Teach English to Monks in Laos and Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand
Teach English to Monks in Laos and Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand
Support the education of Laos students including Buddhist novice monks and help reintroduce Thai elephants into their natural habitat.
Program Code: LALP0472M
Informazioni sul Programma
Remote-Working Friendly
Reliable WIFI
Part-Time Options
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Overview
Program details, highlights and videos.
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Dates & Prices
Choose your start dates and durations.
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What's It like?
Search for and chat to alumni who've been there and done it.
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Covid-19 Response
Read up on the response measures we have in place to keep you safe.
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Reviews
See what our alumni have to say.
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Training
All the training you'll complete on this program.
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Arrivals
Information on your airport arrival and pick up.
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Our Ethics
Read about GVI's Ten Ethical Commitments.
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Program Ethics
Our ethical practices and policies.
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Parent Info
Information for parents and guardians.
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Support & Safety
GVI's detailed health, safety and support protocols.
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What's Included?
What's included and excluded on this program.
Overview
Gain insight into both community development and wildlife conservation, while exploring two Southeast Asia countries. Contribute to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, UN SDG, #4 Quality Education, in Laos, and UN SDG, #15, Life on Land, in Thailand. Teach Buddhist novice monks and other students in the ancient capital of Laos, Luang Prabang, and assist with reintroducing Endangered Asian elephants into the forests in a Thai mountain village North of Chiang Mai.HIGHLIGHTS
- Teach Buddhist novice monks and other students in Luang Prabang.
- Learn about Theravada Buddhist practices.
- Immerse yourself in the many diverse cultures of Laos.
- Visit the Pak Ou caves, a sacred Buddhist site.
- Swim in the crystal clear cascading pools of the Kuang Si Waterfalls.
Program Details
Further Program Details
For the first two weeks of your program, you will be living and working in Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos, sharing accommodation with other volunteers from all over the world. Here you will work Monday to Friday, teaching both practical and conversational English to Buddhist novice monks and other students in Laos of varying ages and different levels of comfort using the English language. Many rural families often send young males in their family to become Buddhist monks in Luang Prabang. This gives them access to additional educational opportunities, as well as accommodation and food. Weekends are yours to explore the pristine landscape of Laos by completing a hiking trail up to local vista point or going on a Mekong river cruise to the sacred Pak Ou caves.
THAILAND
Afterward, you will travel to the mountain forests of Northern Thailand, where you will spend your final two weeks living and working in a small village populated mainly by persons self-identifying as part of the Karen ethnic and cultural group community. Each weekday is spent working with mahouts, elephant trainers, and their elephants, to support them in reintroducing these endangered animals into the surrounding landscape. Previously these animals performed tricks for tourists in major Thai cities. The purpose of this project is to provide the elephants with a better quality of life, the development of alternative sources of income for the mahouts and well as other community members such as the women in the community, and the support of educational programs in the village to allow children access to further academic and employment opportunities in the future. Learn about the history of elephant training in Thailand as well as their biology and social interactions while observing these animals in their natural environment in order to assist the local Karen community with conducting elephant health checks. You will be supported in your activities by staff vetted, trained, and managed by GVI.
*The details of project work may vary at any given time. During the school terms, participants may work with novice monks, or other children and young adults in the community. During the summer months, from approximately June to late August participants may also contribute to a range of summer programs for children and young adults. Laos also has many festivals and holidays. During these times the community might not be holding educational classes but participants will have the opportunity to get involved in local celebrations and other cultural activities.
*Please note that travel between Laos and Thailand is not included in the program fee. Speak to your Enrolment Manager for further options.
What's It like?
If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
Covid-19 Response
Health and Hygiene
For over 20 years, GVI has prioritised the health and safety of our staff, participants, partners and local community members. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, GVI has created the GVI health and hygiene team to put in place new standards of cleanliness, norms and behaviours that meet or exceed international recommendations to ensure the ongoing safety of GVI’s participants, staff and communities around the world. Internationally recommended practices, such as advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the governments Australia, UK and US, continue to be monitored and the standards are likely to change if and when international advice changes.
