Program Specifics
Women's Empowerment Program
The Placement: If working with young women in Chiang Mai interests you, Cultural Canvas Thailand places volunteers at the Chiang Mai Buddhakasetra Foundation (CMBF), a school and boarding house for hill tribes girls. The girls are not orphans, but they come to Buddhakasetra with a disadvantage. They come from single-parent or extremely poor homes. The staff at Buddhakasetra reach out to girls who are about to drop out of school due to circumstances mentioned above. They are offered housing, food, non-formal education (following the standard Thai high school curriculum), and vocational training, such as massage therapy and sewing. In exchange, they are required to help in maintaining the Foundation. They plant, cook, clean, and clear the woods to prevent frequent forest fires during summertime.
The girls parents visit them every now and then and take them out to town or go back home. The girls, aged 13 to 19, are all very eager to learn. They are from the various hill tribes of northern Thailand. Some are shy and some are outspoken. They are as diverse as any group of teenagers in any part of the world. They live together in 4 modest wooden homes, grow their own vegetables, and cook their own meals.
Volunteers are expected to help at the school by teaching English. In addition, volunteers can create workshops and classes to teach art, dance, yoga, science, or anything in between. Confidence-building activities are encouraged. A go-with-the-flow attitude and flexibility are a must for this placement.
The Program Fee Includes: Registration fees, donation to the host organization, pre-trip orientation materials, travel health insurance, in-country orientation and city tour, in-country transportation to and from placement, accommodation, food, Thai language training, in-country staff support, and 24-hour emergency assistance.
Donation to Host Organization:
If you are accepted as a volunteer by one of our partner organizations, $100 from the program fee is contributed toward your project.
Minimum Duration: 3 weeks
Pre-trip Orientation:
Upon receiving your application and deposit, we will send to you the Canvas Orientation Kit, containing all the necessary paperwork to entirely prepare you for your trip.
The orientation kit includes information on the issue pertaining to your project. It also includes a recommended reading list and information on Thailand , culture and customs.
In-country Orientation:
Upon arriving in Chiang Mai, whether by bus, plane or train, a Cultural Canvas Thailand staff member will be waiting to transport you to the Cultural Canvas Thailand headquarters where you will have an orientation. This will prepare you further for your chosen project and give you a chance to meet our staff and other volunteers.
Accommodation:
Cultural Canvas Thailands modest Thai-style house is where most of your eating, sleeping and relaxing will take place. Our house, located on Wualai Road in the heart of the silver district, is just steps away from the Saturday Walking Street, a fantastic market with great shopping and delicious Thai treats. Our house is located slightly south of the moat and walking distance from the Chiang Mai Gate Market, Gad Gom (another great evening market) and a number of beautiful wats or temples.
Food:
Our in-house cook will provide two delicious, home-cooked Thai meals per day six days per week. A light breakfast is always available with cereal, fruit, toast, coffee and tea. On Sunday, volunteers can cook for themselves at the Home-Base or grab a bite to eat in one of the many near-by markets or restaurants. In Chiang Mai, a delicious meal costs roughly 0.75USD. Please let us know any specific dietary restrictions in advance so that all of your needs can be taken care of.
Transportation:
Cultural Canvas Thailand provides transportation to and from your placement.
Support and Safety:
The Cultural Canvas Thailand home-base is in a secure location with staff available 24-hours a day. Here you can receive international calls and internet access is within walking distance.
In case of emergency, friends and family can call the home-base or use our convenient U.S. 24-hour hotline.
In case of injury you will be admitted to one of Chiang Mai’s high-quality, private hospitals.
We provide comprehensive medical insurance and emergency evacuation assistance.
2012 Start Dates
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*Start Dates listed in RED are full
* Please Note: Program Fees are listed for the minimum duration of this program; program extensions are available for $225.00/week
Application Process:
Are you up to the task? Then complete the online application form. Use our secure online payment process to make your $300 deposit.
The application and deposit must be received 90 days prior to the commencement of your chosen project.
Full payment must be received 30 days prior to the commencement of your project in order to allow us enough time to provide you with the proper insurance and project placement.
Read about our other volunteer placements:
- » Canvas Art Program
- » Burmese/Migrant Education
- » Cerebral Palsy Assistance
- » Hill Tribe Assistance
- » HIV/AIDS Outreach
- » MSM and HIV/AIDS Outreach and Education
- » Empowerment of Single Mothers
- » Environmental Protection
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