My experience with OpenmindProjects was truly transformative and unforgettable. As a teacher for children up to 6 to 12 years old, I witnessed firsthand the positive impact that education can have on the lives of young people in a community so rich in culture. Additionally, collaborating with OpenSkills gave me new insights into digital learning and how platforms can broaden the reach of knowledge.
Creating videos for social media, where I highlighted the beautiful tourist spots in the region, was a unique experience that deepened my connection with the beauty of Thailand. Immersing myself in Thai culture led to discoveries and experiences I had never imagined. The hospitality, traditions, and way of life of the Thai people taught me lessons I carry with me to this day.
This project was far more than just volunteering; it was an opportunity for personal and professional growth. I am forever grateful to OpenmindProjects for providing me with an experience that impacted not only my life but also the lives of many children and communities.
If you’re looking for an enriching experience where every moment is a discovery and every contribution makes a difference, I wholeheartedly recommend embarking on this journey!
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My story with this incredible organization started last year, when I started looking for volunteer exchanges, and that's how I found OpenMind Project, an organization that captured my heart in the first instance, I'm very proud to be able to do and say that I'm part of it, I'm proud of the incredible things it does, a chain of good and hope for those in need.
I recommend anyone reading this to help and make themselves grow more and more, as it is very useful and has immeasurable results.
I've had 2 missions during this experience. Firstly, I was an english teacher for 4 to 6 grades in Nong Khai. I used to prepare the material and ppts the day before. Then I've had to run 1 hour classes in the morning with the teacher who was assisting me. After that, I was helping the organisation with in its strategic governance and social media presence. I also consider this 1 month experience as a real journey in Thailand, where I was able to share with locals, eat traditional food, and I even found time to travel around Thailand on weekends. This was an amazing experience for me.
My experience with OpenmindProjects has been truly transformative. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by an incredibly warm and dedicated team, making my integration both easy and enjoyable. Working side by side with people who are as passionate and committed to making a difference has been inspiring. The projects we tackled were not only challenging but also immensely rewarding, offering me a chance to contribute meaningfully while learning about the local community and its needs. The OpenmindProjects volunteering also offered me the opportunity to meet fantastic people like teachers, director and obviously a lot of smiling kids! My time with OpenmindProjects has left a lasting impression on my life, filled with unforgettable memories and friendships. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of something so impactful.
Volunteering with Openminds was a spectacular experience. I joined openminds in September 2022 working on the “Code the Future” initiative where we tought programming to disadvantaged people from the Nong Khai province. I had the chance to start the Scratch, HTML and JS modules for the program.
Although the organization has clear goals and aspirations. Im thankful for its founders TT and Sven for giving me the freedom to choose on what I wanted to pursue under this specific program. They have great judgement and will always support you. It’s ideal for people that have clear goals on what they want to do and can work with a certain degree of independence by setting up your own goals and working toward them with discipline. The NGO has many interesting challenges and goals that require highly motivated people.
Finally, the experience of staying at Orawan’s can’t be explained with words. If you want to really get into Thai cuisine, culture and language you must stay there. Orawan and her family are among the most welcoming people I’ve met. They’ll teach you Thai worlds and phrases, teach you how to cook traditional Thai food and will be there every night to have a good laugh with you and other volunteers. This is by far one of the best decisions I’ve mande and highly recommend it. Please feel free to get in touch with me for more information.
I had an amazing time volunteering for the open mind project in June. It was a truly rewarding experience helping out in two schools, one being a primary school and the other being a school for students with disabilities. The most amazing part of the experience was seeing the progress the students made in just two weeks, especially in the work we did with smaller groups. The hospitality was also amazing, with our host Ulawan cooking the most delicious food. TT was so welcoming and was very helpful in showing us the best ways the volunteer. As well as Sven being at teaching us the basics in Thai etiquette. I couldn’t recommend working with open mind more, with amazing opportunities around Thailand!
In January 2023, I volunteered with OMProjects in Nong Khai, North of Thailand. There, I mainly helped teach English in a local school and with the creation of social media content. At first, "Being a teacher" came with a few challenges, but I finally got to know other teachers and my students better, and it turned into a beautiful rewarding experience! In March, I moved to the southern part of the country to continue volunteering at a National Park. There, together with the rangers, we focused on the protection of the flora and fauna of the area.