The work GVI is contributing to across the globe remains important and the following measures allow our participants to continue to join GVI’s programs and continue impacting positively on their world and the communities we work with. The following changes to our existing protocols have been made by the GVI health and hygiene team to strengthen our health and hygiene protocols and ensure that international standard safeguards are in place to protect our participants, staff and host communities.
Training
A GVI program is an investment in your career. No matter which you choose, you will be working toward improving your employability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise and earning qualifications in many cases. Most of our staff are, in fact, GVI Alumni, and we have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs. Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects around the world.
For All GVI Participants
Orientation: Your Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Learn about COVID-19 pre-departure guidelines, base expectations, personal and area hygiene practices and what we are doing to keep you safe.
Orientation: Travelling Responsibly and Ethically
Learn about the importance of child and vulnerable adult protection best practices and how to apply them while on project.
Orientation: UN Sustainable Development Goals
Introduction to the history and evolution of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and how these related to your project work.
Orientation: Further Opportunities for Impact
Learn about our country locations and further opportunities available to you during or after your program.
Your Program Specific Training
ELEPHANT BIOLOGY
Learn how elephants behave, the different types of elephants, elephant ecology, elephant relatives e.g. African and forest elephants, and how the different parts of the elephant anatomy work.
INTRO TO BIODIVERSITY
A short look into the biodiversity of this area, including snakes, birds, and insects that are regularly seen, as well as natural resource management and how we try to protect the local ecosystem.
BIRD AND MAMMAL SURVEYS
Identifying birds in the forests, learning how to do birding point counts and learning about mammals in the area.
Arrivals
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile. This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
COVID-19 Safety
Please note that the above images were taken pre COVID-19. All airport pick-ups and program operations now run with enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures in place. Learn more.
Our Ethics
Below is a list of core ethics and best practices we believe are essential to the operation of high quality, ethical volunteer and sustainable development programs. We believe that all responsible volunteer and sustainable development operations should focus upon these principles. If you are considering volunteering, these are some of the key considerations you should question, to ensure that your time and money contributes towards positive change.
We want to constantly develop our own understanding of ethical best practice. In so doing, we aim to provide an exemplary industry standard for other education institutions, international development organisations, and social enterprises. Our Badge of Ethics stands for the drive to always do good, better. Find out more, click on the Badge below.
Our 10 Ethical Commitments
Locally Driven, Collaborative Projects
We aim to design all our projects in collaboration with local organizations and communities and ensure that they are locally driven.
Clear Objectives & Sustainable Outcomes
We aim to clearly define short-, mid-, and long-term objectives with sustainable outcomes for all our projects.
Impact Reporting
We aim to track, record, and publish the impact of each of our projects.
Working Against Dependency
We aim to build in-country capacity by assisting local organizations in becoming self-sustaining.
Responsible Exit Strategies
For each local organization we work with, we aim to have a plan in place for withdrawing support responsibly.
Clear Roles & Specialized Training
We aim to ensure that every participant is assigned a clear role and that they are fully trained and supported to carry out their work by specialized staff.
Respect for all
In all our actions we aim to respect the skills and efforts of all and seek to protect the rights, culture and dignity of everyone who engages with GVI.
Local Ownership
We work to ensure that credit for the results of any project, along with any data collected, research conducted, or Intellectual Property developed, remains the property of local organizations.
Transitioning from the Orphanage Model
We do not condone and aim to withdraw support of orphanages and residential care centers.
Child and Vulnerable adult policies
We will live by our Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult policies.
Continual Development
As an organization, GVI is committed to striving toward best practice, and to educating both our potential participants, our partners, and the world at large about them. Both the volunteering and sustainable development sectors are increasingly, and rightly, under scrutiny. Many recent local and global articles highlight poor practices and questionable ethics. GVI is widely recognized for striving to apply global best practice in the volunteering, education and sustainable development sectors throughout our operations by reputable organizations such as ChildSafe.
