An abundance of wildlife; lush rainforests; magnificent waterfalls; great hospitality; these are only some of the natural wonders that the Golden Triangle has to offer. In the heart of S E Asia it is an area which can boast a strong mix of landscapes and cultures, and a population world famous for its friendliness and hospitality.

Friendship House

AFECT'S Woman's Project

AFECT CHILDREN

VOLUNTEER THAILAND

CONSERVATION

1-24 weeks

Introduction

The tropical forests of Chiang Rai are some of the the earth's most spectacular natural wonders. Full of awe-inspiring life cycles they form an impressive
backdrop to our conservation program which uncovers the vast and intricate network of its
biodiversity. Plant trees, study ecosystems with scientists and join our impressive partners for
this hands on conservation volunteer program.

Biodiversity Project

Afect has 6500 acres of protected forest donated through the United Nations and Thai forestry
department. This land is divided into 15 pockets of land throughout Chiang Rai province securing the
livelihood of 15 tribal villages. Each village sits in the centre of the forest and they are excellent examples of sustainable living. In association with Thailand’s
Royal Botanical Gardens we are working to preserve, propagate and plant especially rare and endangered species of native flora in these areas. The royal
botanical gardens are one of worlds foremost centre for biodiversity research, incapturating the extremely diverse flora found in the lush rain forests of
northern Thailand. Volunteers will work with these 15 local villages to manage and build nurseries for orchids and extremely rare plants.

Forestry Work

In 2010 we are starting a tree nursery program to provide quality native trees to regenerate and build up degraded forest areas. These trees will be used to help reforest the area and we hope to transfer around 20,000 tree saplings in 2010. Volunteers can help initialize this new and exciting program by planting
cuttings, making organic compost and building up the nursery sites. There will be tree planting field trips with local people and as part of our active forestry campaign we also have a partnership with a local Thai Buddhist monastery to ‘ordain trees’ with the
monks.

Hill-tribesmen have traditionally used the technique of slash-and-burn for cultivation. After farming the cleared land produces maize and good crops but soon depreciates and the family then moves on to new areas. Chiang Rai is strewn with a patchwork of virile forest and infertile areas of soil like in our photo below.

AFECT is addressing this problem and provides quality native trees to regenerate degraded areas to build up forest. Our nursery garden provides saplings that we use to help reforest the area. In 2010 we hope to transfer around 3000 of our tree saplings to build up forest.

Nursery

The tree planting expeditions are fun and rewarding. There’s nothing better than to spend the day planting saplings. You will also go out with Buddhist monks tying orange bands around trees, to ‘ordain trees’ thus averting the threat of the tree being cut down.

'Ordained Trees'

This project will also involve maintaining our nursery garden which is constantly being expanded - planting new seeds to be capable of making a large impact in the years to come. This reforestation project runs year round and you can spend from one day to a 3 months planting the trees. Just bring yourself along we will give you the training. Forests thrill us with towering majesty and inspire us with breathtaking beauty. They provide wood for our homes, habitat for wildlife, clean air, and drinking water for millions of us.

Further Details click here

CLICK PHOTO TO VIEW 200 IMAGES OF LIFE AT AFECT

The Akha Fight for Liberty

CLICK PHOTO TO VIEW THE CULTURE YOU WILL SEE ON YOUR STAY AND OUR NGO WORK

TEACHING VOLUNTEER

We offer a teaching volunteer program from 1-24 weeks

Classroom scene

Introduction

We assist the young and vulnerable and their families to break out of the poverty trap through education and we have put thousands of children through schooling. Providing free education to vulnerable hill tribe children and refugees is an essential part of humanitarian work and the importance of speaking english can't be more stressed - it can almost guarantee emploment.

The Work

You don't have to be a teacher to volunteer on our English Teaching projects! Although you might find that all you have is a blackboard and a piece of chalk in the classroom, your great resource is yourself! Because the children are so enthusiastic about learning and really appreciate hearing good conversational English being taught and spoken by our volunteers, it couldn't be easier and more rewarding.

The students will want to find out about you and want to know why you have chosen to come and teach in a school in Thailand. Lots of the lessons will give you the opportunity to explain about where you live or your interests and hobbies at home. Through this interaction you can also learn about the childrens lives.

Assisting our local teaching staff in general education, conversational english, arts, computers and sports and providing some of the most needy children of Burmese refugees is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things anyone can do.

Location Chiang Rai NGO centre, Mae Sai (THAI - BURMESE BORDER) and other locations throughout Chiang Rai province.

