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

Detalles

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  Descripción

  🆘 URGENT 🆘
  - 1 female volunteer from 15/01-14/02
  
  
  
  These are the available dates for the 1st half of 2025:
  - 1 male volunteer from 15/04-14/05
  - 1 male volunteer from 15/05-14/06
  - 1 female volunteer from 15/06-14/07
  - 4 volunteers from 15/06-14/07
  
  - 1 or 2 head volunteers from 01/05-14/06
  - 1 or 2 head volunteers from 01/06-14/07
  
  The 2nd half of 2025 is now open for applications.
  
  
  ⚠️ IMPORTANT INFO PLEASE READ ⚠️
  - We need passionate, hard working and flexible 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 all the volunteers start training together.
  - Volunteers over 21 years old only (this also means no families with children).
  - 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-Governmental 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!

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  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Enseñanza

  Cuidado de animales

  Hostelería/turismo
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  Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  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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  Proyectos con niños

  En este proyecto podría haber niños. Para obtener más información, consulta nuestras directrices y consejos aquí.

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  Ayuda

  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 !!! We are looking for serious, dedicated and hard working volunteers. The work we do is very important, so we need passionate and motivated people to help us spread awareness. You will work 5 days a week, 5 hours per day depending on how busy the schedule is. The work hours are spread throughout the day, so do not expect to work 5h non stop and have the rest of the day off. Due to the nature of the tasks this is not possible.
  
  
  This is not the place for you if you:
  ❌ plan to get a cheap room in exchange for few hours of lazy work
  ❌ don't like living in a remote area and expect a city lifestyle
  ❌ are afraid of (wild) animals, small or big
  ❌ don't like repetitive meals based on noodles or rice
  ❌ can’t deal with the heat for a full month
  
  But it is for you if you:
  ✅ don't mind getting your hands dirty and working hard for 5h or more per day, 5 days a week
  ✅ want to be a part of a meaningful project that will definitely leave an impact on you
  ✅ wish to see elephants but with an ethical and respectful approach
  ✅ are eager learn more about elephants, ethical tourism and Thai culture
  ✅ would like to be a part of a big team (14 to 16 volunteers) and meet people from all around the world
  
  
  ⚠️ 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
  
  - 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 1,5 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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  Idiomas hablados

  Inglés: Fluido
  Holandés: Fluido

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  Alojamiento

  We offer a shared (2 people per room) log cabin with a fan (NO AC) and a mini fridge. You will share the room with another volunteer of the same gender (unless you are a couple or friends).
  
  Pets are not allowed!
  
  The hotel is 48 hectares large and is covered with large trees, located beside the river Kwai Noi.
  
  During your free time you can enjoy the hotel's swimming pool from 9am to 6pm.
  
  There is Wifi at the lobby and the swimming pool, so you will need to buy a thai sim card with unlimited data. 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 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. It is not possible to use this kitchen for cooking, you will only be able to chose between the different options on the menu.
  
  There is drinkable water available for free nearby the reception.

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  Algo más...

  Erawan waterfalls and Kanchanaburi city are reachable by taxi. We have a book available with more informations about what to do in the surroundings.

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  Un poco más de información

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    Acceso a Internet

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    Acceso a Internet limitado

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    Tenemos animales

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    Somos fumadores

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    Puede alojar familias

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  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Más de dos

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  Este anfitrión cobra una tarífa

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  7 usd a day for food

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