International University for Monks
 

Martin Brazausky - Illinois, USA - University for Monks

January, 2010

"There are many different volunteer opportunities throughout Northern Thailand and Chiang Mai.  But Friends for Asia creates a healthy mix that allows you to create your own individual experience and journey, while still having the support needed to further delve and explore the rich and unique experience of Northern Thailand.  Whether you want to learn more about Buddhism from Buddhist monks, work one-on-one with elephants and their mahouts, or share your enthusiasm and compassion at an HIV/AIDS orphanage, Friends for Asia provides a reliable base from which you can get started."

 

Calculate Price:  
= Total project fee of : $ 695

  • THE BASICS

  • PROJECT OUTLINE

  • VOLUNTEER QUALIFICATIONS


PROGRAM LENGTH:                                  2 weeks – 6 months

 

PROJECT LAUNCH DATES:                       The 1st and 3rd Monday of every month (from mid-June to late February).

 

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.  Considering classes begin in the afternoon at the university, volunteers will be on their own for lunch and dinner.  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:                                                 You will typically be teaching Monday to Saturday for 3-4 hours a day.  These classes will either be in the afternoon.  The school calendar goes from mid-June to late-February.  The school is closed on Buddhist days, Sundays and all Buddhist and Thai holidays. 

 

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

 

FEE INCLUDES:                                            Airport pick up, accommodation during orientation and entire project time, breakfast every morning, half day city tour, cultural dinner and show, onsite coordinator and 24 hour emergency assistance.

 

FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE:                          Plane tickets, travel insurance, cost of criminal police background check required for this project, cost of transportation to and from work location and accommodation, ride to the airport after service, lunch and dinner.



In the morning, the monks study Buddhism and meditation. Afternoon is class time at the university. English is the language of instruction for most classes. There are roughly 250 students at the university. Approximately half of the students are Thai and half are of other Asian nationalities (Indian, Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Laotian). This diversity makes an international learning environment at an institution focused on the higher education for Buddhist monks. For these reasons, it is a very unique school. The university is located in one of Chiang Mai’s largest and most historic temples and is in the vicinity of Chiang Mai University and other small colleges, which gives the area quite an academic atmosphere. Volunteers serve under the direction of the English department, which is staffed by a highly qualified and educated, bilingual, Thai faculty. Although most of the professors are regular Thais, a few members of the faculty are Buddhist monks.

Volunteers assist the professors in the English department with their lessons. Additionally, volunteers assist the students outside the classroom informally, practicing pronunciation, writing, conversation and other assignments and studies. There is the possibility of taking a more active role in planning lessons and writing exams. These additional tasks however, would only be offered to volunteers with experience and/or education in the field of university instruction. Occasionally, the Thai professors may ask their foreign volunteer counterparts to assist with classroom preparation and grading. Many of these responsibilities will be based upon the working relationship between the full-time Thai professor and their volunteer partner. Most volunteers will work directly with their assigned professor for three or four class hours each afternoon. A Buddhist day is selected for each week. During this Buddhist day the university is closed. When a Buddhist day falls on a week day, that day is made up on the Saturday of that week. The university is always closed on Sundays, Thai holidays and Buddhist holy days.



Volunteers in this project need to be able to speak English fluently, have an open mind, enjoy working with university students and being in an academic environment. As is mentioned above, the more experience and education a volunteer has in university instruction.