As travellers, it’s crucial to give back to the communities we visit, so why not considervolunteering? Chiang Mai is rife with volunteer opportunities, whether with the environment, animals, or people. The most lauded option is the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, which runs a well-respected rehabilitation centre for elephants. They accept volunteers for anywhere from one day to two weeks. Here, a volunteer stint might see you bathing elephants, assisting in conservation programmes, or working with local Karen tribes to retire elephants from trekking camps. If you prefer smaller wards, ENP also runs a dog rescue facility, with volunteering opportunities up to 4 weeks.
For those curious about volunteering with local communities, the Thai Freedom House in Chiang Mai runs a not-for-profit educational centre focusing on job and language training for refugees. Volunteers typically help by teaching English or working in the office, with stays from one to two months. There’s also Art Relief International, a volunteer organisation that offers therapeutic art classes to disadvantaged social groups, with opportunities as diverse as running the classes to helping with the programme logistics.
As travellers, it’s crucial to give back to the communities we visit, so why not considervolunteering? Chiang Mai is rife with volunteer opportunities, whether with the environment, animals, or people. The most lauded option is the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, which runs a well-respected rehabilitation centre for elephants. They accept volunteers for anywhere from one day to two weeks. Here, a volunteer stint might see you bathing elephants, assisting in conservation programmes, or working with local Karen tribes to retire elephants from trekking camps. If you prefer smaller wards, ENP also runs a dog rescue facility, with volunteering opportunities up to 4 weeks.
For those curious about volunteering with local communities, the Thai Freedom House in Chiang Mai runs a not-for-profit educational centre focusing on job and language training for refugees. Volunteers typically help by teaching English or working in the office, with stays from one to two months. There’s also Art Relief International, a volunteer organisation that offers therapeutic art classes to disadvantaged social groups, with opportunities as diverse as running the classes to helping with the programme logistics.