Click HERE for the map of the 14 border schools we are working with

Our New School House dorm opened in 2009

WORK CAMP

Building and Community support Projects

1-24 weeks

Our work camp is a hands on practical experience
where you can be close to the local people, making a positive difference in a range of areas, such as housing for the poor, healthcare, education, environmental conservation, sanitation and community activities. You can gain tremendous understanding, new friendships, and heightened values in all aspects of the work camp and really connect with the villagers as a member of the ‘family’. The work camp gives you the opportunity to volunteer either short or long term to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of a foreign culture through humanitarian service, and intercultural learning activities.

New Hospital in San Jai

The work camps are ongoing throughout the year
and split into two components. - community work
and AFECT humanitarian projects. Volunteers
work approx 30 hours per week Monday – Friday
and stay in our eco lodge in a beautiful part of
northern Thailand and are run by full time AFECT
support staff. By joining this program you will
experience life to the fullest and witness a strong
sense of community. The work camps are very
good fun and a practical ‘hands on’ learning by
doing experience.

Further details click here

Oldest NGO For
Ethnic Minorities in Asia
Protecting Cultural
Diversity

The Programs

All volunteering with us is 5500 Thai Baht per week which in the current exchange rate is $180 USD / £112 approx fully Inc.

And all our volunteering has been recently updated and replaced by our VILLAGE CAMP. Please view info by downloading this following word document

Download here

AFECT'S Volunteering is flexible. Volunteers can commit anywhere from 1 - 4 weeks. The program fee includes accommodation, meals, english
speaking support, orientation and various excursions.

Duration	1- 4 weeks
Hours	5 days per week
Activities	Forest Conservation Teaching English, help in day centres, General Project Support, Building Hospitals
Location	Chiang Rai and throughout Golden Triangle region Northern Thailand
Accommodation	San Jai - Hill Tribe eco lodges Chiang Rai Western Style Dorm
Requirements	Aged 18+
Start Dates	14th of each and every month
Donation	5500 THAI BAHT

Please note this page will have additional information soon

Introduction to the AFECT NGO

AN NGO RUN BY THE TRIBE FOR TRIBE

The Association for Akha Education and Culture (AFECT) is a non-government organization for Thailand's hill tribes, and being established in 1981 is the oldest NGO for tribal rights in Asia. We assist rural hilltribe communities to build educational resources, stabilize and regenerate forests, develop and expand health management and preserve hill tribe cultural identity in 264 villages within four northern Thai provinces bordering Burma.

Part of our work as an NGO is bridging the understanding between Hill Tribe Culture and the outside world and we run activities that emphasize the exchange of knowledge between the community and outsiders in order to enhance understanding, reduce conflict and help attune Akha practices with Thai society. Tourism has had an adverse effect on hill tribe culture and without regulation it has caused massive erosion. In response to this we decided to start volunteer programs and an eco school to encompass the context of Hill Tribe Culture to our guests and friends.

Our Philosophy

Many NGO's do great work and offer exciting volunteer exchanges but often centre on fragments of humanitarian work. Because we are run and managed by the tribe we believe in a holistic and progressive approach to charitable work. Working within the cultural structures of hill tribe society creates a lasting and more sustaining autonomy. This means your stay with us will encompass a dynamic and interactive experience, and a deeper understanding to the mountain people's intrinsic philosophy to life. Our program promotes cultural exchange and understanding between volunteers and the hill tribe people, while also making a vital contribution to a miss understood, underprivileged and disadvantaged community. What ever you do you can rest assured you will be welcomed into our family and become a creative part of our team, fighting for the fundamental rights of all peoples who deserve a better chance in life.

Airfare, vaccinations, insurance and visa fees are
additional.

The Area

Chiang Rai is a 'conflict zone' bordering Burma and Laos and the surrounding area has an influx of refugees escaping the Burmese Military Junta. It is also one of the most beautiful and unspoiled parts of Thailand - the unknown jewel - as few tourists come here. San Jai where our centre is based is a traditional hill tribe village surrounded by beautiful eco systems.

Hills near San Jai

Traditional Village

Female Shaman

AFECT'S programs are implemented through eight interrelated thematic areas: 1) To Educate Hill Tribe Children and Youth, 2) Create an Affordable Health Programme, 3) Develop Natural Resource Management, 4) Promote Human and Women's Rights, 5) Promote, Conserve and Resuscitate Akha Hilltribe Culture, 6) Strengthen Hilltribe Communities, 7) Strengthen Citizenship, 8) Build International Hilltribe Relations within the Mekong Region.