Everything You Need to Know about Volunteering in Thailand | 2024 Guide

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English Teacher – Openmind Project

• > Teaching English
• > Northeast Thailand

FIND OUT MORE

Non-profit Organisation for Women and Children

• > Organisational support, writing, videography.
• > Chiang Khong

FIND OUT MORE

Eco Community on Koh Lanta

• > Teaching, childcare, eco-construction, gardening, social media assistance, videography.
• > Koh Lanta

FIND OUT MORE

Whether you want to volunteer on a big social project or spend time connecting to Thai culture somewhere a little more local, knowing where to find impactful and trustworthy volunteer projects can be difficult. 

Wondering where to start? We’ve gone your back. 

Our mates at Worldpackers and Workaway have some amazing volunteer opportunities in Thailand that will take care of you while you lend a helping hand. Many of you may already be acquainted with these guys who help match up volunteers with projects and cultural exchanges all around the world. 

The old school few among us may be up for the tried and true DIY method. You can spend some time – most likely hours – searching the internet to find an organisation and placement that suits you. This can be a little bit daunting, but we have tons of tips coming up!

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Your reasons for volunteering in Thailand will be unique to you. Here are a few things that really get us excited!

• Eat amazing food – I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that Thailand has one of the most delicious cuisines in the whole damn world. They don’t just stick to one thing either, they do it all – and they do it very well. Some top picks include green curry, pad see ew, tea leaf salad (technically a dish from Myanmar, but the Shan state is also an area of Thailand), spring rolls and mango sticky rice. My mouth is already watering.
• Make new connections – Volunteering is the PERFECT way to meet new people as a solo traveller in Thailand. Whether it’s with locals, other volunteers or the people you meet along the way, volunteering allows you to make new connections with people from all over the world. 

• Embrace a new culture – Thai people are known for being kind, friendly and generous people. I mean – it’s known as the Land of Smiles for a reason, the locals are bloody lovely. Spending an extended amount of time in Thailand will allow you to embrace their culture and way of life!
• Give back to the community – You can leave a place better than you found it by lending a hand as a volunteer. The majority of projects in Thailand rely on the generosity of donors and volunteers to keep running – do your bit and help out. 
• Explore a stunning country – Whether your thing is tropical beaches, jungles or mountain ranges, the nature in Thailand is second to none. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to travel in Thailand, this is it!
• Have a local experience – While sticking to the tourist trail and hanging in a Thailand hostel is a whole lot of fun, it’s not exactly the local experience. Volunteering allows you to dive deep into local culture and have an authentic experience. 
• Learn something new – I don’t think anyone can say ‘no thank you, I have enough skills’. Volunteering can get you out of your comfort zone and doing things you have never done before! The experiences, knowledge, skills and values and sense of achievement are a big win. 
• Follow your passions  – Putting energy into a cause that you believe in is a great way to follow your passions. For you, that might look like environmental protection, education, cultural exchange or art. Whatever your passions, you can find volunteer projects in Thailand that align with your values and have a tangible impact.  

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The bureaucracy of travel definitely isn’t the fun part. But it’s a necessary hurdle you need to jump when you want to volunteer in Asia and just love exploring the world. Keep on reading to find out about visas and vaxes you’ll need!

Visas 

Many nationalities can get a 30-day tourist visa on arrival in Thailand. It’s usually pretty easy to extend this too, with either a visit to an immigration office or a quick border run to Cambodia or Laos. 

In recent years, this process has had a few extra steps to help manage the Covid-19 pandemic, so be sure to look up what restrictions and requirements are currently in place before jumping on that plane.

For most volunteer projects where you won’t be getting paid, you can do this while on a tourist visa. If you want to stay longer than this visa allows, you can arrange a volunteer visa that is valid for up to one year. 

Have a chat with your host organisation and see what visa their volunteers usually have. You should also check what the visa requirements are for people of your nationality, as your options may vary depending on where you’re from. 

Vaccinations & Health

The World Health Organisation recommends that travellers in Thailand are vaccinated against Hepatitis, A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid. The rabies jab is particularly important for those who will have contact with animals, as Thailand is a high-risk country for rabies infections. 

While it isn’t a country with a yellow fever risk itself, you will need to show proof of vaccination if you’re travelling from a country with a risk. 

You’ll want to take care to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Firstly, those pesky mozzies SUCK (literally) and no matter where you are, having a body full of itchy bites is no fun. Secondly, there is a risk of malaria and Japanese Encephalitis in some regions. Your best approach is to avoid getting bitten by using insect repellent and wearing loose long clothing, especially at dawn and dusk. 

You know the drill with all health-related topics. Chat to a travel nurse or doctor and see what they recommend for you. 

You may be surprised to learn that you might have to pay to volunteer in Thailand. Depending on your placement, the amount you pay usually covers costs like accommodation, food and the administrative costs of organising volunteers.