However, global best practice is always evolving and we dedicate both time and resources to engage with internationally respected experts and learn from the latest research to ensure our programs both fulfil their potential to create maximum positive impact, and minimise their potential to create unintentional negative impact. Along with and as part of the sustainable development and volunteering community, we are constantly learning and applying this learning to practice. We do not always get everything right, but we seek feedback from our community members, partners, participants and our staff, and react accordingly. We know are already doing a great job, and feedback we have received confirms this, but we aim to do even better and are continuously refining our operations to improve upon our already excellent reputation.
Program Ethics
NO ENTERTAINMENT-BASED ACTIVITIES
We don’t support the use of wild animals for entertainment purposes. This includes riding animals, having them perform tricks, feeding or bathing them or getting close to them to take photos
NO ORPHANED ANIMAL SANCTUARIES
We don’t encourage, support or allow the rearing of “orphaned” wild baby animals kept at a “sanctuary”. The conservation value of these types of programs is negligent and would only ethically be used in extremely rare cases
GUIDELINES FOR TOUCHING OR MOVEMENT RESTRICTION
When wild animals are restricted for conservation purposes we follow the guidelines of Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA), approved by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
ANIMAL WELFARE GUIDELINES
We ensure that the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare are followed. These include the freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from distress, discomfort, hunger, thirst, fear, pain, injury or disease.
LOCAL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
We ensure that conservation efforts are also always locally led, that community needs are front-and centre of any conservation effort and that our participants, projects and partners work to increase local community engagement in local conservation efforts.
NO VETERINARY PROGRAMS
We don’t offer any veterinary programs or animal rescue and rehabilitation programs. We don’t allow participants to do any work they would not be able to do in their home country.
NO ORPHANAGE PROGRAMS
We don’t support or allow participants to work in institutional residential care facilities, also known as orphanages. We partner with ReThink Orphanages and Freedom United.
CHILD AND VULNERABLE ADULT PROTECTION POLICY
Our Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy requires all our staff and participants to complete a criminal background check and to learn why you shouldn’t reveal a child’s identifying factors in photographs. We support the ChildSafe Movement.
NO MEDICAL VOLUNTEERING
We don’t offer any programs where our participants engage in medical treatment. This is because our participants aren’t typically qualified to do this work and would therefore not be able to do this work in their home country. Our participants only assist with public health programs.
NO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
We don’t offer any programs where our participants work directly with people with disabilities. This is because our participants aren’t typically qualified to do this work and would therefore not be able to do this work in their home country.
Parent Info
‘If only every student could do this. It changes your life in all the right ways,’ says Chris Heritage, parent of Luke Heritage, one of our teen volunteers who has participated on two GVI programs, one in Costa Rica and another in South Africa.
We are a parent-run organisation that is incredibly serious about health and safety, and increasing the impact, as well as the long-term career benefits of our programs. Our programs help young people develop the skills to select a career path that is personally fulfilling, and live a life aligned to the well-being of our planet and the global community.
Ken and Linda Jeffrey, whose son Sam volunteered with GVI in Thailand, talk about how the experience affected Sam. He also went on to volunteer with GVI again in South Africa. ‘I know it sounds like a cliche but in a sense, he did go away as a boy and he came back as a young man. Both of us could recommend GVI without any hesitation to any other parent thinking about exploring an opportunity for their children to explore the world and to see different parts of it.’
Parent Info Pack
Download the Parent Pack and learn more about:
Our staff: All our projects are run by staff, selected, vetted, trained, and managed by our central office.
Health and safety: Our safety practices include a child and vulnerable adult protection policy and high participant ratios.
Staying in touch: See what’s happening on base, by following a hub’s dedicated Facebook page.
Free parent consultations: We would love to talk to you about exciting opportunities available for your child.
