Only 360€ per week!
Temple School Effort
Singburi - Thailand
Contribute your sweat equity and enthusiasm in construction and renovation efforts to improve the standards of temple schools in Thailand.
Our program provides an opportunity for you to work creatively in renovation and construction efforts to upgrade the living standards for all the children at the temple schools. The children here are not necessarily homeless, many come from Hill Tribes or are from poor families who cannot afford to care for them.
Program
Living
Singburi
Thailand
Program Description
The two temple schools where we are working in these local communities, provide housing, food and education to children who may be without any family members to care for them, as well as those whose families cannot afford to take care of them. Moreover, these locations provide a home environment for children who come from Hill Tribes, but were registered as in need of supervision, in order for them to be considered Thai citizens, and receive applicable services.
Most large temples schools in Thailand have integrated their own primary (and secondary) school onto their grounds and ours are no exception. The classrooms may seem old and a bit dirty, but the students are lovely and are happy to see our participants come each day.
The temple school offers a safe learning environment for children who may come from underdeveloped backgrounds and have limited opportunities. Therefore, the temple school concentrates on the well-being of these children and offers them assistance in developing into happy and productive young adults. Other children attending the schools may come from remote areas of Thailand, where education is virtually non-existent or inaccessible. These children are at the temple school predominantly here for educational purposes, and will return home during certain periods of the year to be with family and friends.
This program’s focus consists of construction and renovation work that improves the facade and structures of the school and elevates the living standards for all the children who attend. Additionally, you might also get the chance to teach English on a non-formal basis, to help the children in their vegetable garden (for their studies and own consumption) or to create activities and arrange workshops for hygiene, cultural exchange, environmental and other important issues or anything else that might come to mind. Our main aim, however, is always to construct and renovate the temple school grounds. So, do expect to work long hours under the sun and to get your hands dirty, with the understanding that you are helping to bring smiles to the children along the way!
Aims & Objectives
- Maximize efforts that improve the structures and facilities at the temple school
- Provide supplemental assistance with cultural exchange and English teaching
- Gain experience in renovation and construction
Schedule
Monday to Friday
After breakfast, you will be off to the temple school. You will then be organized into groups and be briefed on your tasks by our coordinator and the school’s staff. Expect to do heavy work at the temple school for 4-5 hours per day with a lunch break in between. Lunch is always at a nearby roadside restaurant and stops at the local town can be made on the way back to the accommodation whenever deemed necessary.
Note: During the school holidays (Mid March till May), most children will not be at the temple school but construction efforts will continue.
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: –
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Basic
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: No
Resume copy required: No
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
There are no further requirements.
Additional Equipment
Casual, construction-work type of attire is appropriate during your time at the temple school. However, no extremely short- shorts, see-through or low cut tops, or swimwear-like clothing are permitted.
Location
You will be located in the outskirts of Singburi, an interesting town 142 km north of Bangkok. Singburi was founded under the reign of King Rama V through the consolidation of 3 small towns located on the bank of The Chao Phraya River. The three small towns, Sing Buri, In Buri and Phrom Buri, were then established as a single town on the west of the Chao Phraya River in 1895.
Your new home is set close to the village of Tha Kham, an extremely rural area that will give you the chance to experience the Thailand that very few get to see.
About the Accommodation
Your new home will be one of our 3 ‘Eco Houses’ near Singburi, central Thailand: Lemon House, Twin House and Brown House. They are all located riverside (River Noi – Little River) in the village of Tha Kham and depending on which house you are staying at, is about 8-15 km from Singburi (10-15 minutes by car). The 3 houses sleep from 30 to 72 people.
All houses have a communal area where you can eat, relax, meet fellow participants or use the free Wifi.
Although not directly on site, there are laundry facilities offered by locals which many of our participants take advantage of (this will probably cost you 5฿ per item, otherwise you can easily wash your clothes by hand.)
For participants desiring more comfort and/or privacy, families, couples, and more mature participants, we recommend upgrading to a comfort room. These rooms have more amenities and may be in a different location than the standard rooms, which means that it may be noticeably quieter.
Note: Important: A security cash deposit of 500THB is required for the key to your room. It is payable upon arrival in cash and will be returned when the key is given back at the end of your stay.
Note: No alcohol is permitted in any of our accommodations, but we are located within walking distance of a local shop and there is even a makeshift bar provided by the friendly locals in front of the accommodation.
Food Arrangements
Food will be provided with simple homestyle meals prepared by locals, which are typical to the region, based on whatever fresh fruits and vegetables are in season at the time. You can expect lots of rice and noodles, vegetables, and occasionally some meat will be provided as well.
While we do our best to accommodate you, what we provide for most meals is local cuisine. If you are a picky eater, have dietary restrictions, or if you think that you will not be satisfied with the local dishes provided, you might want to consider supplementing our menu with your own western type foods and snacks that are more to your liking. Weekly trips to the supermarket in Singburi are provided from our accommodation and you can use our bikes to ride to a few convenience stores on other days.
Please keep in mind that refrigerator space is limited and to prevent insect infestation open food items are not allowed in the rooms.
