School Construction

location
1 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Volunteer along side local tradesman to assist in the construction of houses & schools
  • Get stuck in and 'hands dirty' on this active project
  • Get involved in laying bricks, doing carpentry, painting, laying tiles, and landscaping/gardening
  • Help to renovate and re-build homes and community centres
  • Stay close to the beach!


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Join ongoing and existing projects at homes, schools and other community buildings.

There are many families in Thailand that live under poor housing conditions and many of its local community areas and facilities such as temples, hospitals or schools still need a lot of improvement.
This program can help to improve the living facilities of local homes and community buildings, ...

About the program

There are many families in Thailand that live under poor housing conditions and many of its local community areas and facilities such as temples, hospitals or schools still need a lot of improvement.
This program can help to improve the living facilities of local homes and community buildings, something which the local people are very grateful for! You will be helping in much needed construction and renovation work by creating proper sanitation facilities, make housing safer places to live in and ensuring communities have a greater authority over their own development initiatives.
Volunteers can take part in light work such as cleaning the area, mixing cement and painting to, as well as harder tasks such as building walls, plastering and repairing roofing. Participants will be instructed and supervised closely by our coordinator who has ample experience in construction work to make sure that all the processes are safe, and the housing conditions are safe for the local people to live.
This is a rewarding project where you can see your hard work paying off and would suit anyone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty and working as part of a team.

Location
Hua Hin, is a lively fisherman-town and popular tourist spot these days offering all the standard beach stuff like snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing and with plenty of restaurants and tourist things like spas, water park, golf, shops and markets. There is a mountain at the end of the beach called Khoa Tekiab, with a temple that overlooks the beach. Surrounded by national parks, it’s a mountainous region where you can explore waterfalls and caves on various adventures. Buddhism is very prominent here and you will certainly get a good taste of the Buddhist way of life.

Motorbike Hire
Please note, motorbike hire is strictly prohibited for volunteers, including when outside the centre on weekends. If a participant is found to have hired a motorbike, this will result in termination of the program with no refund. 

Typical day

Monday to Friday:
After breakfast, you will head off to the construction project; this will mainly be at local houses and community facilities. There you will be briefed on your tasks by our coordinator about the day’s project. Expect to do construction and renovation work at the project location ...

Typical day

Monday to Friday:
After breakfast, you will head off to the construction project; this will mainly be at local houses and community facilities. There you will be briefed on your tasks by our coordinator about the day’s project. Expect to do construction and renovation work at the project location for 4-5 hours per day with a lunch break in between. Lunch can be at the volunteer house or near the project site.

*Schedule possible to change due to the project and community needs at the time. Volunteer flexibility and adaptability is important to a positive volunteering experience. 


Free-time activities

Tuesday & Wednesday Evening
Volunteers have the option to go to the night market in Hua Hin city. Try some of the delicious local food that is freshly cooked in front of you. The street food is super cheap and tasty!

Friday Evening
You can go to the Cicada Market, a colourful night market offering ...

Free-time activities

Tuesday & Wednesday Evening
Volunteers have the option to go to the night market in Hua Hin city. Try some of the delicious local food that is freshly cooked in front of you. The street food is super cheap and tasty!

Friday Evening
You can go to the Cicada Market, a colourful night market offering freshly cooked food from different stalls. Look around the many art exhibitions, see the local handmade products and souvenirs and listen to live music featuring local artists.

Apart from chilling out at the beach, on weekends you can also try snorkelling, eat at the many seafood restaurants, play a game of golf, relax at a spa, go shopping, visit local markets (including a popular night market), and Hua Hin’s Vana Nava water park.

Khao Tekiab, a mountain at the end of the beach with a temple above, is also a popular spot, overlooking the beach. Hua Hin is also surrounded by beautiful national parks. A little further away is the Pa La-U Waterfall and the  mystical Phraya Nakhon cave for the more adventurous!

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Involvement Volunteers IVI

Accommodation
3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
1 day orientation
Daily transportation to project
In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
Fundraising support
University course credits (where applicable)
Certificate of Completion

Airport Pickup at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.

A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Bangkok BKK (Suvarnabhumi) Airport, Level 2, Entrance 4. You must arrive between 06.00 and 16:00 on Sunday.

