VOLUNTEERS WITHOUT BORDERS OUR VOLUNTEERS SCHOOL UNIVERSITY STUDY

VOLUNTEERS WITHOUT BORDERS

OUR VOLUNTEERS SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY STUDY, RESEARCH OR SERVICE LEARNING GROUPS CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING & CSR GROUPS VOLUNTEERS & RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ALLIANCE AMBASSADORS Undertaking either Adding a Community Undertaking such dedicated CSR or programmes as part combined CSR/Team of their syllabus Building programmes. Service based component into their customised tourist route itinerary, provides a rewarding experience for responsible tourists.

CS & CSR PROJECTS RESPONSIBLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AQUAPONICS & GREENHOUSES AGROFORESTRY & 2 ND REVENUE STREAMS VERMICULTURE SATURDAY SCHOOL PROGRAMME MUSHROOM HOUSES INTELLIGENT PLAYGROUND SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

OUR MISSION Establishing an equitable model for tourism has long been identified as an effective means of addressing poverty for millions. VWB offers you a hands-on role assisting in the development, training and marketing of micro and small responsibly operated tourism businesses, established along tourist routes that radiate out from tourist destinations. Your help will ensure them, and their communities, an equitable share of tourism revenue for the unique and rewarding travel experiences they provide. Alongside this, we deliver an integrated set of solutions.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Uses trained volunteers to develop online business profiles, market access, skills training, and the opportunity to earn an equitable share of tourism revenue, to responsibly operated micro and small tourism businesses along established RTA tourist routes.

AN AGROFORESTRY CENTRE • The broad benefits of using agroforestry as a powerful tool for addressing both the environmental, and socioeconomic problems in northern Thailand (and elsewhere) are clear. The problem lies in ensuring the adoption of integrated solutions is swift and widespread. • VWB has been engaged by the Abbot of Wat Koh Klang to establish an Agroforestry Development, Training & Research Centre at the Wat Don Kaew Meditation Centre and on the surrounding 1000 rai of forest land • The project, funded /supported by donors will: 1. Provide employment & NTFPs for the community. 2. Train change agents from outlying communities where burning & hunting are a problem. 3. Conduct research in agroforestry, NTFP value addition, and in responsible tourism.

THE BENEFITS OF AGROFORESTRY • Growing selected Non Timber Forest Products in community forests, adding value to them before sending them along an equitably operated supply chain, ensures villages of a viable and sustainable income. Plant and sapling nurseries required are subsidised by VWB volunteers. • Using the forest trails to engage the tourist visitors in the planting, harvesting and the value adding process adds opportunity and a responsible tourism revenue to the village income. • Protecting and reducing burning of the forests creates carbon sinks, reduces air pollution (a health issue and tourist business problem) generates oxygen and saves endangered flora & fauna.

SATURDAY SCHOOL PROGRAMMES Thai schools, particularly in rural areas find intermittent support from unqualified volunteer teachers more of a distraction than a help. Our Saturday school solution provides free and more interactive lessons, in support of those being taught in the school, to students who want them. The lessons are taught by qualified teachers assisted by our Thai and foreign volunteers.

MUSHROOM HOUSES The standard student lunch budget in rural schools does not provide enough nutrition for growing children. VWB’s bamboo and thatch mushroom houses, funded and installed by volunteers provide the schools with a source of additional nutrition, and/or revenue.

INTELLIGENT PLAYGROUNDS The donor funded volunteer installed units allow the students to re-arrange the 22 horizontal and 11 upright cured bamboo members into various configurations to suit the numerous games, challenges – as presented in the IP manual, Each may be used to teach critical thinking, leadership, teamwork and problem solving.

VERMICULTURE Worms farmed in containers and fed on food and vegetable waste produce both solid (cast) and liquid fertiliser. They provide a low cost organic option for crops produced - for consumption or sale. These projects can be funded and installed in schools by VWB volunteers.

AQUAPONICS & GREENHOUSES Volunteer funded and installed aquaponic systems in greenhouses provide fish waste based organic fertiliser to a wide range of produce grown in hanging baskets and in a controlled environment. They provide a source of additional nutrition, and/or revenue.

SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS From installing water filtration systems and building toilet blocks to constructing kitchens and additional classrooms, VWB volunteers play both a funding and hands-on role in providing the infrastructure needed to secure rural children a safe learning environment.