While it’s normal to pay a bit, be wary of volunteer agencies who charge a huuuuuuge amount – chances are their motivations are more about pocketing cash rather than supporting projects that make the world a better place.

The cost is going to vary depending from project to project. It may involve chipping in some money each day to cover the daily costs, or be an outright project fee. 

Make sure you also prepare enough for your daily cost of living in Thailand, flights, insurance, and fun money!

The best way to choose a volunteer project in Thailand is to go for something that interests you and you’re passionate about. That’s where you’ll have the biggest impact (and the best time) because we all do our best work when we like and care about what we are doing.

The good news is there are projects of all kinds, so no matter what you’re into, you’ll find something up your alley. 

• Education – There’s a lot of demand for English language teachers in Thailand. Having the ability to speak English opens up a lot of opportunities, especially in a country like Thailand that has such a huge tourism industry. If you’ve got a knack for teaching, lend your time to a project that teaches Thai people language skills. These might be formal classrooms or language immersions in more dynamic settings. 
• Environmental Projects – It’s more important than ever that we protect mama earth. If you’re passionate about our planet, there are a lot of environmental projects you can volunteer with in Thailand. This may involve doing physical cleanups or supporting an organisation that does environmental advocacy. 
• Animal Welfare – Do you love our furry friends? Consider getting involved with an project that works to protect them. Many kind people in Thailand have opened dog shelters and animal sanctuaries to ensure that animals have the best shot at a loving, fair and safe life. 
• Agriculture and Permaculture – Whether it’s with a permaculture community or a family farm, you can get your hands dirty and volunteer working on the land. If you don’t have experience in this area yet, many projects will be happy to teach you what you need to know! Just bring your enthusiasm.
• Construction work – Calling all handy people, if you’re any good on the tools, you may be able to help out on a construction project. This could be building something for a sustainable community, a hostel, a local family home or even building a structure for the community like a school or meeting place. 
• Social projects – There are many social projects and non-profit groups working to make a difference. You can get involved by helping with marketing, videography, web design, development….. The list goes on!

The time commitments for projects is going to vary from place to place. Some volunteer placements are happy to accept people for as little as a few hours on a once off basis, while others will prefer to have you commit to a few weeks or even months. These are all questions you can ask before you get started. It’s also worth considering how much time you can commit to!

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Okay, that’s all the prep out the way. Now let’s take a look at the top volunteer projects in Thailand!

Non-profit Organisation for Women and Children

• Opportunity: Organisational support, writing, videography
• Location: Chiang Khong

This non-profit organisation in northern Thailand, by the border to Laos, works to ensure that women and children are safe from abuse, exploitation and violence. 

They aim for these goals by working with local communities, schools, immigration, businesses and police to create a system that ensures people at risk of any form of exploitation or danger are supported and empowered.

They ask that volunteers can commit to at least two months of volunteering, and have experience in blog writing, fundraising, creating reports or videography. If you have experience in another area that could be of assistance, they encourage you to reach out. 

Volunteers have the chance to contribute to their ongoing projects that include child protection with local communities, promoting gender equality, child protection in schools, anti-gender based violence, and anti-human trafficking campaigns.

Eco Community on Koh Lanta

• Opportunity: Teaching, childcare, eco-construction, gardening, social media assistance, videography
• Location: Koh Lanta 

Spending time on an eco-community on a tropical island doesn’t sound too bad, does it? If you’re keen to volunteer in Thailand with a creative and dynamic project, there’s a lot to do at this earthen village in Koh Lanta. They are on the lookout for volunteers who are at least 23 years old to lend a hand, and the ways that you can do so depend on your skills and interests. 

They ask that you’re passionate about sustainability and community living. You can help out working with the land, in construction, assisting with social media, content creation or even children’s education. You’ll join a multicultural group of people in search of a more stripped back and harmonious lifestyle. 

English Teacher – Openmind Project

• Opportunity: Teaching English
• Location: Northeast Thailand

If you’ve got a passion for education, this non-profit project is booking for volunteers to help teach English in a fun and interactive way. The Openmind Project operates in Northeast Thailand and Laos, and teaches community members English, computer/internet training, environmental education and other life skills. It’s not an organised school curriculum, so there is plenty of opportunity for creativity. 

You don’t need a formal background in teaching to volunteer with the Openmind Project, but the main objective is to engage students and facilitate a language exchange. If your strengths lie in other areas, the project is also keen to find volunteers to help them with web design, website development and organisational administration. 

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If you didn’t find the right volunteer project for you on Workaway or Worldpackers, fear not. You can also track down a volunteer project in Thailand using the good ol’ DIY method. 

There are a few ways you can do this, but the most direct is to do some googling for local projects. A search like “animal shelter volunteering Chiang Mai” or something related to the work you want to do will pull up some useful leads! It’s good to be specific about the kind of work you are looking for, as you’ll get more relevant results this way. 

