Volunteer life abroad in Southeast Asia

About life as a volunteer in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal

Travel as a volunteer in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Nepal, not as a tourist.

Helping others gives a  different meaning to your trip, another purpose.  You are no longer treated as a tourist and get closer to local people, respected for your help.

When you impact local people in exchange they impact you!  You help people and they help you, a very gratifying experience.

Face the unexpected with patience.  Think of it as a learning experience and that you will have stories to tell. 

 

Try it, get closer with a local NGO, OpenmindProjects.

Apply and let’s discuss your volunteer ambitions and options!

 

Imagine yourself as a volunteer in Southeast Asia

Imagine yourself as volunteer abroad in Southeast Asia, immersed in another culture in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Nepal.
Imagine living with local people who speak another language, eat different food.  Imagine not being uncomfortable but instead appreciating the difference, seeing it as a learning opportunity.
Decide to test your comfort zone and cope with the unexpected! Then it is easy to imagine how this opens your mind, the many things you can learn and how you can grow when you volunteer abroad!
When you volunteer with OpenmindProjects, we help you imagine before you go.
We talk to you and you can call, contact us whenever you want.  And before you go, we send you a Volunteer Handbook with advice and information about culture, teaching, language, travel and more.
But of course nothing is like the real experience!

Cross culture understanding for open minds, for global volunteers

Living in and learning about another culture is as fascinating as it is enriching.  You don’t only learn how people live.  You live with them.  You eat their food and you have to consider how you dress.  When in Rome do as the Romans.
Even more enriching, you have a chance to learn about local values, what is important and what is not, how people think and look at the world.
With OpenmindProjects, a locally based NGO, you have a chance to experience all this!
Food is cheap, delicious and spicy.  You dress casually for the sun and neat for work.  When plans change, you learn to be patient, to go with the flow.
You understand that ‘maybe’ can mean both maybe, yes or no.  A smile may also mean yes or no or maybe!  Standing in line, queuing, means standing in a crowd not a line.
So, imagine yourself in another culture, in Southeast Asia!

Volunteer Advice: some Do’s and Don’ts.

You will get many more when you talk to us and we send you our Volunteer Handbook and when we meet.
Do respect local people and their way of doing things
Don’t say anything negative about the royal family in Thailand or you may get into trouble.
Do cover your shoulders, elbows and knees when visiting a temple.
Do use your fingers facing down and beckon towards yourself to hail a taxi or ask for a waiter to come to your table.
Do always be polite.
Don’t be impatient.
Don’t say no, say ‘maybe not’ instead and with a smile, to be polite.
Do prepare yourself for volunteer life abroad before you go.  We help you to learn about country, culture, some language and volunteer work.
Do ask another volunteer for more tips and advice.
Do ask us for more tips and advice.  

Bridging the gap as a volunteer

Southeast Asia is full of nice guesthouses at decent prices for volunteers and locals.
There are also many expensive hotels for tourists and locals.  The same goes for food and eating out.
The gap between rich and poor is wide.
That is why we, OpenmindProjects, are here.
That is why you, the volunteer, come to make an impact!
Bridge the gap.  Eat and live as a local.  Help as a volunteer!

Explore Asia while volunteering

 Explore Thailand as a volunteer

We help you find excursions, activities and treks, including to the unseen places!  There is so much to do and see.  Go to the sea, the mountains, the rivers and jungles, or cities and towns from Bangkok to isolated villages! Thailand

Explore Laos as a volunteer

Laos is a small country with beautiful mountains and rivers, waterfalls and green jungles to explore.  You’ll encounter many different ethnic groups and cultures in Laos, and speaking different languages! Laos

Explore Cambodia as a volunteer

Cambodia has an ancient culture, beautiful nature, mountains, jungles and the sea.  Don’t miss the magnificent Angkor Wat outside Siem Reap, dating from the once great Khmer empire. Cambodia

Explore Nepal as a volunteer

One of the most beautiful countries in the world with the Himalayas, lush jungles and wildlife.  Meet people from many ethnic backgrounds in this beautiful but very poor country! Nepal

Explore Myanmar

Another beautiful country, poor but  presently with major problems.  Another Southeast Asian country with many ethnic groups and amazing nature. Ask us for more information: this is our home and we’re happy to talk to you, tell you more!