Support & Safety
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
COVID-19 Safety
Enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures are in place throughout each GVI program. Learn more.
Support
Once a participant books, they will be assigned a personal support coordinator who will oversee their pre-departure journey. The support coordinator helps to bridge the gap between program enrolment and arrival at one of our field bases. Your personal support coordinator will ensure that you are provided with all the necessary information required to apply for visas, background checks, and any other documentation.
Safety
Upon arrival at the airport, participants will be greeted by a GVI staff member. All GVI staff are our own and all our programs around the world are run by our staff. All GVI field staff are background checked, Emergency First Response and safety trained. The minimum staff to participant ratio on GVI’s programs is one to six, although on several bases we have a ratio of one to three. When finishing the experience, participants will provide feedback on all aspects of their program.
Health & Safety Case Studies
HOW GVI UPHOLDS HEALTH AND SAFETY
It takes courage to book a GVI program, get on a flight, and head off to somewhere new. Volunteering offers a level of cultural immersion that typical backpacking or holidays just can’t achieve. This is why thousands of people around the world participate in paid GVI programs.
GVI’S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND SECURITY
As the saying goes: ‘Expect the best, plan for the worst’. Cliched or not, we take it to heart. This tenet is at the core of how GVI operates when it comes to promoting the health and safety of our participants, staff, and local community members at all of our 20+ bases around the world.
HOW GVI REMAINS PREPARED FOR NATURAL DISASTERS
The weather isn’t just a topic for polite small-talk here at GVI. We have emergency action plans in place for all scenarios. So when the weather, or other natural forces, takes a nasty turn, we are prepared to respond to stormy situations.
HOW GVI MANAGES PARTICIPANTS EXPECTATIONS
Once GVI has matched a participant to a program that suits their passions and goals, our team aims to set the right expectations for them. In the event that false expectations around a program are created, the GVI team takes immediate action to ensure that the situation rectified.
What's Included
- 24-hour emergency phone
- 24-hour in-country support
- Access to Alumni Services and Discounts
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- Location orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Meals while on project (except on work placements for long term internships)
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- Welcome meeting
What's Not Included
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- Flights
- International and domestic airport taxes
- Medical and travel insurance
- Personal items and toiletries
- Police or background check
- Visa costs (where necessary)
Life On Base
Base Tour
Highlights
Participants live in a guesthouse and typically share a room with one other volunteer. Bathrooms are also shared and feature hot water showers and Western-style toilets.
Participants can easily walk to project from their accommodation.
Wifi is available at the accommodation and at our GVI offices.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at one of two local restaurants on base. Cuisine includes both traditional Laos dishes and Western meals. Eggs, pancakes, toast with butter and jam, and a range of southeast Asian fruits are common for breakfast, and or lunch and dinner, participants can choose from a range of dishes.
Like the many other Southeast Asian destinations surrounding it, Laos has a tropical climate. Temperatures reach their height from March to April at 35 °C or 95 °F on average. The coolest time is during November to February when the temperature can drop to 14 °C or 57 °F. The Laos rainy season starts in May and ends in October. During this time temperatures remain rather warm however, ranging from the high 20s or 30 degrees °C or high 60s to low 90s °F.
Bear in mind that Laos is a rather conservative country. You will need to dress modestly and behave in a way that shows respect to local novice monks and those who have taken their full monastic vows. Upon arrival in the country, GVI staff will teach you about all these practices so as to know how to act in an appropriate manner.
COVID-19 Safety
Enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures in place. Learn more.
Live Updates
Your Impact
All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or UN SDGs. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. Then, once on base you’ll learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
Laos, specifically Luang Prabang, is quickly becoming a popular Southeast Asian destination among international visitors. As a result the tourism industry is a growing rapidly which provides many locals with new career opportunities. However, English language skills are an important requirement for accessing these jobs.
