Program Name: Hill Tribe Support Project

Country Where Program is Located: Thailand

Exact Location of Program: Hill Tribe Support Project, Mae Sariang

Description of Project:
This is a project designed to house children who have come from far away villages to attend school in the valley. It is essential a boarding dorm for students who have left their families to attend school. The project will eventually have a hotel on its property where the students will learn valuable hospitality skills. The kids who come to the Hill Tribe Support Project Base generally belong to the Karen Hill Tribe. Karen people are found on both sides of the Thai-Burmese border. In Burma the government is actively attempting to destroy their culture through violence and oppression. On the Thai side of the border, although there is peace, Karen people face hardships that arise from being marginalized by the Thai government and mainstream society due to the fact that they have their own distinct culture, dress, and language and are not ethnic Thai. Karen kids rarely have the same opportunities as other Thais and need extra help to get an education and acceptable quality of life. You can get involved and help by participating in this program.

Description of Location:
The Hill Tribe Support project is in a small village 10 minutes outside of the town of Mae Sariang. It is in a lush, rice-producing, valley surrounded by steep mountains and dense jungle. It is about 3 hours’ drive west of Chiang Mai and about an hour away from Burma.There are three seasons – hot season from March through June, rainy season from June through October, and cool season from October through February – cool being a relative term as it is still very hot by most standards, but can be cooler at night. Cool season is actually the best weather of the year.

Description of Possible Service Projects available on this program:

Project 1: Teaching Assistant at the School
Location of Project: Baan Rai School,Mae Sariang
Description of Service:Teaching English and assistant teaching at alocal school. English classes happen daily and native English speakers are a huge help to the students and teachers.
Dates: Open Enrollment from September 2nd, 2010 through May 26th, 2011. School is not in session during November and May.
Hours per Week: 20 (10am-2pm daily).
Transport to Project Location from Program Location: The school is within easy walking distance of the Hilltribe Support Project Base.

Project 2: Harvesting Rice/Garden Work (Seasonal)
Description of Service: Help plant and harvest food for the ethnic Karen kids that live at the Hilltribe Support Project.
Location of Project: The gardens at the Hilltribe Support Project Base.
Dates: Open Enrollment from September 2nd, 2010 through May 26th, 2011.
Transport to project location from program location: N/A (This project occurs at the program location).
Note: Rice is planted between April and June, then harvested between October and November. There are additional crops grown and harvested at different times, but rice takes the most work.

Project 3: Tutoring and Homework Help
Location of Project: On-site at the Hilltribe Support Project Base.
Transport to Project Location from Program Location: N/A (This project occurs at the program location).
Description of Service: Tutor local students one-on-one and in small groups, and help the ethnic Karen kids that live at the Hilltribe Support Project with English homework.
Dates: Open Enrollment from September 2nd, 2010 through May 26th, 2011. School is not in session during November and May, but tutoring can continue.
Hours per Week: Up to 30.

Staff: Our wonderful local staff is comprised of members of several hill tribes as well as Thais. You’ll find yourself well cared for, well fed with amazing Thai food, and in great company. Additionally, foreign staff from the United States, Australia, and elsewhere come through at different times of the year.

Start Location: Student volunteers will be met by our staff in Chiang Mai, and then take a bus or a car to Mae Sariang.

Transportation (how to get there, how to leave): Take a public bus from Chiang Mai (it takes about five hours).

Accommodations: Student volunteers will sleep the traditional Karen way, on mats underneath mosquito netsinelevated bamboo houses. Rooms are divided by male and female with several people sharing each room.

Medical Facilities: There is a hospital in Mae Sariang just 10 minutes away. More serious issues can be handled at the high quality hospitals in Chiang Mai, about three hours away.

Food available: Everyone cooks and eats together. Our resident base manager, Sun, is a professionally trained chef and cooks unbelievable Thai food. There are also small restaurants and noodle shops around town. Students will eat breakfast and lunch at the Base and are free to cook or buy their own dinner each evening.

Cell phone reception: Reliably mediocre. Students should plan on purchasing a basic cell phone for about 30 dollars and spending $5-$10 per week on phone charges. International cell phones work here, but incur much higher charges than locally purchased phones, even for international calls.

Availability of Internet: There is an Internet connection at the Hill Tribe Support Project Base as well as numerous Internet cafes in town.

Laundry: Students can do their own laundry by hand or have it done for them at their own expense (about $10 per load).

Local Contact/managing local staff: Mr.Yutthana Saengthian-Ngan

Program leader/Managing Director: Jason Miller (JasonM@rusticpathways.com)

Optional Activities: Hiking, soccer, massage, meditation sessions with Monks, waterfalls, visit national parks, Karen villages and Burmese Karen refugee camps.

Packing List: http://www.rusticpathways.com/thailand/orphanage.php

Medical Requirements: All students must consult their doctor for suggested precautions to take when traveling.