Playing while you work
From planting coral to bathing elephants, Thailand has plenty to offer the volunteer tourist
It’s probably not the best job in the world but for youngsters wanting to do more than lie on a beach, it’s an ideal way to spend a holiday.
From giving a bath to the elephants in Chiang Mai to picking up sea turtle eggs along the beautiful beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is offering young people a volunteer holiday plus a chance to win US$5,000.
Part of promoting volunteer travel around Thailand, the Little Big Project lets the participants mix business with pleasure.
Five teams of two participants (a foreigner and a Thai) will be assigned to work with five local organisations and conservation centres for two weeks.
Each team will share their daily experiences with a global audience by posting blog posts, photos, videos and travel stories with social media tools, as though media outlets and media interviews.
The team that scores the most popular vote will win $5,000 for their host centre.
“The Little Big Project will appeal to travellers interested in working for local communities and organisations while experiencing the Thai hospitality through local people and culture,” says Pongsathorn Kessasamli, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Policy and Planning.
“Voluntourism” or volunteer travel is popular among college students and young travellers who want to do something good during their leisure time. The volunteer will work a full day for a charitable organisation before letting their hair down after work. The job offers vary from low-skilled work, for example, cleaning up a local wildlife area, to highly skilled by undertaking scientific research to promote sustainable development.
The Little Big Project offers the participants a choice to work for five charitable organisations: Chiang Mai’s Elephant Conversation Centre, Chiang Rai’s Hilltribe Development Centre, Phang Nga’s Coastal Conservation, Koh Tao Conservation in Surat Thani and Sea Turtle Conservation Prachuap Khiri Khan.
The volunteer travel campaign runs from June 18 to July 1. Applications are open from now until May 20 following which 10 finalists – five foreigners and five Thais – will be selected.
Applicants should choose the mission that they would like to volunteer for from the list on the www.TheLittleBigProjectThailand.com website then submit a one-minute video talking about their plans for this mission, and why they believe they have what it takes to make a better world for others.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will announce the finalists on May 27.
The TAT is promoting the Little Big Project through the popular websites – including www.ResponsibleTravel.com, www.VolunteeringSolutions.com, www.PlanMyGapYear.co.uk, and www.OpenMindProjects.org.
Would be volunteers who really want to do something good for Thai communities, but are not comfortable about competing, should browse the Little Big Project’s website, which offers volunteer travel information around Thailand plus special accommodation deals from hotel partners.
