The Outdoor programme has a broad range of work. It can be very hard, so you need to be fit. At times, it's frustrating - local working methods can be perplexing, even after an explanation. Flexibility, patience, and a desire to understand is essential.
A number of the local communities are without the basics of life which most of us take for granted - clean running water, bathrooms, electricity. As such, maintaining a good standard of health can be difficult. Those most affected are children and the elderly, especially if there is no extended family to support them.
Local staff liaise with villagers to prioritise work. We only run projects which are requested, or proposed through meetings, never imposing our ideas on a community. Work is only scheduled a week or two in advance - priorities can change at short notice, and weather has a direct impact on what we can achieve at a given time.
Although our work can be seasonal, for instance creating rice terraces between harvest and planting, we do our best to break up the jobs so that volunteers get a variety of experiences - but this is not guaranteed, as the aim is to do the highest priority work first.
Examples of the benefits of our work
- Building water tanks brings clean water to a village, instead of trekking for kilometres to the nearest clean source
- Building a childcare centre, or classroom, gives children the opportunity to learn, and improve their future chances in life
- Building a bathroom for elderly and/or disabled villagers, or at a local school, improves hygiene and instills dignity
- Planting banana trees on slopes helps prevent soil erosion, landslides, and add nutrients to the earth.
The Outdoor Work placement is for those who are happy to get their hands dirty, who like physical labour, and are reasonably fit.
Extra information
Volunteer characteristics
We don't expect perfection, but we have a reputation to maintain and the qualities of the volunteers we accept are an important part how we are perceived in the community. The characteristics of a good volunteer are set out below - if you think you have most of these qualities, then please fill in the enquiry form.
- Hardworking
- Ability to focus and learn quickly
- Positive & realistic commitment to volunteering
- Open mind
- Positive attitude
- Flexible to changing situations
- Self assurance
- Committed to, and capable of, working in a team setting
- Sensitivity and affinity to others
- Respectful and polite
- Modestly dressed
Requirements
- Clean national police check*
- Valid health insurance
- Agree to Terms & Conditions
- Deposit payment**
- Balance to be paid on arrival (cash - Thai Baht)
*At least 1 week prior to programme start date
**At least 2 weeks prior to programme start date
Duties
Variable
Examples of work completed previously:
- Building water tanks
- Extending waterpipe systems
- Building check dams
- Building houses
- Building school classrooms
- Painting school classrooms
- Road repair
- Brick production
- Planting and harvesting rice
- Rice terracing
- Reforestation
Dress code
Dress code for Outdoor should be appropriate to weather and working conditions
Outdoor dress code
- Long sleeved tops
- Long trousers/pants
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Work gloves
- Covered shoes/boots
- Waterproofs*
*Approx April-Oct.
Notes
Bring clothing you are prepared to throw away - we regularly work: with cement; knee deep in mud; in rain; or under a beating sun.
You should be relatively fit - there are no machines or electric power tools, just muscle.
FAQs
Do 1 week Outdoor volunteers go on homestay?
It's not guaranteed. The homestay happens in the second week, which is an incentive to stay longer than a single week. We usually organise a one night homestay at the home of a member of staff, but this isn't always possible.
Do 1 week volunteers get a certificate for volunteering?
Yes, if the programme is completed, and there are no problems.
Please click the link here for full details about the awarding of certificates.
What is the drawback of just staying a week?
We welcome and appreciate everyone who comes to volunteer with us, and we understand that some people have limited time, funds, or are just unsure of whether the experience is for them or not.
The drawbacks of staying for a week include:
- you don't work on your first day - we use this day to pick up all new volunteers, settle in, rest after travelling here, and meet others
- your second day, in the morning, is your orientation session
- Outdoor volunteers begin work in the afternoon
- your final working day is the Saturday, as volunteers have Saturday evening to Monday evening free
- you stay onsite at our foundation, without the guarantee of a homestay
- the fee you pay is higher for the first week, as we have many overheads with new volunteers - a longer stay makes the fee more cost effective
We therefore recommend registering for at least 2-3 weeks to get more from your time with us, if possible.
What is the time commitment for the Outdoor programme?
We will accept volunteers for a minimum of 1 week, up to a maximum of 12 weeks. However, we encourage volunteers to stay for a minimum of 2-3 weeks to more fully appreciate the work, and gain more from the experience.
What will I do on the programme?
It depends on how long you are signing up for, the season you are here for, and the work requirements at the time. Volunteers staying a week will do work in and around the foundation - generally maintenance, construction, and renovation. Volunteers staying longer will go on at least one homestay, working on a project whilst staying in a hilltribe village (generally, but not always). Those who are here long term go on every homestay (each second and fourth week of the month, unless advised otherwise).
Homestays are work related, the projects are many and varied, and the locations change regularly.
What's a typical Outdoor week like?
Example of a standard week for Outdoor volunteers
Outdoor accommodation depends on the week in the month. Week 1 is the first week of any given month - we receive volunteer intakes on the Monday of the 1st and 3rd week each month, so work activities and hours differ to accommodate orientation (Tuesday) and visits to the temple (Saturday). The team works just as hard onsite as offsite, but offsite the accommodation is generally more basic as you are living with hilltribe communities.
- Week 1: Sleep onsite
- Week 2: Working homestay
- Week 3: Sleep onsite
- Week 4: Working homestay
- Week 5*: Sleep onsite
*If applicable
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Tuesday – Friday |
8.00am |
Breakfast |
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8.30am |
Morning meeting - brief for the day and transport details. Opportunity for volunteers to ask questions or raise issues. |
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9am |
Depart from Mirror and transfer to the daily work venue |
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9.30 – 11.30am |
Start outdoor work activities allocated for that day |
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11.30 – 1pm |
Lunch |
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1-3.30pm |
Continue outdoor work activities allocated for that day |
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5pm |
Dinner |
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Saturday |
8.00am |
Breakfast |
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8.30am |
Morning meeting (as above) / debrief for the week |
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9.30 – 11.30am |
Start outdoor work activities allocated for that day or clean up /tidy up as per cleaning rota |
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12pm |
Lunch |
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1pm |
Depart for days off / end of program |
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Sun- Mon |
Days off – return to Mirror by 10pm on Monday evening
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Fees
Fees (Outdoor)
- 1 week: 19,550฿
- 2 weeks: 20,700฿
- 3 weeks: 21,850฿
- 4 weeks: 23,000฿
- 5 weeks: 26,450฿
- 6 weeks: 29,900฿
- 7 weeks: 33,350฿
- 8 weeks: 36,800฿
- 9 weeks: 40,250฿
- 10 weeks: 43,700฿
- 11 weeks: 47,150฿
- 12 weeks: 50,600฿
Notes
- Includes 5,000฿ registration fee
- Does not include Paypal admin fee (+6%)