Three quarters of the population live in rural areas and economic limitations, limited infrastructure, and deep-rooted cultural values, restrict access to education for many. Boys from rural villages travel to cities such as the capital of Luang Prabang to seek out a good education by joining the temples and becoming novice monks. While women are accepted into the temples they are not able to study there, so women are further restricted from accessing employment opportunities through entrenched gender roles.
Our program in Laos assists the socio-economic development of the country by supporting English language learning at temple schools and other local educational institutions in the city of Luang Prabang. We assist local teachers, novice monks, lay students, including both children and young adults, and run a program that focuses specifically on providing further educational support for young girls and women.
As such, the main UN Sustainable Development Goals of this project include, #4, Quality Education, #5, Gender Equality and #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Our Partners In Luang Prabang
Project Objectives
GVI Luang Prabang Long-term Objectives:
1. To develop relationships with educational institutions, temples, partners and individuals with the aim of increasing their ability to provide educational opportunities (local leadership and capacity building).
2. To improve the quality of education in Laos for students taught by GVI and the local teachers, and in so doing provide educational opportunities, regardless of socio-economic status, ethnicity and gender.
3. To improve the health and wellbeing of the Lao community, through health demonstrations and access to a medical support program.
4. To improve employment opportunities and socioeconomic status of community members.
5. To reduce the carbon footprint of the community, by encouraging them to reduce their use of unsustainable electricity, fuel and single-use plastics
6. To improve GVI’s systems of monitoring and evaluating overall progress, through more diverse forms of data collection
Publications
The best decisions in international development and conservation cannot be made without accurate and up-to-date data or informed research. Our many field teams around the world collaborate with local and international partners to analyse data and draw conclusions. In addition, many of our participants have used research they have collected on their various GVI projects to complete their Masters, Doctorate, or postdoctoral studies. We also run a fellowship program which connects postdoctoral researchers at globally-respected universities with our many sustainable development programs around the world to support their research and ensure continuous improvement of our best practices on base.
Annual Report
GVI Laos Luang Prabang Annual Report 2018
2018
Training
For All Participants at Luang Prabang
Cultural Orientation
Laos is a mostly Theravada Buddhist country, and before starting on the project you will learn how to dress and behave in way that is respectful to Buddhist practices. You might also have the opportunity walk around the local area and chant in a local temple.
Lao Language Demonstration and Lesson
Learn some key Laos phrases.
Introduction To TEFL
Learn best practices for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Experience an immersive TEFL-inspired lesson, where no English is spoken throughout the entire class. This gives participants the opportunity to walk a mile in their students’ shoes.
Teaching Training
This includes an introduction to the resource room, writing and grammar training, as well as lesson planning.
Additional Lao Lessons (optional additional training)
Buddhism Culture Talk (optional additional training)
Hmong Culture Talk (optional additional training)
Tsev Neeg Microenterprise Talk (optional additional training)
Your Program Specific Training
ELEPHANT BIOLOGY
Learn how elephants behave, the different types of elephants, elephant ecology, elephant relatives e.g. African and forest elephants, and how the different parts of the elephant anatomy work.
INTRO TO BIODIVERSITY
A short look into the biodiversity of this area, including snakes, birds, and insects that are regularly seen, as well as natural resource management and how we try to protect the local ecosystem.
BIRD AND MAMMAL SURVEYS
Identifying birds in the forests, learning how to do birding point counts and learning about mammals in the area.
Free time
Joining a program not only allows participants to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer.
Long term field staff are a great source of advice, and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. Many decide to travel before or after their experience (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships established on program. Please note that the below suggestions are not included in the program fee, and are for the individual to organise at their own expense.
Weekend Trips
Rice farm visit
Learn how rice is made and even participate in the production by visiting one of the many nearby rice farms.
Kayaking
There are plenty of opportunities to kayak down the Mekong or other smaller river.
Mountain Biking
Another way to explore the scenic landscapes of this Southeast Asian gem is on a mountain bike. Rent one in Luang Prabang and choose one of the many trails in the nearby countryside.
