Creative English teaching and activities with kids
Project number: DaLaa 1901MLTV
Volunteers type: Middle and Long Term (2 months minimum)
Max Number of Volunteers: 2
Available application period: all year round except March, April and October

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Wat Pho Thawad is a very small school in Baan Kokpho, a Buddhist village of about 450 people in Phatthalung province, Southern Thailand. The school director (P. Pin) and local people would like to welcome volunteers again after the good feedback of the two work camps (2 weeks each) that took place in 2018 and 2019. This time we would like volunteers for a longer period that can help to organize English lessons or other fun activities with the 49 students from kindergarten to Grade 6 (5-12 years old). The English skills of the students are very poor. They are not familiar with foreigners. You can experience the local way of life, exchange with other volunteers, villagers and support the children education.

HISTORY and REASONS OF THE PROJECT

The school is situated in the local temple (like in most villages) and was founded 50 years ago by the former head monk. There are nowadays 49 students and 4 teachers from the government, plus the principal, and two more teachers are financially supported by the temple. In Thailand, the school year starts in May and finishes in March. Most of the villagers are farmers (rubber plantation, rice, fruits …). The school principal learned about DaLaa through one of our project hosts and shares our values (International Voluntary Service) and believes in our actions. We organized already two workcamps in 2018 and 2019 which were a great success. The local kids have very few chances for interaction with foreigners and the English language is more and more needed for their future. After a visit with DaLaa team last August we decided to start with MTV project there to improve the quality of the action.

AIMS of the PROJECT

– To support Wat Pho Thawad school

– To be part of the community of Baan Kokpho village

– To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in an international/multi-culture atmosphere

– To support the organization of the February workcamp

WORK AND ACTIVITIES

Volunteers will be arranging creative activities with students. They will be supervised by the teachers and especially, P Pin, the school director. Depending on the volunteers’ skills, they will be proposed to organize activities with each class from Grade 1 to Grade 6. Outside the school, few villagers are willing to invite volunteers to learn about the local lifestyle in the village and organize other common activities.

REQUIREMENTS

The volunteers should be ready to stay in a remote area, to adapt to the local conditions with basic facilities and with very few people able to speak in English. Volunteers should be able to handle a spontaneous working environment and constant changes in the plans. The mentality and way of thinking are very different from the western world.  There will have often activities with the children. To have responsibility for yourself, the kids and full involvement in community matters is a must.

**For ones who plan to travel in Thailand/Asia besides this voluntary work, having it done before or after the project would be advisable. We hope that volunteers will fully spend their stay in the project without asking for a long holiday break amid the project period. This would cause uncertainty in running activities.

FOOD and ACCOMMODATION

Volunteers will have their own house, a few kilometres from the school. There is a simple mat, pillow and mosquito net. You will need to bring a sleeping bag. Volunteers will eat at the school for lunch and can cook by themselves for dinner. There are some small grocery shops in the village.  Local people eat rice (or noodles) 3 times a day with side dishes like curries, omelettes, local leaves and vegetables.