Hosting NGO
DALAA (International Volunteers for Social Development Association)
Contact person
Supannee Kaeovichit, Incoming coordinator dalaa.thailand.main2@gmail.com Tel: 66-74-266286
Project Place
Baan Kok Riang village, Hatyai, Songkhla province
Background
Local/ social situation/ needs for the project
Name and description of the local host
Our societies nowadays are so used to the convenient way of living and buying everything from the market without realizing that most of the food products sold in market heavily contained dangerous chemicals and pesticides, which would eventually lead to severe health problems. From this concern, Mr. Suthep (Loong Jaeng) and Mr. Kanong (Loong Sian), the main community members in Baan Kok Riang that took the initiative to turn their land properties covering approximately 1 hector of agriculture land and 3,200 sq. meters of the house compound into an experimenting space for non-chemical agriculture in this village. Since last 2 years, both have been laboriously growing variety of vegetables, rice and local seasonal fruits like pineapples, papayas, coconuts, etc. for their own consumption and this have helped generate motivations for the other villagers to follow in their footsteps.
The main purpose for this effort is to try to create a learning space functioning sort of as a working model for the surrounding community members and local Thai volunteers, especially for the new generation, to grow healthy organic non-chemically induced rice, vegetables, and fruits for their family’s daily consumption without harming the nature. Unfortunately, both of the project initiators started their own plans, without having much support from anyone else. Therefore, DaLaa saw this as a meaningful project for us and volunteers to be involved in, as well as taking the opportunity to learn about this highly sustainable self-reliant living, especially the most crucial during the initial time of the project when there are a lot of works to do and things to get improved around. Moreover, it’s very important to give them all the help and support that they need in bringing about the awareness and on the meantime build-up collaborations and train apprentices within their own and neighboring communities.
Aims and expected impact of the project
- Support the future “Baan Kok Riang Non-Chemical Agriculture Project”
- Learn from each other among volunteers themselves, and from volunteers to villagers vice versa through “learning by doing” concept
- Build good relationship between volunteers and local people
- Be a part of Baan Kok Riang community
- Let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere
Main voluntary work
Considering that this is going to be the initial attempt of the long term project, the
volunteers should be able to handle physical hard work, expecting that there will be some construction work. Everyday work will involve nurturing vegetables plants and fruit trees, collecting vegetables for your own consumption, growing seeds or nursing young plants, as well as helping out around the house, such as cooking, doing dishes, doing small maintenance works around the house. At the end of the day, you will have your own free time or can take the opportunity together with our project hosts and local vols. to further learning Thai language and as for the sharing exchange, teaching English. Some children may come to your house for a visit. You may also take the chance to gather with them working on for some useful activities, such as gardening small plants and herbs, picking up rubbish, cleaning the house compound, whatever activities imagined that can further help enhance the relationship with the locals.
Approximate working hours: For the gardening, normally, you will start from 7-9 a.m. and then again around 4-6 p.m. Time can differ each day depending on the heat, the amount of work to be done, your own ability and endurance. During the hottest time of the day, you will come back at home and do small things around or spend time reading or learning Thai language.
Accommodation Location
Type of building: Small wooden hut
- Sleeping: Sharing with other vols
- Meals: Cooked by vols. & locals
- How and how long to go to work: Bicycle or the host’s car, it takes about 10 minutes.
- Smoking: Only outside building
- Internet access: At home and at internet café in the village
- Any other points:
Laundry: hand-wash and laundry machine.
Clothes worn in the village: You will be living in an area with elderly people and children around so it is appropriate that you dress modestly, for example no short skirts or shorts too far above the knees. Also women should wear tops that cover your shoulders. You will learn more about Thai culture at the introduction day so please don’t worry too much. You will quickly learn where in it is best to dress more informally and when it is important to cover up. Hospital and healthcare center: Yes.
Location
Baan Kok Riang is a small village situated in the outskirt of Hat Yai. The population is
mainly Buddhist. The main careers for the villagers are working in rubber plantation, and many young people mainly work in the city.
Terminal
- Nearest international airport: Hatyai International Airport
- Transportation from the capital or other major city: From Bangkok; By place: Most prices will be 1,200-3,200 Baht or more, depending on the airlines. By bus: Faster than train and there will also be air conditioning. You will leave in the late afternoon/ evening and arrive in Hat Yai early morning. Prices are about 700-900 Baht. By train: Cheapest. Prices depend on the class.
Other activities
You will have chances to visit local attractions, participating in local social events, and
attending other activities organized by DaLaa if there is any when during the volunteers’ stay.
Qualification for volunteers
- Required: Interests in agriculture activities and be ready to learn the local way of living and working, open-minded, flexible with spontaneous way of working. The willing to learn Thai language is a must for this project.
Attraction for volunteers
Experience with living with Thai community/ of growing their own food/ with Thai culture
and language/ of doing activities with children
Financial condition
- Fee to be paid for the full period: 24,000 Baht (729 US$ as of 2014 Feb. 02) for 3 months that means 8,000 Baht (242 US$) per month.
- Pocket money to be paid for the full period: None
Meetings
- On arrival training: 2 days on arrival introduction at DaLaa office in Hatyai
- Special care during Project: There’ll be regular visits from DaLaa staff.
- Evaluation meeting: 1 day at DaLaa office or in the village, depending on your convenience