Nong Khiaw Hike
Trek up to the top of Nong Khiaw to Phadeng Peak to be rewarded with amazing vistas over the famously spectacular scenery of Laos.
Royal Palace Museum
Visit the sprawling Royal Palace complex to learn more about Laos history or relax in the colonial gardens.
Buddhist Temples
Visit some of the many beautiful Buddhist temples, or Wats, in Luang Prabang. Some of the most popular include Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Mai.
Pak Ou Caves
Take a Mekong river boat ride the sacred cave site filled with thousands of image of the Buddha.
Kuang Si or Tad Sae Waterfall
The magical cascading turquoise pools of the Kuang Si and Tad Sae falls are not far from Luang Prabang.
Weaving Village
Laos has been known for its silk production, unique dying and weaving patterns since ancient times. Visit the weaving village to learn about how this textile is made the traditional way.
Further Travels
Southeast Asian Mekong River Cruise
Book a luxurious Mekong river cruise from Laos through to nearby Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Vat Phou
Much like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Vat Phou is an ancient Khmer Hindu temple. Learn more about the ancient Khmer empire by exploring the vast complex.
Vang Vieng
Visit the Vang Vieng, a holiday resort town catering to international visitors to Loas. Tube and kayak on the Nam Song river and hike or climb the local hillsides.
Nam Ha Npa
Experience the biodiversity of Laos by visiting Nam Ha Npa. You could spot rare species like the the Asian elephant, tiger, and the clouded leopard.
Cultural Immersion
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches not only global awareness but adaptability and critical thinking, skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many activities you can get involved with in your free time, or before and after your program. On our community programs the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore diverse and eclectic topics like Theravada Buddhism in Laos or how plastic pollution and climate change affects Indian Ocean coral.
Festivals
April: Lao New Year is celebrated in mid-April and is a massive festival in which just about every citizen participates. It represents the lunar new year and during this time homes are cleaned and people visit temples to wash the figures of the Buddha.
May: The Buddha’s birthday is celebrated in May with much fanfare.
August, September, October, and November: The Boat Racing Festival starts in August and continues for six weeks until October. This corresponds to when Buddhist monks complete their three month retreat. The retreat ends with Boun Awk Phansa, a festival of lights and water dragon boats.
Spirituality and Religion
Laos has a mostly Theravada Buddhist population, however there is also a significant portion of the population who still practice their traditional animist customs.
Weaving and Pottery
Silk creation is a centuries old craft in Laos, although it has become less popular due to its time-consuming process. You can learn about how this beautiful textile is hand-produced in a nearby village. Ceramics are also an important part of Laos traditional art and culture. You also learn more about this Laos artform by visiting a village near Luang Prabang.
Cooking
Laos cuisine shares many elements with other Southeastern Asian neighbours. Staples include the famous sticky rice and fresh, spicy papaya salad. Its French heritage comes out in the many baguettes still sold by street vendors.
Languages
Other than Laos, there are also opportunities to learn some of the other languages native to the country like Hmong and Khmu.
Luang Prabang
Discover Laos’ ancient capital of Luang Prabang, a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has roots dating back more than 8 millennial but first became an official city under the Khmer monarchy. Later the city became a French colonialist outpost forever impacting the cuisine and architecture. Its many temples feature traditional Laos and French colonial elements combined.
Life On Base
Base Tour
Highlights
GVI Chiang Mai allows you to experience life like a local, as each volunteer has their own homestay with a local family allowing them to become immersed in the Karen culture and warmth of its people. Homestays are usually with their own rooms or single hut, and are located all around the village, usually a quick walk from the GVI base. This allows you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the fresh morning air and the sites of the village. There is cold running water available for showers, bottled water available for drinking, shared bathroom facilities and shared base duties, including cleaning and other chores (this is all part of the GVI experience)!
We provide transfers to and from the Chiang Mai Airport. If you are not arriving within the pick-up window you will find regulated taxi stands. You can travel around the local area easily by foot. On weekends, you can explore the town of Mae Chaem by car arranged at your own expense.
