Your flight will need to take you all the way through to Chiang Rai via Bangkok, arrive by midday on the day your summer program starts in Thailand and you will be met by an Africa & Asia Venture representative. After leaving Chiang Rai, you will travel for a couple of hours to the Maekok River Village in Tha Ton, for an introduction to Thailand and a three-day briefing on your project.

It is a chance to settle in, unwind after the hectic few days leading up to your departure and get to know your AV group. The briefing is important to make sure you are fully prepared for the five weeks ahead. As well as covering the teaching and community work you will be involved with, the course will include the following:

• History, customs and culture of Thailand and its people
• Teaching techniques and lesson practice
• Safety, health and security
• Some Thai lessons

After your briefing you will travel to your new home; a rural school not far from Tha Ton – your base for the next five weeks. You will spend this time living and working in the community, teaching English and getting involved with other activities in the community.

The Thai schools’ English syllabus is entirely an exercise in writing, so neither teachers nor children get a chance to speak it. That’s where you come in! You will teach each class in your school two or three times per week, helping the Thai English teacher with pronunciation and giving the children a massive boost in confidence. You may be asked by teachers and villagers to run separate classes for them. You can also play sports with the children (each school has a pitch at its centre) or perhaps help with art and paint some murals, with your pupils, to brighten up school buildings.

Each day you will spend time socialising with the villagers; teachers will explain the Thai way of life and traditions and, perhaps, teach you some Thai dancing or Takraw (a sort of cross between volleyball and football).  This is a great chance to make new friends – they will be keen to talk about where you are from, your family and life at home, whilst you can practice your Thai!

In your free time you can do as you wish and explore the area. The Maekok Resort will arrange for you to enjoy some weekend activities like trekking in Fang National Park, cycling, archery, rock climbing, Chiang Mai, and kayaking on the Maekok River!

After your final night in Chiang Rai we will take you to the airport in time to catch your flight home.

Your house will be situated on the school grounds, or nearby, giving you the chance to experience rural Thai life. An important part of the Africa & Asia Venture experience is living locally, shop at the markets, and help where you can.

The house itself will probably have a bedroom(s), a communal/cooking area and somewhere to wash. Electricity is intermittent at best, and your house will probably have a typical Asian loo. Wherever you will be staying, you will grow to love it and soon feel very much at home!

We encourage independence you will be doing your own washing, buying your food in nearby markets and prepare meals, a food allowance is provided by us. Lunch is normally cooked by the school.  This is the best way of getting to know people, being involved in the community and gaining an understanding of living there – you are not a bystander watching from afar.

You will need to boil water from a local source or buy bottled water.

Before departure:

• Pre-departure information, support and advice
• A nominated member of the UK volunteer support team
• Advice on individual flight arrangements

In-country:

• In-country representative
• 24/7 in-country backup
• Meet and greet at airport (if arriving with the group)
• Airport transfer (if arriving/departing with group)
• In-country briefing
• Transport whilst on project
• Accommodation whilst on project
• Food whilst on project
• Accompanied by a project leader
• Management of emergencies, including lost passport, illness, etc. whilst in-country

Upon returning home:

• Returning home advice
• Full telephone debriefing

What’s not included:

• Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Country visas
• Meeting of non-group arrivals
• Accommodation for early/late arrivals
• Medical expenses, e.g. inoculations, malaria prophylactics
• In-country medical expenses
• Drinks, or bottled water
• Tips/gratuities – No tips/gratuities for Africa & Asia Venture staff are necessary or expected
• Spending money
• Extra activities that you choose to do
• Weekend activities, transport, food, accommodation away from the project
• Independent travel