Overall, my experience with OMP was very positive not only because of the programme itself but also because of the warm welcome and the continuous assistance of the OMP team. My time in Thailand with OMProjects gave me so much in terms of unforgettable memories and personal knowledge.
In March, I volunteered with the Openmind Project in southern Thailand, immersing myself in projects centered on sea turtle conservation and jungle exploration. The vast beaches and dense forests exuded a raw, untouched beauty. Watching the sea turtles navigate life’s challenges was a profound reminder of nature's intricate cycles and our role within it. The experience, however, wasn’t just about admiration. The signs of human impact, like discarded plastics, underscored the urgent need for conservation. Non-profits like the Openmind Project shine a light on the power of collective effort. Beyond just volunteering, it was an awakening, reinforcing the importance of human-nature harmony and collective responsibility
An amazing special group of people helping with whatever means they have too the poor, the disabled and re-energizing souls for a better future. Volunteer program includes Thai lessons, cooking in Thai, assisting teachers with English, being part of a family that takes you in and helps you to feel comfortable while you are able to help for such an important need!
I'm a volunteer in this organization. I met really coll and motivated people who also work here as a volunteers and they do a lot of interesting things like courses, lessons and teach Thai student with disabilities. I was working on Scratch course and I am an online volunteer so I did everything through online platform that is really easy to use. Goals of the Openmind Projects are great and useful and they are also motivated me to send my application to volunteering position.
I had the privilege of volunteering with OpenMinds Volunteer Protect, and it was truly an enriching experience. The program provided a wonderful platform to contribute to meaningful causes while fostering personal growth. The team's dedication and support were evident throughout, creating a warm and inclusive environment. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a impactful initiative. Highly recommended!"
Hi everyone! I'm Dasha, an English teacher, methodologist, and amateur artist. I worked with Openmind Projects during the summer of 2022, and it was such an amazing experience to be a part of a multicultural team, united by shared values of acceptance, inclusiveness, and mutual support. In my case, I came up with the idea of an integrated IT basics and English language program, but, being a language teacher myself, I couldn't create a comprehensive program for the students who were interested in participating. So, the leaders of the project managed to build a whole team for us, finding great IT specialists willing to help. We launched the course covering the basics of programming in Scratch last August, and I really enjoyed the time I spent with the team, preparing and delivering the lessons! Thank you OMP for this great time, and for being a part of my teaching path! I do hope I'll be back one day!
Open Mind Projects – what a joy to meet and become part of. I worked with Open Mind Projects in the Isan region of Thailand which is in the North East and just on the border of Laos. It is rich in history and strife and temples and smiles. That simplifies Asia!! Nongkhai is a bustling town with street food markets and tuk tuks and most importantly the mighty Mekong River running freely and carelessly through it. Life in Nongkhai centres around the river along a wide promenade which offers you beautiful night skies in good weather, desolation in very wet weather but ultimately the uniqueness of sitting in Thailand, having a coffee or beer and looking across at the sun setting over Laos . You are drawn to the lights across the other side and know that the Friendship Bridge offers you the opportunity to visit and travel and experience more richness and culture of South East Asia. I find it very surreal, especially at night to sit and look across this wide body of water and nearly feel Laos silently tempting you over. Open Mind Projects also have a project in Laos, Krabi - southern Thailand and also on the border of Myanmar.
It is a town people use to cross over to Laos to visit but also to renew their visas. But when you give it time, this place and the people in it have such vibrancy and colour and the orange robes of monks watching the sunset is a scene which will always stay with me. Most signs and menus are only in Thai – so it can be hit and miss and google translate but it all adds up to the immersion in a world where you are a guest and should always keep that to the fore of your mind. When you come to South East Asia, their cultures, ways, habits, life are for you to fit with – not for them to fit into you and your needs. There are restaurants which cater for the western community in tandem with their own traditional food and this is a pleasant gift - and not an entitlement. We all do like a taste of home on occasion, and I am grateful that those certain restaurants can give me a fresh cheese and salad sandwich or French toast or a plate of fries. I appreciate it but know that when in rome etc – and really thai food is magical – just remind the staff that you need western level of spice as opposed to thai level of spice in your Papaya Salad!! That is stark warning even for the vindaloo lovers among you.