Facilities
There are ATMs and shops in the local village which, depending on the accommodation you will be staying at, is located between 5 minutes by bicycle to 20 minutes by foot.
There are restaurants and small local stores within walking distance of each of the accommodations.
Equally, Singburi has plenty to offer and there will be trips throughout the week into this city where you can find shopping malls, markets, restaurants and even a swimming pool!
Activities & Events
Tuesday Evening
Visit the night market in Tha Kham. Taste all types of Thai food, stock up on inexpensive clothing or just soak in the atmosphere of this small town!
Wednesday Afternoon
This is free time for most participants and we offer a trip into Singburi. You can choose to use the swimming pool, go for a Thai massage or take advantage of a trip to a shopping centre.
Wednesday Evening
You will have the option to attend a self-service BBQ for dinner (Thai style, of course!). This is a fantastic opportunity to socialise with all the other participants, eat great food and enjoy some music.
Thursday Evening
There is a trip to a shopping mall, where you can buy any essentials, snacks, western food (pizza shops, KFC, ice cream parlour, coffee shops etc)
Sights & Surroundings
Locally, Singburi itself has plenty to offer in terms of sites and attractions, ranging from its many Buddhist temples. There is also a swimming pool, two shopping centres and many markets.
You can also choose to travel to Bangkok during weekends. It takes 2.5 – 3 hours either by minivan or bus from Singburi . We provide detailed information about this each week.
Transportation
From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):
- Akha Village Chiang Rai
- All around Thailand
- Around Thailand
- Hua Hin
- Kaeng Krachan
- Kanchanaburi
- Mae Sot
- Suphan Buri
- Train Track Northern Thailand
- Trunk to the South
- Umphang
- Udon Thani
- Wang Nam Khiao
Quick Facts
Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Population: 67 million
Capital: Bangkok
Language: Thai
Currency: Baht (THB)
Time zone: ICT (UTC +7)
Country Information
From trekking in the beautiful mountains of the north to enjoying the glorious beaches in the south and experiencing the hustle and bustle of the metropolis that is Bangkok, Thailand is certainly not a country that lacks variety.
Whilst it really is at the heart of Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, its cultural identity remains very unique. As the only country in Southeast Asia to avoid European powers, the Thai are proud to refer to themselves as ‘The Land of the Free’ and many tourists might also know it as ‘The Land of Smiles’ due to its friendly people.
Climate
The majority of the country is home to a tropical savanna climate which consists of wet and dry seasons of a roughly equal length. The climate can be divided into three distinct seasons:
- Dry season: November – end of February. During this period, precipitation is at its lowest but so are the temperatures. This said, ‘low temperatures’ are of course relative and the difference is not in fact very different at all in the South. It is only if you will be visiting the northern mountains that you might need to bring some warmer clothes as temperatures can fall as low as 5°C. This period is, not surprisingly, the most popular time to visit Thailand and tourism peaks around Christmas and New Year as well as Chinese New year. Flights and accommodation at this time can be more expensive.
- Hot: March to June. During this time Thailand reaches its hottest temperatures (as high as 50°C).
- Rainy: July – October. This is when the tropical monsoons begin to arrive, peaking in September. Although this is indeed rainy season, it doesn’t mean that it rains non-stop. Storms can clear up very quickly, but when it does rain, heavy flooding is not rare.
Culture
A significant feature of Thai culture is its primary religion: Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is supported by the government and practiced by an estimated 95% of its population. Thailand not only boasts tens of thousands of beautiful temples, but you will notice that a lot of Thai people have miniature Spirit Houses on their front yards because they believe that the household spirits live in them and they make offerings to them to keep the spirits happy.
Another feature of Thai culture is the wai greeting, which is essentially a slight bow with palms pressed together in a prayer-like manner to show respect. This can be compared to the Indian namasté. Things to know about this:
- The higher the hands in relation to the face and the deeper the bow, the more respect is shown.
- It is made before formally entering/leaving a house
- It can also be made as a sign of gratitude or apology
- You do not make the greeting to those who are younger than you unless you are returning the wai.
- The gesture is normally accompanied with the phrase “sawadee (krap/ka)” (“krap” if you are male and “ka” if you are female)
- A corporate wai (made by cashiers etc) can be returned with a smile or a nod
The major festival in Thailand is Thai New Year, known as Songkran. It is celebrated on the 13th-14th April of every year. It is a festival that concludes the dry season and involves a lot of water throwing!
Gastronomy
Thai cuisine is very nutritious and alongside its plentiful use of rice, it generally contains fresh vegetables and white meats like chicken and fish. Thai people love spicy food but do not fear if you do not, just say ‘mai pet’ when you order. However, the flavors are not only about the spice, as many people believe. Thai food can be slightly salty, sour and/or sweet, so there really is something to suit everyone’s palate.
Transportation
Transport in Thailand is very varied and there isn’t one ‘main way’ to travel. Buses dominate long distance journeys. Travel in thailand is cheap and even domestic flights are a worthwhile consideration for long distance journeys, especially with the expansion of low-cost airlines.
Taxis, tuk-tuks and vans are also common modes of transport, but tourists must be wary about being overcharged. If in doubt, always ask that the taximeter be switched on to avoid overcharging.
