Voluntary work in Thailand

[margaretcarnes]

There is currently a separate topic running in which 2 members have talked about the volunteer situation in the LOS.
Arcadian has mentioned teaching work in NongKhai as an example.
I have also been in touch with an organisation in NongKhai, but had to make it clear that I am not at all interested in teaching - so was there anything else? They replied promptly and politely, saying sorry no - all other work is obviously done by Thai nationals.
One big sticking point to me seems to be that most websites about volunteering in the LOS seem to be offering gap year opportunities for younger people, who are expected to pay a fair amount for the privilege of teaching 'voluntarily'.
Fair enough for youngsters who want to gain experience, and who don't have financial commitments back home to cover while away. But surely there must be a need for (much) more mature people, with common sense, organisational and social skills, who are prepared to work in areas such as conservation, welfare, environment etc even if it means some hard labour? And in return for a reasonable level of board and keep.

I realise of course that a major sticking point is often the work permit barrier, but throwing this open for any experiences, pros, cons and contacts which others can share.

[dtaai-maai]

I have no experience in this field, but I do think it's interesting that it is so difficult to be a volunteer or charity worker in this country. The work permit is obviously a barrier, but equally obviously, only because the Thai authorities choose to make it so.

If I were thinking of doing something along these lines, I'd be looking at organisations like the British Council (as a Brit) and serious international volunteer programmes and charities who must need people with all sorts of different skills and qualifications, whether practical, linguistic or administrative.

There's a blog here http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/20 ... unteering/ that might be worth a look for those interested in volunteer work here and elsewhere. I'm sure there are many others.

This is an interesting topic for many people like my sister and her husband, recently retired and early 50s, who want to combine travel with making a practical contribution to people who need it. But I do think it's worth a lot of thought and research in advance.

[Takiap]

The way I see it, is that there is absolutely no reason why anyone should be required to have a work permit for voluntary/charity work. In my eyes, they don't want outside help, period. The same attitude was shown when the USA offered help in the form of helicopters with the flooding - thanks but no thanks - we can do our own work, we don't need outside help.


For this reason, I can't even be arsed trying given that you'll be met by resistance every step of the way.

[pharvey]

The way I see it, is that there is absolutely no reason why anyone should be required to have a work permit for voluntary/charity work. In my eyes, they don't want outside help, period. The same attitude was shown when the USA offered help in the form of helicopters with the flooding - thanks but no thanks - we can do our own work, we don't need outside help.


For this reason, I can't even be arsed trying given that you'll be met by resistance every step of the way.

It does seem ridiculous that the relevant authorities would obstruct or want to obstruct those who are willingly offering their time and effort to help others less fortunate.

I can only assume this is geared to concerns that us ''evil'' foreigners will take advantage of the system and stay beyond their welcome in Thailand. I guess however, there is a basis for their fears to some extent as I'm sure their are numerous foreigners who have indeed overstayed their welcome & disrespected the country and it's people.

[STEVE G]

Yes, it's unfortunate for those who want to genuinly help out but when you look at the level of abuse of other visas, I'm sure that if there was some kind of charitable work visa, the number of people abusing it would outnumber those actually doing charitable work.
However, if you do want to help out people, I would suggest getting well away from the sort of places where tourists and expats congregate as when you get out into the countryside, no one is really bothered about such things as there just isn't so much officialdom around.

[Takiap]

Yes, but nobody is saying they need to offer any kind of special visa. What I'm saying is, even those of us who are living here aren't allowed to get involved with voluntary work. If a visitor is here on a 60 tourist visa, why can they not do voluntary work? After all, it doesn't give them any special privileges at all.......sheer madness if you ask me.

[STEVE G]

If a visitor is here on a 60 tourist visa, why can they not do voluntary work?

Realistically speaking, as opposed to the strict definition of work under Thai law, you can. When I'm in the partners village I seem to be always getting roped into "voluntary" work. I've rewired houses, driven people to hospital, repaired plumping and moved endless agricultural products from one place to another. I've even provided ambulance and vehicle recovery services for road traffic accidents in the middle of the night!

[pharvey]

Yes, but nobody is saying they need to offer any kind of special visa. What I'm saying is, even those of us who are living here aren't allowed to get involved with voluntary work. If a visitor is here on a 60 tourist visa, why can they not do voluntary work? After all, it doesn't give them any special privileges at all.......sheer madness if you ask me.

But it's not a work permit - as far as I understand it, work is work, voluntary or not and a specific permit is required under Thai law. Obviously there are also numerous other rules and regulations forbidding certain types of work being undertaken by a foreign national....... and I agree, sheer madness.

[barrys]

So what's the situation in Pattaya, for example, with the farang tourist police volunteers?

[pharvey]

So what's the situation in Pattaya, for example, with the farang tourist police volunteers?

Very good question - but are they volunteers?

[traveller2]

Margaret,
early this year vodaphone was running charity/volunteer work for UK charitys, some of which sent you abroad, one I know of sent you to Thailand to work in an elephant camp.
I believe they are doing something similar now, but you would need to look into it. I havent read the updates on it, but it could be worth your while keeping 'tabs' on their website. Ive added the link below.

Wishing you all the best

t2

http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/aboutWOD.html

[Spitfire]

Perhaps another reason why voluntary work is so restricted and a difficult status to acquire is because they don't want the average people of Thailand to suddenly start getting a good opinion of foreigners through contact in such situations, and thus the all wonderful government image and culture would lose face through the inference that could be made that it is not perfect.

It's also the 'face' factor, ie can't admit to the fact that they need help and preserving face domestically or internationally is more important than lifting misery.

The image of a compassionate and benevolent foreigner helping out because they want to is probably not the image they want to convey to the impressionable as these qualities are often sadly lacking in many situations here normally.....might start people thinking and they couldn't have that now......could they?

The last thing they probably want is for the needy here to be influenced by selfless foreigners when usually what they get from the authorities/society here is indifference.

Hell, they don't even like the UN or Medicines Sans Frontier and see them as meddling foreigners. Neither organisation is allowed to provide anything now really.

Xenophobia rules in officialdom here and helps them keep a grip on power...all serves the 1%'s interests.

However, the visa factor highlighted earlier probably also plays a certain role in it too, as it would obviously be open to abuse.

[Takiap]

Well, at least I don't need to post another reply......SF, you summed it up perfectly.

[hhfarang]

These people are asking for volunteers currently to help with hundreds of dogs rescued from the floods that are now in a shelter somewhere in or near Cha-Am. They must have a way of getting around the work permit issue as it seems they have the authorities blessing and help to do this.

http://nolakelsey.wordpress.com/the-v-traveler-blog-2/

[GLCQuantum]

Yes, it's unfortunate for those who want to genuinly help out but when you look at the level of abuse of other visas, I'm sure that if there was some kind of charitable work visa, the number of people abusing it would outnumber those actually doing charitable work.
However, if you do want to help out people, I would suggest getting well away from the sort of places where tourists and expats congregate as when you get out into the countryside, no one is really bothered about such things as there just isn't so much officialdom around.

Outside of Bangkok you can do volunteer work with no hassle. The Thais accept help graciously and take care of you in any way they can, be it a place to stay or food to eat. I have never met so much genorousity.