Travel news - general travel issues in Thailand

Goodwill volunteers

A new breed of travellers leave their comfort zones to connect with local people, taking in their stride language and cultural barriers.

These days there are people who do not only enjoy the luxury of seeing places thousands of miles away from their homes, but they also want to bring benefits to the people or communities they visit. They travel with a purpose.

It's an emerging trend called "voluntourism", a way by which people learn about other cultures and communities, and in Thailand, where it's only been around a few years, it's best evidenced in the aftermath of the tsunami that struck south Thailand last December when volunteers from all corners of the globe rushed to the region to help affected villagers and restore the ecology.

Jason Rolan of North by North-East Tours is a pioneer in this field. For the past six years he has been organising and coordinating voluntourism projects in Thailand 's northeast and Laos , and according to him, opportunities are open to anyone who wants to see Southeast Asia and leave a positive mark along the way.

"Our projects include anything from teaching English in rural schools, to building playgrounds, tsunami relief and cultural conservation to working with underprivileged children," he explained. Groups as well as individual volunteers are welcome. So far he has patched together groups from schools, universities, religious organisations and physicians and delivered them to places needing their services.

"Individuals or groups, our priority is to keep the project meaningful for those who stand to benefit from it. We welcome enquiries from everyone, including donors," he said.

From his experience working in the Northeast and Laos , he found that a little effort and money can make a great deal of difference to the lives of the local people.

"Once a person makes the decision to help a village or community, the next step is to make sure that place is really in need of his assistance because no matter how good our intentions, there can be unexpected downsides to every relationship. So we must do our best to ameliorate possible problems in advance.

"Tourism has the power to ring positive change. But if tourism does not involve local people and improve their lives, it will mean death of the country instead. Voluntourism is one way to keep it real and guarantee the cultural exchange we all crave," he added.

The Isan or the northeastern region of Thailand is ideal for such tour packages. And Laos is just next door, both fascinating destinations for travellers from Western countries. The people of Isan are open and friendly. They can charm even the most seasoned travellers into making return visits.

Many parts of Isan are still impoverished and have never received a single satang of outside assistance. It is the last of the regions in Thailand to modernise, and therefore makes a perfect volunteer tour destination. Volunteering tourists can bring in the much-needed financial assistance and help teach English to children, who otherwise may never get the chance to learn the language.

Areas where volunteer tourists can make a significant contribution are wildlife conservation in central and south Thailand , working with kids suffering from HIV/AIDS in Bangkok and help with tsunami relief. In the wake of the tsunami Rolan's office was flushed with requests from people wishing to extend relief assistance to victims. "We receive mails and calls to that effect even today," he said.

Travel is the fastest growing industry in the world today. Fifty years ago only a select few could hope to travel, but they are the privileged minority no more. The travel industry has grown by leaps and bounds. But having said that volunteer tourists still constitute a small minority. Even today, most travellers look for are cheap rooms and airfares and cold beer by the beach.

But that may be changing because an increasing number of travellers are beginning to show more interest not in the place they are visiting but what they will be experiencing there. These are people who _ while they like to pamper themselves _ relish being challenged intellectually and physically. They are more likely to get out of their comfort zone and connect with local people, no matter the language or cultural barrier.

"When you are building a school you will surely have a few awkward moments, say, asking the local people (co-workers) for hammer and nails. But this kind of participation is what makes for a real cross-cultural experience," Rolan said, adding, "Memories like this are the real take-home from a holiday. Such cross-cultural experiences make a strong impression on the minds of both local residents and visiting volunteers."

Rolan sees voluntourism as an extension of standard tour packages travel agents provide around the world. It won't completely replace what is being offered today, but add to what is already available in the market. Besides, it's a ticket to sustainable tourism.

Asked if his clients primarily come to volunteer help or just for a vacation, he said that depended on the client. "Sometimes they come specifically to volunteer, and other times they want to help in addition to the standard tour package.

"While we like to encourage voluntourism, it is never forced upon anyone as that would totally violate its spirit. For those volunteering help, we encourage them to tour around with their hosts since that will facilitate cultural exchange. They visit sites that are famous, famous because they are important to local people." he remarked.

Voluntourism benefits both ways. Although such tours usually take place in poor or developing countries, the experience is a revelation for all parties; a great empathy develops and a cultural rapport is established. These feelings and experiences will touch both the volunteer and the beneficiary.

Packages are created according to the requirements of the village or community and what the clients want.

"Sometimes a village, which our client has already visited, needs assistance. We raise the matter with villagers to determine what they need and devise a package accordingly. At other times the client tells us he wants to help a certain group in a certain area.

"We are willing to listen to all requests and try to accommodate as much as possible. But most importantly the projects must be mutually beneficial, not one-sided," he asserted.

The requests come from high-end organisations, university alumni associations, museum groups, press groups, and others.

One of the more popular activities is helping children and there are several ways of doing it _ like teaching English in Isan or tsunami-affected areas, or working for an orphanage _ the possibilities are many. In Laos , the popular choice of volunteer tourists is building schools.

Professionals like dentists, ocular surgeons and paramedics are also more than willing to extend their services.

"We match their expertise with the needs of a particular area or group and channel them accordingly.

"Parasitologists are sent to wildlife conservation organisations, while young men with strong hands dig wells or assist in the building of toilets, bathrooms and schools.

"So it really depends upon the organisation wishing to volunteer, and what we know of the villages needing assistance," he concluded.

MORE INFO

WHERE TO GO FOR VOLUNTEER JOBS:

- Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (02-262-6606).
- The Foundation to Encourage the Potential of Disabled Persons in Chiang Mai (053-852-172); www.infothai.com/disabled.
- Asian Elephant Foundation ((02-278-0924).
- Mirror Art Group, Chiang Rai (053-737-412); www.mirrorartgroup.org and www.ecoventurethailand.com.
- North by North-East Tours , Nakhon Phanom (042-513-572, 514-225); www.north-by-north-east.com.
Bangkok Post 11 August 2005 www.bangkokpost.com