PROGRAM LENGTH:                                  2 weeks – 6 months

PROJECT LAUNCH DATES:                       The 1^st and 3^rd Monday of every month.

ARRIVAL DATE:                                          3 days prior to your Start Date (Friday)

THOSE WELCOMED:                                  Men or Women over 18.

SLEEPING:                                                     All volunteers in this project stay in or near the Friends For Asia volunteer house.  Friends For Asia operates out of a large teak wood house, located in a quiet, safe neighborhood in the city of Chiang Mai.  The house is two stories, can accommodate up to 10 volunteers at any one time, has air conditioning, western style toilets and hot water showers.  If room is not available in the Friends For Asia House, volunteers may have to stay in one of the neighborhood apartment buildings.  If this occurs, your project fee will cover your accommodation costs.  If a volunteer decides to stay in a place of their own choosing, then they will have to pay for their own accommodations.  The apartments are nice, but some rooms may not have air conditioning.  You will have to commute daily by public transportation or bicycle.

EATING:                                                         Breakfast is provided for all volunteers at the Friends For Asia House.  All volunteers are invited to join the students, teachers and administration for lunch at the school every work day.  Special diet requirements or restrictions can easily be accommodated.  Volunteers who decide not to stay in Friends For Asia housing will not have meals provided.

PICK-UP INFO:                                            A Friends For Asia representative will be waiting at your arrival point and guide you to your accommodation and project location.

TIMETABLE:                                                  During term time you will typically be teaching Monday to Friday for 3-5 hours a day.  These classes will either be in the mornings, afternoons or both.  The school has a one hour lunch break.  The school year goes from mid-May to late February.  The school is closed on weekends and all Buddhist and Thai holidays. 

FEES:                                                              Participation in the Teaching Monks Volunteer Project starts at $695 for two weeks.  Each additional week is $100.

After morning alms rounds, the day begins with morning assembly at the monastery schools. All the novices, line up and the faculty and staff give morning announcements, followed by prayers and meditation. Classes begin at 8:30. Fresh, Thai curries and stir fried dishes, served over steamed jasmine rice are served for lunch. Volunteers are encouraged to share their lunch time chatting with novices and other staff. After lunch, more prayers and meditation is practiced before classes resume in the afternoon. The school day ends at 4:00pm.

Our volunteers teach novice Buddhist monks, ranging in age from 12-18, at five different monastery schools. Objectives of the schools consist of "enhancing the knowledge of monks and novices in both religious and secular subjects" and "providing secondary education for boys who are unable to afford such opportunities elsewhere." All the students at four of the schools are novice monks and many, but not all, of the faculty and administration are Buddhist monks. One of the schools has both novice monk students and non-monk students (however the majority are monks) separated by classroom. Volunteers assist the Thai faculty with English (and optionally in art) education roughly 15-20 hours a week (Monday – Friday).

You will have the choice of either leading your own class or assisting a Thai teacher in his or her daily lessons. Your placement is completely dependent upon your level of comfort within the classroom. Depending upon your educational background, you may also want to teach art or help in other subject areas and activities that may be occurring at the school during you service. It is important to the school administration that volunteers aid in English education at the school, but also that volunteers receive a rich experience about Thailand, Thai culture and Buddhism during their service. For this reason, be prepared to learn as much as you teach. Also, know that Thai Buddhist monks aren’t known for being in a hurry. Therefore, the atmosphere at the temple schools is rather relaxed.

During their service, volunteers are welcomed to join the students and teachers in practicing group meditation, Buddhist prayers and chants, along with other religious and cultural celebrations and activities that occur within the school and community. However, these activities are optional for the volunteer. The students and administration will not be hurt or upset if a volunteer doesn’t want to take part in the religious activities. They’re just happy you are there to help out.

Volunteers do not need any specific qualifications, but should enjoy working with young adults and be open and respectful to Buddhism and other cultures. Volunteers should be proficient in written and spoken English, along with creative, considering there is an incredible lack of teaching materials within the school.

Friends For Asia requires all volunteers in this project (and all other projects where volunteers work with children directly) to submit a certified police background check before volunteer service begins.