If arriving outside the pickup times on Sunday, you can book a private transfer or extra night for a small charge. 

From the airport to the accommodation in Hua Hin, it takes around 4 hours by public bus and then a shuttle bus. 

Accommodation

You will be placed in one of our two centres in Hua Hin: Lotus House and Sunshine House (roughly 7km apart). Allocation is random and requests cannot be made in advance. Both are located in a village closer to Hua Hin with easy access to all daily necessities so that the participants can be at ease. The centres include a canteen, an outdoor swimming pool, and a garden. All rooms are equipped with bunk beds, shared bathrooms, and air conditioning. Rooms are single gender and sleep 4-12 people. The accommodation has wifi, hot showers, and western toilets. There are also private room options available.

*To ensure the security of our facilities, a key deposit of 300 THB (in cash) is required from every participant. This needs to be paid at the check-in time of your upon arrival at the accommodation and then you will receive your keys. This deposit will be refunded when the keys are returned, provided none are lost. If any keys are lost, the deposit is non-refundable. We advise you to bring a padlock if staying in Lotus house and for Sunshine house you will get a locker key.

Hua Hin centre has access to local shops, and laundry and easily get a transport facility by using the app GRAB.  

  • - 10 Km from the accommodation to Hua Hin airport (15-20 mins)
  • - 11 Km from the accommodation to the Bus stop to go to Suvarnabhumi airport
  • - 8 Km from the accommodation to Hua Hin night market/ mall
  • - 9 km from the accommodation to Hua Hin Private Hospital
  • - 5 Km from the accommodation to medical center
*Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.


Food & Beverages

You will receive 3 meals on weekdays, and 2 on weekends. All the meals served inside the accommodation are homestyle, vegetarian-friendly and you can expect that they will be typically Thai, including plenty of rice or noodle dishes with vegetables and occasionally some meat will be provided as well, along with seasonal fruits for dessert.

While we do our best to accommodate our participants, what we provide for most meals is local cuisine. If you are a picky eater, have dietary restrictions, or if you think that you will not be satisfied with the local dishes provided, you might want to consider supplementing our menu with your own western type foods and snacks that are more to your liking. 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok. We assist you to find cheap flights to Thailand. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Thailand provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Thailand you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Thailand. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Program starts every Monday. Arrivals on Sat/ Sun. If arriving on Sat, an extra night is charged.


Minors traveling to Thailand

Minors traveling to Thailand with/without parents/legal guardians are required to adhere to instructions of the Thai immigration. For more information, please check here.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 829€
2 weeks 933€
3 weeks 1,127€
4 weeks 1,376€
8 weeks 2,569€
12 weeks (max. stay) 3,623€
Average fees 565€/week

Program fees

565€ per week 1 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Involvement Volunteers IVI during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Involvement Volunteers IVI

Brilliant 4.7 rating (204 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 1989

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Lauren

Spoken languages: English

About the project

IVI are a non profit org with 28 years experience providing responsible volunteer placements in 15 countries worldwide. We help you connect with inspiring opportunities

Meet your organization

Involvement Volunteers International delivers positive social change to developing communities and vulnerable populations through local, national & international volunteering.  Our projects empower the skilled & un-skilled to catalyse the efforts of local partners in creating a better world.


WHO WE ARE

Founded in 1989, IVI is a pioneer of overseas volunteering.  Back when there was no internet and phones were a luxury in many parts of the world, we traveled to developing countries in search of credible NGO's in need of manpower and global volunteer resources.  Some of the many relationships we forged are utilized to this day. 

We are passionate about volunteering and giving back to society and in particular developing communities which are less fortunate than us.  In this way, we combine travelling with volunteering to help people make a positive impact overseas.

SOCIAL EXPERIENCES
All of IVI’s projects have a strong social element at the core.  With more manpower (& womanpower!) we can truly catalyse the efforts of our local partners.  This means you're sure to meet loads of like-minded people from all parts of the world.   This type of experience truly broadens your understanding of the world and yourself, opening your heart to new enlightened ways of thinking .   With your new found travel companions, you'll have plenty of opportunity to explore and have fun!  

Our projects create a unique platform to experience the true heart and soul of a destination rather than simply the tourist areas.   We'll involve you in meaningful & responsible volunteer work that really benefits the local communities.