On to the real pleasure of being here and that is my work with Open Mind Projects. I came very unsure of what to expect and I have been captivated by the experience. Sven – the Swedish Founder of Open Mind and Toto, his wonderful Thai partner in the NGO have been working together on a huge amount of projects for the last twenty years. Covid has knocked them back – but not out! They are determined to build up their organisation and continue enabling students from diverse backgrounds in education and ability to grow, develop and ultimately become independent people who proudly find work which suits and fulfils them and helps them support their families.
My first experience was meeting with 4 trainee students who were chosen to be part of this ‘Train the Trainer’ type program whereby they would learn specific skills and in turn help their other fellow students to progress and gain meaningful and paid work. These are students from the Nongkhai Redemptorist Vocational Technical College. This college is a 3rd level college specifically catering for students with all levels of disability. Some are in wheel chairs which may have been the result of accidents leaving them unable to walk. Others have been born with some sort of disability, some are visually impaired – the one thing in common they have is that life can be challenging to get work in an area of a country where poverty is acute and competition for jobs is high. Any extra skills they can acquire will allow them access to opportunities and that is where Open Mind come into play. We teach English and IT skills and also advocate for the students with local businesses. The hope is also to follow up with the alumni from Open Mind Projects and see if they can lend a hand too. The open mind project community is tight and supportive and kind and I have no doubt people will do whatever they can to try and help wherever it Is needed.
With English class in the morning for the 4 trainees, we then spend the 3 hours of the afternoon with the rest of their classmates in the classroom. I am fearful I may do these students a disservice by trying to describe their effect on me. I don’t think I have ever felt a warmth just emanating from a group of people in my life. They were all waiting on the first afternoon for the new English teacher to arrive as they had not had classes for a few weeks due to their thai English language teacher acquiring a new job and a replacement not yet being found. The plan was to spend 3 hours every afternoon with these students, with the four trainees to help and act as teaching assistants and support for individuals in the class as required. I was a bit daunted and worried as to how I would manage if there were special demands that the students had that I would be unfamiliar with. I need not have worried. They welcomed me with smiles as wide as the Mekong. They helped where they could with technology – one of them went off to find a projector and in short had everything set up quickly and efficiently. Their acceptance of selves and of me was just a given. We were all here to live in this moment, in this classroom and see how it all went. Genuinely no worries. The students are a joy and within one afternoon I felt connected, entwined and committed to these people. You could not do anything but care for them and laugh with them and hope for them and fight for them. I had received so much more back in 5 hours of volunteering that first day then you could ever believe possible. The kindness these students show each other is humbling. It is actually beautiful to witness. They root for each other, they prompt each other when one of their classmates is struggling to remember the English sentence, they wait patiently for beautiful big bill to mouth his English words silently as he has trouble speaking aloud. We all sigh collectively with joy when he finishes his silent sentence – but we know he got it right. They laugh and clap and support and if ever anyone wanted to feel joy and pleasure from giving – then this is the way. It has been a privilege and a life changing experience that this embracing and welcoming continent has gifted me with. Again I can only feel grateful. Open Mind Projects need people who can work independently but also as part of a team. People who will look for what needs to be done and not wait to be handed it. People who are resourceful and embrace change, difference, diversity and wonder. Most of all – if you want to come – come with an open mind and a respect and curiosity for what we are lucky enough to be able to do.
I am certainly hooked and entangled already into these Open mind Projects – even though, I was just on my way home from Vietnam. I would encourage anyone - young or old (i'm 58) to reach inside you and know that the only thing that matters is giving back. That’s the way to get out of ruts, to make transformative change and see a different way of living. Give yourself this gift for 3 months – you will never regret it – but you may regret it if you don’t do it. Remember – Living begins when you move out of your comfort zone……………. (quote from somewhere shared with me by a wonderful aussie friend i met in Nongkhai)!!!!
I spent 3 months and a half working with Openmind Projects, both in Nong Khai and in Krabi (Thailand).
It was a beautiful and formative experience for me. After getting out of Undergrads, I felt the need to help in whatever way I could, to connect with people and travel by myself. While working with Openmind Projects, I not only got to use my own skills, I also challenged myself in using new tools to help the organisation and its causes.
If you’re motivated to teach English, engage with local population, help bridge the digital gap in isolated areas, encourage ecotourism and much more, Openmind is the place to be! :)
I volunteered in Nong Khai and had a lovely time teaching English to curious and highly motivated students. The project team is very dedicated and intrinsically motivated.