You can also browse through Facebook events by location, or look on community groups and see what you find.

If you’re on the ground and already travelling in Thailand, you may even see some notices up in restaurants or hostels (volunteering at a hostel is always a good shout). Keep your eyes peeled!

This approach might take you a little longer to organise, but it’s worth it if you find the kind of project that you want to dedicate your time and energy towards!

Koh Lanta Animal Welfare 

In the south of Thailand is Koh Lanta Animal Welfare, an organisation providing shelter, life-saving treatment, sterilisation and education to improve the lives of animals on the island.

Don’t expect that your work will all be cute cat and dog cuddles. Be prepared to get a bit dirty, and know that many of the animals have experienced a lot of trauma in their lives. The good news is that these animals are now in a safe and caring place, and you can support this happy new phase of their life. 

You can volunteer directly with the animals by walking, feeding, cleaning and loving on them. They are also keen for host volunteers to be the friendly face that welcomes people on-site, media volunteers (with their own gear), and volunteer vet and vet nurses. Students are welcome, but a minimum age of 25 years is required to lend a hand. 

The Vagina Monologues Yangon (in Thailand)

The Vagina Monologues is a ground-breaking play of short stories that tell empowering, humorous, confronting, and heart-breaking experiences of women. This project is run by a group of women from Myanmar who have relocated their project to Thailand due to the military coup and civil war in their home country.

They need volunteers to help their project come to life. 

Every year, thousands of women worldwide organise benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues as part of V-Day, a global movement advocating for the end of violence against women and girls. As a volunteer, you can join a team of talented artists and activists to raise funds and awareness on the topic. You’ll also be directly supporting displaced people using performance art to have some big life-changing conversations. 

This is a unique way to connect with people from Myanmar living in Thailand and support a meaningful project. You can contribute your time as an organiser or performer.

All genders are welcome to be involved in the project. 

Trash Hero Thailand

Trash Hero is an international movement run by a diverse group of remote volunteers based all over the world. If you’re on the ground in Thailand, they run weekly cleanups all over the country, so whether you’re enjoying the beach in Koh Yao Noi or the city life in Bangkok, you can help clean up. Take a look at their Facebook page to see what chapters are currently running cleanups!

Obviously cleaning up rubbish on the day makes a big impact, but rubbish pollution is a sad reality in Thailand (and all over the world). The bigger picture of this movement is to educate and create better habits so that cleanups don’t need to take place at all.

If you’re keen to join them as a remote volunteer, they have opportunities in social media, translation, fundraising and more. This way, you can have a positive impact on the environment in Thailand (and beyond!) from wherever in the world you are. 

Worldwide Veterinary Service (formerly Care For Dogs)

Just outside of the Northern Capital of Chiang Mai is the Worldwide Veterinary Service (formerly known as Care For Dogs). They are an animal shelter that mostly take care of dogs and cats by providing medical care, a safe place to live and importantly, LOVE.

Many of the animals who come to the organisation have had a tough run in life, so your job as a volunteer is to make them feel as safe and loved as possible. They ask for a minimum commitment of 3 days of volunteering. Volunteer tasks vary but tend to involve walking the dogs, de ticking, feeding and giving care. 

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While we can’t tell you exactly what it will be like on your volunteer project, we can paint a picture of what you can expect while you volunteer in Thailand. 

Accommodation

Most volunteer projects will be able to offer dorm style accommodation for their volunteers. You might get lucky and get your own space, it really depends on what the project has available.

If you prefer to have your own space, accommodation in Thailand is pretty affordable and you can ask your hosts for a recommendation of a private room where you can catch some Z’s. 

Days Off and Work Hours

Expect to have 1-2 days off volunteering each week. Most projects found on Workaway or Worldpackers ask that volunteers chip in from 20 hours of help per week, but keep in mind this varies from project to project. Your best bet is to clarify with your host/project organiser what is expected of you in advance. 

Getting Around 

The most common way to get around Thailand is on a scooter. Beep beep!

This is a fun and flexible way to get around, but make sure you evaluate the risks of doing so (and check that your travel insurance would cover you if you get into a pickle). While many scooter rental places won’t check if you have an international drivers licence when they rent you a scooter, the police will check and want to see it if they catch you out on the road. Bring it or risk the fine. Also – protect your noggin and wear a helmet! 

Buses, mini vans, flights, boats and taxis are other easy ways to get around Thailand. You shouldn’t have trouble organising your transport once you’re on the ground. 

Do’s and Don’ts

That’s all from us, folks! Hopefully, this information has cleared up any questions you had about volunteering in Thailand and pointed you in the direction of amazing projects making a difference in the country. 

Whatever your strengths or interests are, there are many ways you can use them to help out as a volunteer in Thailand and leave the place better than you found it. 

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