VWB PROJECTS WITH MEOKOK RIVER VILLAGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE THEIR MISSION IT HAS BEEN RECOGNISED THAT SCHOOLS, AND OFTEN THOSE PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES IN PERIPHERAL AREAS OF CHIANG MAI PROVINCE, HAVE BEEN UNDER-FUNDED. THIS RESULTS IN FACILITIES IN THESE SCHOOLS FREQUENTLY BEING WELL BELOW ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS. IT IS ALSO EVIDENT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE QUALITY ENGLISH TEACHING; MANY ABLE STUDENTS ARE LEAVING SCHOOL BEFORE THEIR POTENTIAL WAS MET FOR ECONOMIC REASONS; AND THAT PROVISION FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IS VERY SPARSE. IT IS THE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WHICH IS THE FUNDAMENTAL AIM OF THE PARTNERSHIP OF VOLUNTEERS WITHOUT BORDERS AND THE MAEKOK RIVER VILLAGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE.

PRIORITY 1 - HEALTH AND HYGIENE CANTEENS AND A clean place KITC H Eto Ncook S and eat is vital for students, teachers and families. TOILETS Re-furbish or build new WATER SUPPLY Tanks and wells

PRIORITY 2 - EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES DORMITORIES LIBRARIES helping to reduce absenteeism allowing children to access books and computers in their own time BEFORE NURSERY SCHOOLS NEW CLASSROOMS allowing ethnic minority children the opportunity to learn, also allowing both parents to work. giving children a clean, spacious and stimulating environment to learn in. AFTER

OUR BIGGEST PROJECT TO DATE Thomas House is well underway. This is a small Special Needs School comprising of two classrooms, multi-purpose room, toilets and teacher accommodation, built on half a hectare of (donated) land. The aim is provide opportunities for up to 24 children with severe learning difficulties to be an environment which is safe and supportive. Currently there is very little provision in the area and we are hoping that not only will Thomas House help these children, but will also act as model of what can be done, as well as a centre where local teachers can come to gain experience and learn more about how to help support children with learning difficulties in their own schools.

SINCE 2004, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER US$1, 250, 000 AND UNDERTAKEN OVER 150 PROJECTS BUT THERE IS A FAR WIDER KNOCK-ON EFFECT. ALL MATERIALS FOR VOLUNTEER PROJECTS ARE PURCHASED FROM LOCAL SHOPS LOCAL TRANSPORT IS USED TO TAKE STUDENTS TO PROJECTS LOCAL LABOURERS ARE EMPLOYED THE MRVR BUYS 90% OF SUPPLIES FROM LOCAL SHOPS

TEACHING ENGLISH AND ENGLISH TRAINING There are three main approaches. • ·Visiting international school groups who enjoy the challenge of teaching as a part of their week’s activities. Lessons are either prepared before arrival or during the time they are here. • Gap year volunteers. Young people come for 3 weeks to 3 months to assist with English teaching in local schools. • Teachers from international schools give their time to conduct professional training for local staff. These workshops have mainly been for English teaching but also have included art, special needs support and I. T.

CONTINUING EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT IN THE 38 SCHOOLS IN THE THATON REGION, THAI GOVERNMENT FUNDING WAS ONLY PROVIDED FOR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHOSE PARENTS HAD CITIZENSHIP. IN MANY SCHOOLS, THIS MEANT THAT THEY RECEIVED FUNDS FOR JUST 30% OF THE STUDENTS THEY WERE TEACHING. A FEW OTHER ONGOING PROJECTS INCLUDE SPONSORSHIP FOR MOTIVATED AND ABLE STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY. CURRENTLY 44 STUDENTS ARE BEING SPONSORED. ‘Q’ – WAS OUR FIRST STUDENT. BOTH PARENTS HAD DIED AND HE WAS LOOKED AFTER BY VERY POOR RICE-FARMING GRANDPARENTS. HE GRADUATED IN 2016 AND IS NOW STUDYING MECHANICS.

CONTACT DETAILS AND DONATIONS WE WELCOME DONATIONS OR SPONSORSHIP FOR SINGLE OR MULTIPLE PROJECTS OR TO SUPPORT ONE OR MORE PEOPLE FOR A GIVEN NUMBER OF MONTHS. YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ON THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF DONATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE BELOW; • PROJECT MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT • FOR TEACHERS / SPECIALISTS • FOR INTERNS/GRADUATES • TO VWB WITH THE STIPULATION THAT IT BE USED FOR PROJECTS/MATERIALS/RESOURCES WHEN NEEDED. WWW. VOLUNTEERS-WITHOUT-BORDERS. ORG FOR ANY OTHER QUERIES, PLEASE EMAIL US AT INFO@TRACK-OF-THE-TIGER. COM.