Volunteer at a hands-off elephant sanctuary in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Details

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  Description

  IMPORTANT INFO PLEASE READ :
  - We need passionate volunteers who are able to stay 1 MONTH !
  Unfortunately we are not able to accept volunteers who would like to stay less than 1 month because it takes a lot of time to train you and we need you to help train the next volunteers. NO EXCEPTIONS !
  - Arrivals are on the 1st and 15th of each month, this is very important because it is easier that all the volunteers start training together.
  - Volunteers over 21 years old only.
  - Please check our availabilities on our calendar before contacting us. *RED MEANS NO AVAILABILITY !*
  - We are a hands-off sanctuary, this means no touching, bathing or feeding the elephants. There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. It does not matter if you are a veterinarian, wildlife biologist or elephant whisperer, NO ONE TOUCHES THE ELEPHANTS. So please do not expect to take care of them.
  - We understand that not everyone speaks fluent english, however we do expect a certain level of comprehension and communication. You need to be able to understand the tasks given to you and the questions visitors might ask you. You also need to be able to communicate with us, the other volunteers and visitors. If you are not able to hold up an entire conversation in english, we might not be the place for you since it is an essential tool for us but you as well.
  
  We are a Non-Government Organization, that takes care of old elephants. We are a completely hands-off elephant sanctuary. Our purpose is to rescue and rehabilitate elephants from a life of stress and exploitation. Every day our elephants roam freely in nature, without a schedule. We aim to be an example of the ethical change in the elephant tourism industry and we need you to help us spread the word ! We are a completely hands off sanctuary which means no touching, feeding or bathing the elephant for the visitors or volunteers. Only the mahouts (the elephant caretakers) are allowed to do this. Our goal is to educate people, spread the word and not let people unknowingly participate in animal abuse.
  
  EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO UNDERSTAND WILDLIFE.
  
  Elephants are tourist magnets, they’re on everybody’s bucket list when they visit Thailand.
  Our Dutch founders created this NGO because during their experience (since 2009 and 2013) in the elephant tourism industry, they have seen the abuse elephants endure in places that call themselves ‘sanctuaries’.
  
  Elephants suffer a lifetime for tourist entertainment. We decided ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, it is time to make a REAL CHANGE.
  The idea was born to set up a sanctuary that is a truly safe haven for elephants, where these social mammals can interact and behave naturally.
  
  IT IS TIME TO BOOST ETHICAL TOURISM !
  
  This is your chance to be a part of the change.
  Combine your love of animals with volunteer work.
  Let's team up and speak for those who have no voice.
  Discover & meet people from all over the world.
  Not only will you learn about elephants, but also how to work as a team and about Thai culture.
  
  What could be more rewarding than standing up for the rights of these gentle giants & helping to spread our message of animal friendly tourism.
  
  This will be a great adventure you will never forget!
  
  We are looking for flexible and hard working people :
  Working hours are +/- 5 hours per day, 5 days per week.
  However in the event of a tour working hours can be longer, the extra hours will be balanced on other work hours.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Teaching

  Animal Care

  Hospitality/Tourism
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  This is a rare opportunity to be a part of an organisation that stands up for the rights of captive elephants. You will learn to know our elephants Malee, Kammoon and Kham Phaeng, but also a lot of information about elephants in general, the elephant tourism industry and ethical tourism.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  As a non profit organization, we rely on YOU to help.
  If you are looking for a free holiday we are NOT the place for you !!!
  You will work 5 days a week, +/- 5 hours per day depending on how busy the schedule is.
  The work we do is very important, so we need passionate and motivated people to help us spread awareness.
  
  !!! ATTENTION !!! : taking care of the elephants is NOT part of your tasks, that is the mahout’s (the elephant caretaker) job. So do not expect to feed, bathe or touch the elephants. You will NEVER under any circumstance be able to approach the elephants (at least 20 meters at all times). HANDS OFF = NO TOUCHING, BATHING, FEEDING.
  
