby will gather at the project site to do activities with the volunteers. About 20-50 children come every week-end to spend time at the school. The 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; the youngest ones are approximately 7, and the oldest about 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.

Activities with kids at Lang Hai Mee school, grade 1 to grade 3 (between 8 and 10 students per class) a small school in an isolated area, about 10 km from the project site. The teachers, part of the royal police, were volunteers to come to teach in this remote area. They are very nice and helpful. One of them can speak quite good English. They will let you organize activities for few periods in each class. You can decide together about the subject you want to teach, English of course in a creative way, art, Math, sport, culture sharing, games, etc. Remember that you will have to deal with language barrier and you won't have a translator (teachers can join sometimes). So, the instruction needs to be very easy, use body language, pictures, examples... The host, P Ju have very tight relationships with the local community of Lang Hai Mee as they were fighting for human rights together. The village is situated in an area that has been announced as national park 25 years ago. Nowadays, they have still difficulty to make the government admit that they were living here before and need plantations to make a living. P Ju and neighboring communities started some common environmental project and forest preservation to show that they can take care of nature by themselves such as agreement of no use of chemical, planting trees on the river bank, planting more food crops, etc.

To support Roy Wan Pan Pba project.
To build a good relationship between volunteers and local people.
To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere.

At the alternative school building, dormitary style, wooden floor.

8,000 Baht (approx. 200-210 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.

Bulon Leh Island is situated far off the coastline in the Andaman Sea under the authority of Mu Koh Phetra National Park, which is approximately 22 kilometers away or 1.5 hours by boat from the main pier, Pakbara. It is located in the district of La Ngu, Satun province, Southern Thailand. The majority of villagers make a living on fisheries and tourism business that are 95% Muslim (approx. 100 residents). Geologically, this island is surrounded by several other small islands beginning with this initiation “Bulon” or known as Bulon Archipelagoes. Nowadays, this island has become very much frequently visited by tourists. It has most public utilities and there available resorts, restaurants, and bars but no ATM machines. Tourists know its fame for beautiful white sand beaches, peaceful environment, and some people name it “undisturbed hideaway” compare to other busy islands of Thailand. Still, there’s concern that this Bulon Leh Island in the near future would be turned into another crowded island where its nature will be gradually spoiled.

The project school called Baan Koh Bulon. It’s a small school situated facing towards the frontline of the island, and in the heart of the island there’s a cluster of a small fisherman community. It hardly gives that there will be the very same number of teachers and students every year as the school is far in distance from the mainland. But, this year there could be estimated 4-5 teachers and 35-40 students, ages of children ranged from 5 to 15 years old (from Kindergarten to Grade 9).

For more information, facing outward to the sea, there is another Bulon island standing green from your eye’s view, it’s Bulon Don Island. This island is not a touristic spot, no resorts, just the native fishermen living. Bulon Leh and Bulon Don are very close to each other. To commute to and from each island, a long-tail boat is needed, about 30 minutes.

On these both islands, there are 2 schools are known under the same name, Baan Koh Bulon. They are supervised by the same school director. The first one located in Bulon Leh Island and the other one in Bulon Don. Both providing a curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 9.

Please note that your most involvement will be with the school on Bulon Leh Island. However, a possibility to organize activities with kids on Bulon Don Island can be discussed during the camp.

DaLaa and the school have together collaborated with the “Activities with Kids” program since November 2013. Ritually, every year in November, a camp there will be organized, same as this year.

Give non-formal English classes by organizing creative activities.
Create teaching materials for teachers and kids.
Adapt the classrooms by decorating/painting.
Improve the school area (creating new gardens, for example).

clean up the island, host family, or fishing trip with fishermen.

To support Baan Koh Bulon School.
To be part of the community of Koh Bulon Leh Island.
To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere.

School building.

8,500 Baht (approx. 220-230 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.

Sukorn Island (Koh Sukorn) is a small island situated in Palian district, Trang province. The island covers an area of 8,750 Rai. Like every year, we will be conducting activities with communities of Baan Laem and Baan Toong. In these 2 villages, there is population of 1,189 or 337 families, of which 95% are Muslims. The common occupations of the villagers are fishing, rubber tapping, as well as agriculture; growing paddy, watermelons, traditional way of growing vegetables, and keeping livestock. In general the villagers are very generous and still remain the culture of supporting and sharing with each other. Furthermore, they also believe that paddy and agriculture is the main food stability of the village.

Already some years, a group of local researchers has been working with the 2 communities mentioned above. In one community, the village members are still remaining their traditional way of living, while in another, people started to drop their old values and turning to development from the cities. Less and less people are working on paddy fields, or growing their own food supply as it is easier to buy. Therefore, these researchers aim to bring awareness to the locals to keep their old lifestyle and revive the tradition of growing paddy, other traditional agriculture, as well as developing local rice species and doing farmer’s co-operative.

DaLaa has been involved with the villagers of these two communities since the first work camp took place in December 2013. For more information, Koh Sukorn is also one of our long-term project sites that it has offered an opportunity to long-staying international volunteers to live with a local host family through their service.

During this work camp, we will have a chance to join hands with the community members to preserve the local agriculture, while we can learn about their way of living. Moreover, we will be creating activities and games with children and young people to open their views and let them learn about international culture together with the volunteers. We will need your creativity and ideas of games and activities that will create a multi-cultural atmosphere for them.

Working in the rice fields.
Growing vegetables together with village members and students.
Making compost, taking care of paddy field or making bio-fertilizer.
Creating games and activities for children. In this work camp, we may be working with about 20-30 children at aged between 10-14 years old.
Learning and integrating in the fisherman’s lifestyle.
1 or 2 night(s) staying with a local host family.

To support the initiatives of local agricultural activities.
To fully and wisely utilize local resources.
To be part of the communities.
To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere.

School building.

8,500 Baht (approx. 220-230 Euro, depending on currency exchange rates). To be paid upon arrival.