AFFORDABLE VOLUNTEER TRAVEL
As a non profit org, we are not motivated by shareholder profits.  Our fee structure is fully transparent to ensure volunteers hard earned money is going directly to the areas where it is most needed.  It is vitally important to us that the presence of volunteers has a positive and sustainable impact on the local communities we work with.   

We charge a one off US$275 application fee per volunteer to cover the running of IVI including administration overheads, project inspection costs, marketing, and salaries.

The program fee starts at $150 p/week and goes straight to the in country management to cover arrival airport transfers, on the ground coordination, orientation, accommodation, meals, in country 24/7 project support, project development, donations and related administration costs.   

In comparison to many of our competitors, our programs are incredible value.

SAFETY & RESPONSIBLE PROGRAMS
With approx 80-90% of our volunteers being single young female travelers, volunteer safety is of the utmost importance.  All of our projects include a dedicated 24/7 in-country management support contact as well as a dedicated placement manager pre/post journey.  This ensures you will be cared for every step of the way.    The local teams are highly experienced and qualified to manage emergency situations.

All IVI projects have been personally inspected to ensure the standards meet necessary guidelines for quality and safety.  In addition, we monitor and maintain communication with local embassies to oversee potential issues in order to notify volunteers and their families accordingly.   

Our Australian team are available 24/7 and only a phone call away.

Our responsibility also extends to the local people which is why volunteers working in childcare related fields must provide a criminal background check before they travel.   Our ultimate goal is the long term development of the communities we work with, hence we work closely with our local partners to ensure that projects are needs driven and sustainable. 

SUPPORT

From your very first inquiry, right through to your welcome home, you'll have the same dedicated volunteer manager at every stage.  We are experts in the field and will provide you in depth insights about what to expect and how to prepare to ensure you have an amazing experience overseas.  Every project includes a detailed welcome pack which provides all aspects needed such as in country contacts, what to pack, cultural values, basic language guides and much much more.   

On arrival at your destination, you'll be greeted by one of our in-country team and in many cases 1 week orientation is provided to help ease you into the way of life and ensure you're equipped with the right customs to ensure a successful volunteer abroad experience.  

FUN!
Volunteering abroad is quite possibly the most rewarding experience you will have in your life!   We know this not only through our own experiences, but through the testimonies from thousands of volunteers we have successfully placed worldwide over 27+ years in operation.  Volunteering overseas is not only rewarding.   It's fun!   You're meeting new people, you're seeing new sights, and you're expanding your understanding of yourself and the world.  You're experiencing something real and life changing in many ways...  

GET INVOLVED WITH IVI TODAY!

204 reviews · rating4.7

Mathilde rating4.8

2024 at School Construction

I was in Thailand in Hua Hin. I did the renovation program and childcare. It's an incredible experience that you have to do at least once in your life. It is a great pleasure to help these clerks. They are welcoming and caring people. All our coordinators are there with us and take care of us so ...
natalie m rating2.6

2024 at School Construction

Hi. So, why are people filling up papers with the question "are you alergic to something?", when noone gives these information to the cook? First day "meeting" with the team- i waited and waited, they forgot that there is one new person for the construction. In the end, in the meeting the main ...
Shaunak rating5

2023 at School Construction

It was amazing! The highlight was definitely the people I met, going exploring through the city of Hua Hin with complete freedom was an absolutely unreal experience. It was truly like a dream, and I am sad to step back into reality. Comments on local team, food and accommodation..Smit was the best ...
Jamie Laura Saladin rating4.4

2023 at School Construction

We have painted the walls inside and outside of a school nearby the center. It was so much fun and we were free of what we wanted to paint! The team was great! ...
There were so many highlights to this trip! However the one that stood out the most was living in Moala village for one week. The team of us who were placed in Moala were instantly taken in by the family we were living and were made to feel part of the family. The people we visited in Moala, Yako ...
The team of us who were placed in Moala were instantly taken in by the family we were living and were made to feel part of the family. I am grateful for this experience, for the people I met and for the wonderful people who cared for us throughout the 2 weeks. This trip has inspired me to pursue ...

Location

Asia > South East Asia > Thailand > Hua Hin

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