  We need your help with the following tasks :
  
  - Guiding or assisting with tours
  This is our most important and essential task, we need the most help with this.
  No experience needed but we need people who are fluent in english and ideally one of the following languages dutch, french, german or spanish at all times. English is essential, since we use it every day to communicate.
  People who do not speak well english might have to learn the language first and come back in a couple of years ;)
  
  - In case of a large group the schedule can be a little more intense and we need a lot of help for the preparations
  
  - Taking photos and videos
  
  - Updating our social media channels
  
  - Helping develop our booklets and activities for children
  
  - Training new volunteers
  
  - Helping with our interactive museum about elephants and elephant poo paper factory
  
  - Helping our mahouts with elephant food, and the farmers land
  
  - General upkeep of the office (making sure we always have enough elephant poo paper, ice blocks in stock etc.)
  
  - Any other tasks (if you have any special skills let us know !)
  
  We are looking for individuals who are both independent & a team player.
  
  
  
  SEPARATE POSITION : We need head volunteers who are able to stay 2 MONTHS. The tasks, conditions and availability are different for this position. To know more about this, read below.
  
  As the head volunteer you are the bridge between the volunteers and the founders.
  You will be the go to person for the volunteers if they have questions about basic/daily things. The founders will be available for questions or to discuss issues, they are always the ones making the final decision in tasks or activities.
  
  Usually you will work a bit more than 5 hours per day. Especially on tour days; you need to be available before the tour starts and do the final check at the end of the day. Since the work load will be a little more intense, you will have your own cabin :)
  
  Tasks:
  - Making + sending out the daily schedule
  - Training days with the new volunteers
  - Having the overview what everyone is doing an how tasks are going
  - Filling in as a tourguide whenever is needed
  - Being the first person for basis questions from volunteers
  - Signaling issues within the team
  
  Skills:
  - Excellent planning and organising skills
  - Flexibility
  - Leading skills
  - Sense of responsibility
  
  If you are interested in the position of head volunteer, please write "head volunteer" in the subject of your message, as well as your available dates. Arrival dates stay the same, on the 1st and 15th of each month, minimum stay of 2 months is required, no exceptions. The calendar on our profile does not apply for this position, please contact us to know our availability.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  We offer a shared (2 people per room) log cabin with a fan and a mini fridge.The hotel is 48 hectares large and is covered with large trees, located beside the river Kwai Noi.
  
  Unfortunately pets are not allowed !
  
  During your free time you can enjoy the hotel's swimming pool from 8 am to 6 pm.
  
  There is Wifi in the cabin, but we strongly recommend you to buy a thai sim card, because we communicate a lot throughout the day via whatsapp. It is possible due to weather circumstances that the Wifi cuts off for a few days.
  
  The area is quite isolated and there's not much to do at a walking distance, to go the nearest city (Kanchanaburi, which offers many western conveniences such as western restaurants, and super markets) you will have to take a taxi, it is a half hour drive. If you want to get around and explore the area you will have to take a taxi or hire a scooter in the city.
  
  A 5 minute bicycle ride, or a 10-15 minute walk, will bring you to a small convencience store with drinks, snacks and products such as shampoo, laundry powder.
  
  You will have three meals a day at a small local restaurant, where you will eat typical Thai food. There are vegetarian options, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate vegans since there are no vegan options.
  If you have any food allergies, please consider if you will be able to eat the local food for 4 weeks. There are no other food options nearby.
  
  There is drinkable water available for free nearby the reception.

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  What else ...

  Erawan waterfalls and Kanchanaburi city are reachable by taxi. We have a book available with more informations about what to do in the surroundings.
  
  We might seem a little harsh in our profile, but unfortunately we have to since too many people don't read the info correctly and don't comprehend our ethics and expectations :)

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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  This host charges a fee

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  Why does workaway.info allow listings of hosts who charge money?

  In developing countries (Where most hosts are involved in charity work or community development) some of our hosts may ask for a small donation to help the host family or charity (often less then 5 dollars per day) Workaway will allow this listing when the donation goes directly to the family or charity and is just to cover the cost of the volunteer‘s stay.  (This will be clearly marked on the host listing).
  We will strictly not allow listings posted by agents, “middle men” or projects who we feel are looking to profit from a volunteers stay.
   

   

   

  5 euro a day for food

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