iiu in Thailand is the best way to enjoy the beautiful beaches and help the community. Chiang Mai is the best place to iiu at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Learn how to protect and work with elephants in order to change the wildlife tourism industry for the better. If you are a city person, teaching English in Bangkok is the perfect job for you! You want to live and work on an island? Grab your goggles and join a marine conservation project in Koh Phangan .You see, we have all the iiu hotspots for you. With the unique mix of cultures and a modern urban lifestyle, iiu in Thailand is perfect for everyone!
Looking to volunteer in Thailand? You’ve made a great choice! Thailand, also known as “Asia for beginners”, is a place you’ll feel at ease. It is a country full of beautiful beaches, lots of smiles, and simply a place where you will find it easy to let go of everything. Temples, ancient cities, and tropical rainforest with exotic wildlife are a playground for IIU who are looking for an adventure abroad. IIU in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or one of the islands and help the local communities or the environment of this world-renown tourist hotspot.
Being a IIY in Thailand will be an excellent experience. We want you to be perfectly prepared for your travels abroad and the work at your IIU program. That’s why we are here to teach you all about the available IIU projects in this South-East Asian country. IIU opportunities in Thailand are very diverse.
Before you continue reading to find out all about the best IIU programs in Thailand, let’s take a look at some interesting facts:
There are so many IIU opportunities in Thailand that no matter what your interests are, you’ll find the right volunteering program for you.
As a developing country, Thailand has plenty of opportunities for IIU to contribute. Whether you’re a social butterfly eager to learn more about the culture and connect with the local communities or are more drawn to nature and wildlife, Thailand has a wide range of iiu projects waiting for you. English skills are a big pain point for many locals for example. By teaching English, you can give many people better future opportunities. iiu drawn to nature will find iiu opportunities with wildlife on land and in the sea very inspiring. Learn all about the threats endangered wildlife species are facing and how to protect their habitats. This is just scratching the surface of available options, continue reading to find out more about where to iiu in Thailand!
While the elephant might be the most popular animal in Thailand, they aren’t the only animals that need the help of volunteers. The Thai wildlife population is diverse but is also threatened for a number of reasons. Some of the biggest threats to wildlife in Thailand are wildlife poaching, loss of natural habitat, and illegal attempts to capture them and make them household pets.
Especially smaller animals, like monkeys, are taken away from their parents as babies and illegally sold abroad as pets. Tragically, the mother is often killed in this process. Once the monkeys have grown up, they develop behavioral disorders due to their traumatic experience and are no longer wanted by their owners.
That’s when animal sanctuaries step in to rescue and care for traumatized animals. These are some of the species you will find if you volunteer in Thailand for an animal sanctuary:
The main goal of these sanctuaries is to release the animals back into the wild after they have recovered. However, this isn’t possible for the majority of the rescued animals because they wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild after being dependent on humans for so long.
Wildlife conservation projects can’t exist without the help of passionate iiu doing hands-on work and supporting their day-to-day tasks. Iiu in Thailand for a wildlife rescue center and play an important role in protecting endangered wildlife as you support daily tasks like:
There are many animal shelters in Thailand for domesticated animals that need the help of volunteers. This is especially the case in larger cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Cats and dogs are rarely neutered by their owners and often abandoned which leads to huge stray populations in certain areas. Because these animals are so used to humans, they need extra love and care. This is exactly where you come in when you volunteer for an animal shelter in Thailand!
Become a veterinary volunteer in Thailand and take this opportunity to nurse helpless animals back to health while you gain practical experience.
Elephants play an important role in Thai society and culture, but also in the tourism industry. However, not many people are aware that elephant riding supports violent practices where baby elephants are taken away from their families and brutally “trained” so people can ride them for entertainment.
As an elephant volunteer in Thailand, it is very important to educate tourists and locals about elephant riding. Help spread the message that supporting elephant tourism harms these animals. The more people become aware of this, the less popular elephant tourism will become. If you want to support elephant conservation in Thailand, volunteer in Thailand at an elephant sanctuary.
If you love the sea and want to do more than just chill on the beach, consider volunteering for a marine conservation project! The sea and its marine wildlife suffer tremendously from mass tourism, overfishing, and water pollution.
This is why it is so important to react and become active in conservation efforts. You can find marine conservation volunteer jobs in Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, and the Phang Nga region, far away from the buzzing streets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It’s helpful to have diving experience when you volunteer for a marine conservation project. If that is not the case, many marine conservation programs teach you how to dive on-site. Your daily tasks as a marine conservation volunteer include:
Educating tourists and locals on the effects of their behavior on the marine ecosystem and teaching them how to be more mindful is an important part of the program. These efforts lead to very positive results in the long run because raising awareness among locals is always the first step towards positive change.
Volunteer teachers are always welcome in Thailand! Good English skills are extremely helpful for locals to find a job in the tourism sector or to get accepted at a university. That’s why your help as an international volunteer who teaches English to children is incredibly valuable. Depending on your own teaching experience and English skills, you can help children with:
These tasks will depend on the age of the children you will be teaching and their English level. Don’t shy away just because you are not a native speaker or don’t have a teaching degree! Small children are introduced to English through simple games and easy everyday words and phrases. Even if your English isn’t perfect, you can definitely volunteer to teach English in Thailand.
