Volunteer in Thailand with Friends for Asia

Orphanage Volunteer – Bangkok

Applicants who sign up for volunteer projects through Friends for Asia are understandably eager to join a project through which they can really make a difference. That’s why we’re so enthusiastic about the orphanage project in Bangkok. By working with a small group of children who have been given up for adoption by their parents, volunteers are able to maximize their impact while in the country. After all, every moment with these young children counts and helps lay the foundation for a better adjustment to life after they have been adopted by western families.

Background of Orphanage Volunteer Project

Working with children is one of the most rewarding ways to volunteer in Thailand. It’s obvious from your first day on assignment that these kids are delighted that foreigners take a genuine interest in their lives. You’re also likely to find that you pick up more Thai language than your peers involved in other projects.

Volunteers at the Bangkok orphanage project work Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., leaving plenty of time to explore the city and interact with others in the evenings and weekends. Flexibility and a strong dose of compassion are nonnegotiable on this assignment, as some of these children are disabled and virtually all suffer from a sense of abandonment and poor self-image.

Volunteer Tasks at the Bangkok Orphanage

The Bangkok orphanage project site is operated by a well-established foundation that got its start in the 1970s. It’s independently managed by a Thai executive committee and operates on a non-profit basis and without any sectarian affiliations. Less than ten children are cared for on-site, which means that full-time employees and our volunteers are able to invest more in the care of children and nurturing of relationships.

As a volunteer, your daily tasks will vary depending on the orphanage’s needs on any given day. The following are some of the responsibilities you may attend to:

  • Helping the full-time staff prepare meals and provide primary care
  • Lending a hand with cleaning and housekeeping
  • Planning activities for the children
  • Simply spending time with the children (playing games, reading stories, etc.)

As the orphanage is relatively small, it’s easier for the staff to find tasks for volunteers to tend to. While there are only a few children on site, it’s practically inevitable that there will be more to accomplish in a given day than the full-time employees can tend to. To that end, FFA volunteers are able to make a more meaningful contribution.

Making a Difference by Volunteering in Bangkok

All of the non-disabled children at the Bangkok orphanage will ultimately go on to be adopted by families in the West. This makes it particularly important that the children spend time with Westerners before they go on to their new homes. If you volunteer at the orphanage, you’ll be providing these children with exposure to foreign languages and customs — essential considerations for young people who are ultimately going to make the transition into a new culture.

Volunteer Project Fees for the Bangkok Orphanage Volunteer Project

Participation in the Bangkok Orphanage Volunteer Project starts at a minimum of two weeks at $999. Each additional week is $230. Read more about why we require fees for volunteers and interns.

Volunteer Project Fee Includes

  • Comprehensive Pre-Departure Information
  • Visa paperwork (for projects over 8 weeks)
  • Airport pick up
  • Accommodation during orientation and entire project time
  • Breakfast every morning
  • Lunch every work day
  • 2 day Orientation
  • Onsite Coordinator
  • 24 hour emergency assistance
  • Written record of service completion (for volunteers that successfully complete their project).

Volunteer Project Fees Do Not Include

  • Travel to/from Home and Bangkok (airfare, train tickets, etc.)
  • Thailand visa costs (if applicable)
  • International Medical Insurance
  • Cost of criminal police background check (required for this project)
  • Cost of transportation to and from Project site and and accommodation (roughly $5 per day)
  • Lunches on weekends
  • Dinner

Bangkok Orphanage Volunteer Start Dates

*Our Bangkok based programs have not yet re-opened. We hope to have them open and available again for placement within next year.

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