You will have limited access to long-distance communications whilst on the program, so make sure friends and family know how often they can expect to hear from you. WiFi is usually available at Root’s coffee shop in the village, but be aware that power cuts and storms can make this unreliable. Mobile phone reception is possible and quite reliable on site, and SIM cards can be purchased to use with your unlocked cell phone.
Breakfast is available at base before the morning hikes, and lunch and dinner are typically home cooked meals provided by your individual homestays. Food is simple but nutritious, and is primarily vegetarian with optional fish or meat available once or twice a week. During the first week, a staff member typically eats with each participant at their homestay, to help integrate them into the family.
From November to February, Chiang Mai enjoys its cooler months, when the temperature is mild and mostly dry. The weather is hot and humid between March to June, but as we are based in a mountain community, the temperature usually drops at night, giving you a pleasant reprieve from the heat of the day. Monsoon rains are heaviest from August to September, but if you bring some rain gear and a sunny outlook you might see the elephants enjoying a muddy wallow after the rains.
COVID-19 Safety
Enhanced cleaning and social-distancing measures in place. Learn more.
Live Updates
Your Impact
All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or UN SDGs. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. Then, once on base you’ll learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
Please note: Both conservation- and community-focused programs are offered at this location.
GVI Chiang Mai’s programs work in collaboration with the local Karen hill tribe and village of Huay Pakoot. Here we work with the elephant-keeping community to help monitor the introduction of elephants into their natural habitat from their previous lives in tourist camps.
Your contribution will help to keep these elephants in protected forests, continuing the conservation of these beautiful animals and what remains of their fragmented forest habitats, as well as providing funding to keep the project running whilst offering alternative livelihoods to the local community. The goal of this project is to have semi-wild herds of elephants living, socializing, and foraging in their natural habitat, supervised by their mahouts around their local village.
This allows us to offer support to the local community, assist in the conservation of these amazing animals, and to address many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as #15 – Life On Land, #4 – Quality Education, and #8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Project Objectives
GVI Chiang Mai Long-term Objectives:
1. Increase and promote ethical elephant tourism.
2. Create a viable self-sustaining eco-tourism program for the village. As well as supporting a stable herd of elephants living naturally in the forested area of the village.
3. Improve standards of living and job opportunities for people in the Huay Pakoot village
4. Improve sustainable natural resource management in the Huay Pakoot area
Publications
The best decisions in international development and conservation cannot be made without accurate and up-to-date data or informed research. Our many field teams around the world collaborate with local and international partners to analyse data and draw conclusions. In addition, many of our participants have used research they have collected on their various GVI projects to complete their Masters, Doctorate, or postdoctoral studies. We also run a fellowship program which connects postdoctoral researchers at globally-respected universities with our many sustainable development programs around the world to support their research and ensure continuous improvement of our best practices on base.
Scientific Publication
‘Avian Diversity as a Measure of the Impact of Megafauna Reintroduction into Evergreen Montane Forest.’
2015
International Ornithological Congress of Southeast Asia Conference in Thailand
Training
For All Participants at Chiang Mai
Community: Women’s Empowerment
Community: Human Empowerment
Conservation: Survey Techniques and Logistics
Conservation: Biodiversity & Target Species Identification
Pakinyaw Language Lessons
Learn the local language Pakinyaw during your time in Chiang Mai with five basic Pakinyaw lessons with our Community Liaisons, followed by more advanced Pakinyaw lessons in the following weeks, if you choose.
Data Training
Learn how to collect three different kinds of elephant data – behaviour, health check, and activity budget. You will be shown examples of the different types of behaviour and how to use data sheets to record the information.
TEFL Presentation
A one-hour presentation that gives you basic training on how to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), including how to teach vocabulary, and classroom management techniques.
