The above said is not to say that a wealth of volunteering won't exist - quite the contrary. Our committee of all of the most important individuals throughout the region convene a Fernthai Volunteer Foundation meeting on a monthly basis. This is their opportunity to report back to us up to date facts about their communities current status, needs and new requests.
We have been able to categorize opportunities into four main sections; educational, environmental, developmental and agricultural. The following pages will go more into details for each category. Primarily our volunteers are involved with education but thats not to say you won't be involved in any of the other areas mentioned, as we say, we dont exist to dictate, we exist to adapt and aid.
The education aid we can offer speaks for itself - as English speaking volunteers we can pass that knowledge on. When it comes to environmental projects there is much we can do to help. The region suffers bad problems with struggling farmers clearing whatever land they can to eek out an extra income. Unfortunately the level of trees being cleared is a problem and we are keenly involved in replanting incentives. There is also a large problem with rubbish and the amount of waste plastics that are just thrown away. When it comes to developmental projects if there is a build of any sort going on, whether it be a simple toilet block or a full house build our committe will be on hand to find out and actively get our volunteers involved. Be prepared to get your hands dirty from time to time. The communities we stay with are rural farming communities. If the seasons dictate there will always be opportunities to lend a hand with the back breaking manual work these people endure on a regular basis, from the rice planting and harvest through to the rubber tree plantations and gardens your volunteering experience will give you a host of opportunities to make a difference. Keep an open mind and bags of enthusiasm and it will be an experience you'll never forget.