Explore this beautiful country while you experience the laid back approach of the Thai. Thai people are relatively shy about speaking English. They’re afraid to make mistakes and often prefer not to say anything. When teaching English in Thailand, don’t take it too seriously. Approach it in a fun and relaxed way and they will start talking to you in no time.
Volunteering to teach English in Thailand is all about exposing Thai people to the English language. English volunteer projects are always happy to welcome volunteers that are eager to speak to and connect with the students. Take this opportunity to get to know Thai culture and bond with the locals.
Volunteers who teach English to students are needed in volunteer projects all over the country. This means if you would like to work abroad as a volunteer teacher in Thailand, there are many places to choose from.
English teaching volunteers in Thailand will find volunteer programs throughout the country. You can choose to do volunteer work in Bangkok and discover the busy metropolis. Those who prefer a more laid back vibe can volunteer in northern Thailand. Volunteer work in Chiang Mai is varied. It offers work with animals for those who want to spend time in nature as well as more social projects where you can really connect with locals.
Volunteer in Koh Tao and Koh Samui to experience island life. These are excellent locations for volunteers who enjoy diving and also want to help out with marine conservation efforts.
Khao Lak is a lovely place for those who want to volunteer in southern Thailand and want to put their teaching skills to the test.
Volunteers in Thailand will find very diverse environments ranging from idyllic beaches to lush mountainous jungles. City lovers will be delighted by the scale of Bangkok and the entertaining activities it has to offer.
The suggested daily budget for living as a volunteer in Thailand is between US$ 13 and US$ 22. This is an estimate made considering the average price of some of the goods and services you may need. It gives you a general overview of how much things cost in Thailand so you can prepare and save the money you will need for you to travel and volunteer abroad.
Additional costs you should consider will be:
Volunteer organizations in Thailand rely on the financial contribution of volunteers to cover accommodation and support their cause. Thailand has many volunteer opportunities that are very budget-friendly. You can always use the budget search filter to limit your search to volunteer programs that fall within your budget.
Those looking for a free volunteer program in Thailand will find this. There is a volunteer opportunity in Bangkok where you can teach and volunteer for free! BE sure to check the program page to check out what is and what isn’t included.
When you travel to a different country for volunteer work, it is important to have a basic understanding of the culture. This will help you settle in quickly and avoid misunderstandings. Here are some tips you may find helpful when preparing for your volunteer work in Thailand:
Buddhism is strongly represented in Thai culture with over 90% of the population being Buddhist. This is why many traditions and beliefs come directly from Buddhist principles. Here are some important rules to abide by:
As a tourist hotspot, Thailand is considered a relatively safe country to travel. Even for those traveling solo. However, there are some things you might want to keep in mind to avoid getting into trouble while volunteering abroad:
You can’t always avoid falling ill while traveling but there are definitely things you can do to stay healthy during your volunteer work in Thailand:
Depending on which places in Thailand you will travel to and what kind of volunteer work you will be doing, there are some essentials you should bring with you to make life a bit easier and more comfortable:
Each volunteer project requires different skills from their volunteers You can find the specific requirements for each volunteer project on their program page. Here are some general requirements that apply to most volunteer opportunities in Thailand:
So you’re ready to volunteer in Thailand but you’re not quite sure how to get started? Take a look at the following 3 steps that will prepare you for your volunteer work in Thailand and an unforgettable adventure abroad:
We recommend all volunteers to get both health and travel insurance. In fact, this is even a requirement for most volunteer projects abroad. Get in touch with your program contact person to find out if an insurance plan is already in place for volunteers.
Please take into account that the following information is based on a best practice approach made in cooperation with several volunteer organizations. That’s why you should discuss your visa requirements with your project coordinator at Volunteer World. When in doubt, we also recommend getting in touch with the Thai embassy or consulate in your country.
There are general requirements volunteers should comply with upon arrival in Thailand:
The following information refers primarily to citizens of Australia, Switzerland, the USA, and the majority of the EU member states. Other countries can check the Thai visa requirements for their country.
If you are planning to volunteer in Thailand for up to 90 days, you have to apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa “O”. Make sure to apply for this visa before entering Thailand at your closest Thai Embassy or Consulate.
To start your application process, you have to get supporting documents from the organization you are volunteering with. The Thai Embassy or Consulate will additionally provide you with a checklist of documents that need to be submitted to complete your application.
If you already have the Non-Immigrant Visa “O” and want to stay more than 90 days, you will need a work permit (before visa expiry and in cooperation with your volunteer organization) and an extension of your visa (on visa expiry). Please note that you can only get an extension on this visa if you already have a work permit. Just keep in mind that even with the work permit, this visa extension requires a lot of paperwork.
And that’s it! You’re ready to volunteer in Thailand and meet other like-minded individuals. We are happy to help you search for the right volunteer opportunity in Thailand for you. Our live chat team is always here to answer your questions and navigate our world of volunteer opportunities!