Your volunteering experience with Fernthai Volunteer Foundation will see you immersed in Isaan culture in a way not possible with your average package holiday.
By living side by side in Isaan villages you will gain a first hand insight into the ways and livestyles of these people. One of the first things you'll notice is that many traditional crafts and skills are clearly still visible today. Due to some of the conditions these people still live in you'll be fascinated by their resourcefulness, their ability to still turn natures natural products into great, useful, everyday objects. Traditional looms can still be seen in use weaving the traditional Isaan garments still worn today. Local woods are still used, especially bamboo, to create a myriad of ingenious objects from baskets for rice and fish through to traditional furniture all created by hand with simple tools.

Another cultural tradition you'll find it impossible to miss is the Isaan peoples love and pride in their ancestoral music - or "Maw Lam" as its known. With its rythmic, almost hypnotic beat you'll hear it on a daily basis. Ancient Lams, or stories, are still played out in traditional manner, usually with a kaen (woodwind pipe) at the heart of the beat, and often accompanied by a very traditional dance and a captive audience clapping along to the beat.
It more recent times a more modern versions of Maw Lam has also come along - Maw Lam Sing, is a great hit with the younger generations. Regular parties are held with most locals in attendance enjoying the music and energetic dancers. Above you'll see a sample video of one of the more traditional Lams and below you can see a traditonal Isaan loom at work.