Hi!

My name is Naomi. I did four weeks of volunteer work with my boyfriend at the Social Project in Thailand. It was the most amazing experience of my life so far!

Volunteering?
The fact that you are reading about my experience on the Volunteer Worldwide website probably already shows that you’re interested in volunteering! You probably still have a lot of questions that need answering. Which organisation should I go with? And which project is best for me? Maybe my experience can help you a little!

Volunteer Worldwide
I came across Volunteer Worldwide at an international exhibition. I did a lot of research and compared different organisations. The range of projects and the price were very important to me. In the end, I chose Volunteer Worldwide because I felt the price was very reasonable in relation to the service!

At the beginning of the process, while looking for a project and preparing for Thailand, I had several online video calls with someone from the team. In addition, I could contact the organisation via WhatsApp. This was very handy if you had questions, which I certainly did, as this was my first volunteering experience and everything was completely new.

Thailand
My boyfriend and I searched together for a project that suited us both. We wanted a project where we could stay together and where a variety of activities were possible. The Social Project in Thailand was the perfect choice, and looking back, I am really happy with our decision! It was the most incredible experience of my life so far.

Every day in Thailand was different. You are given a lot of freedom to decide what you want to do each day. Raimund, the owner of the project, is always open to new ideas! He guides you daily with activities and really enjoys spending time with the volunteers. The goal of the project is to help the local people towards a better future. This can be done in many ways! We helped with gardening, played with the children, assisted at the primary school, helped build a new playroom, and more. We also spent a lot of time with the family running the project. The lady of the house sells clothing and bags, and we helped her sell them at a local market. We even cooked together a few times to get a taste of Thai cuisine! As I said before, the project is very flexible. We chose to do these different activities ourselves, but it’s completely up to you.

What I found most special about the project was the people! Spending time with the family and the local villagers made me feel completely at home. The hospitality of the family and the people in the village was amazing, and it was heartwarming to see how grateful they were for my presence. The people don’t have much, but what they do have, they share with you without hesitation. It was very special to give something back to them by being there for four weeks. If I’m ever in the area again, I will definitely visit again!

If you’re looking for a varied project where you really become part of the local community, definitely choose the Social Project in Thailand. You will not regret it!

- Naomi