Ethical Elephant Training
Learn about the methods used to train the elephants, how the elephant industry in Thailand works, and how we ensure the elephants in Chaing Mai are treated ethically whilst still being safe to work with and be around.
Biodiversity Training
You will have the opportunity to go on biodiversity hikes, which vary depending on the season. You may learn how to collect birding data, how to set up mammal traps and camera traps, how to identify snakes and reptiles, and more.
Cooking Classes
You will have the opportunity to take part in a traditional Thai cooking class where you will learn how to make some of the local delicacies.
Weaving Class
Learn the practical skill of how to weave baskets from bamboo with the Old Chief of the village.
Your Program Specific Training
ELEPHANT BIOLOGY
Learn how elephants behave, the different types of elephants, elephant ecology, elephant relatives e.g. African and forest elephants, and how the different parts of the elephant anatomy work.
INTRO TO BIODIVERSITY
A short look into the biodiversity of this area, including snakes, birds, and insects that are regularly seen, as well as natural resource management and how we try to protect the local ecosystem.
BIRD AND MAMMAL SURVEYS
Identifying birds in the forests, learning how to do birding point counts and learning about mammals in the area.
Free time
Joining a program not only allows participants to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer.
Long term field staff are a great source of advice, and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. Many decide to travel before or after their experience (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships established on program. Please note that the below suggestions are not included in the program fee, and are for the individual to organise at their own expense.
Local Adventures
Karen cuisine cooking lessons
Buddhist temple
Night in the forest
Football, volleyball and ultimate frisbee
Hiking trails
Coffee and Wi-Fi
Smoothies, noodles and fashion
Movie nights
Gym
Ping pong
Weekend Trips
Chiang Mai Visit
Arrange a trip into the Chiang Mai, here you will find plenty to do, from cooking classes, Muay Thai training, and shows, too night bazaars, temples (including Doi Suthep) and the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Thai massage. There is the opportunity to go into Chiang Mai every two weeks, with the staff and volunteers going in for the new volunteer intake. There is no public transport to the village, but staff can assist you in booking transport to various places, and sometimes we organize a group trip to nearby attractions.
Mae Chaem visit
It is a two hour drive to the town of Mae Chaem, and travelling around the village is easily done on foot. Here you can also visit the wihan of Wat Pa Daet.
Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon National Park is home to Thailand’s highest peak and is famous for it man waterfalls and stunning viewing spots.
Karen village surrounds
Huay Pakoot exploration
Further Travels
Neighbouring Laos
Discover the ancient country of Laos, where the fusion of French and Asian culture and charm make for a wonderful setting to experience a unique culture.
Railay Beach visit
Known for its pristine beach, lush jungle and dramatic rock formations, Railay is not something to miss.
Bangkok visit
The capital city of Thailand, known for its exotic atmosphere and ancient traditions. Pumping with colour, noise, and people, Bangkok is a place you need to see experience first hand if you are visiting Thailand.
Ayuthaya visit
Explore the golden kingdom of Ayuthaya, with its mysterious temple ruins, which were once gilded palaces.
Island hop
Visit Ko Tao and Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park, and soak up the sun on these stunning white sand beaches.
Cultural Immersion
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches not only global awareness but adaptability and critical thinking, skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many activities you can get involved with in your free time, or before and after your program. On our community programs the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore diverse and eclectic topics like Theravada Buddhism in Laos or how plastic pollution and climate change affects Indian Ocean coral.
Wildlife
The Asian Elephant is Thailand’s national symbol, but there are also many other notable species found in Thailand. These include the two species of bear, namely the Asiatic black bear and Malayan sun bear; gibbons and a dhole, also know as an Asiatic wild dog. You might consider doing a night hike while on base to look for snakes, frogs and other nocturnal animals. Otherwise try your hand at identifying unique birds and insects, and surveying the biodiversity in the forests around the village.Spirituality and Religion
The official religion of the Kingdom of Thailand is Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced by the majority of the population, who visit monastery temples found throughout the country.