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OpenMind’s unique teaching proposition, i.e., problem-based experiential learning, initially attracted me to come to Nong Khai. After two weeks of teaching my impression is that the organization has a very deep understanding of the individual needs of their students and provide tailor made teaching solutions. This is especially in regards to intersectional marginalized groups such as disabled students from poor socio-economic backgrounds. While society treats them as a burden, OpenMind sees them as untapped potential. From my own experience, these students have extraordinarily high intrinsic motivation to learn, great comprehension, and professional goals that require support to be achieved. I strongly think that the hybrid teaching approach of IT and English skills supported by international volunteers will be of highest value for these students to make the right steps to achieve their professional and personal goals.
For a month, I volunteered at a small school in Thailand, teaching English, Overcoming language barriers and adapting teaching methods was challenging yet rewarding. Witnessing the growth of students' English skills and immersing myself in Thai culture were truly inspiring. This journey was beautiful on the human side. Gaweechaat and Sven have been very helpful since the day I've reached to them to be a volunteer and Mui, their local agent of the NGO was also very helpful for my school integration. I look forward to continuing my path in education-based volunteer work and cross-cultural understanding. Thank you for all the work you do! EvaMarie
I had an amazing experience with OpenmindProjects in Nong Khai, Thailand. I volunteered with them for 3 months onsite as a programming and IT teacher. There I had the opportunity to meet excited students with lots of curiosity. Living close to the school I was welcomed as part of my landlords family they shared many dinners together with me and also other volunteers!
I highly recommend going there!
I was lucky to have an opportunity to volunteer at Openmind Projects and it was an unforgettable experience for me. The organization aims at providing access to a good education for poor societies, which is the main factor enabling these people to escape poverty. They really care about children and adults who don't have possibilities to get a proper education, some of them with physical disabilities.
I volunteered with elementary school kids, teaching them English. It was such a rewarding and wonderful experience for me and I will definitely come back when I have another opportunity.
I have known Openmind Projects for more than 10 years and helped/ visited the project many times over this period.
They have always impressed me by their ability to progress the education of underprivileged young people and doing so on a very limited budget.
The Openmind Projects style of educating is certainly quite unique and very successful.
I would recommend OMP to anyone looking to help a great non-profit change so many young lives.
Thank you Openmind for the experience you gave me.
Terry Friar.
OpenMindProjects is a wonderful organization that provides English and IT classes to children in order to help them prepare for their future. Within the organization, they are constantly looking for projects that will benefit the (local) communities in any way they can. This results in many different and valuable projects. Even though the organization had a hit from COVID, they are well on their way to recover and - once again - benefit local communities.
Apart from their hard work towards these communities, I felt very welcomed as a volunteer as well. The organization helps you in every way they can to settle and feel at home in Nong Khai and Krabi, the places where they are based.
I had a good time volunteer for this non profit and I felt that the work that me and my colleagues did, really impacted the community!
My time at Openmind was an experience that I will carry on for the rest of my life. I participate in one of their IT learning camps at their center. During my stay, I participated in the "food and health" project and participated in the day-to-day activities. The most rewarding was getting to know all the people with Openmind and the campers, they have so much energy and really put their hearts into this project. I still have contact with Openmind to this day and I hope to return in the future!
Openmind Projects targets disadvantaged children. They are children from low income families and regions, as well as children with physical and intellectual disabilities. They provide education in English and technology. I volunteer as an English teacher, and I have found it profoundly rewarding. I would recommend this nonprofit to all people who wish to help with the education of disadvantaged children and young adults in Thailand
We volunteered for Openmind a couple of times before Covid and it was a very positive experience for us. Openmind is a great organisation to volunteer for and the people there are friendly and make you very welcome. The experience of teaching life skills to the young using English has been very rewarding. We look forward to volunteering for Openmind again.
OMP is making a sustainable effort to the life and society! as a former volunteer i felt that their impact is great and empowers young people.
I volunteered in 2006 with Openmind Projects and that was my first volunteering abroad. I was teaching English and helping develop ecotourism in a National Park in the South of Thailand, with 2 other volunteers. Before leaving to the park we had a 3 day cross culture training where we learned some thai language, how to teach English in Thailand, does and don't, Thai food recipies and plenty of other useful tools. That was a fabulous experience for me and I came back 4 years later to Thailand, in Nong Khai, to work for around 1 year and half at the head office, with local and foreign volunteers. I met wonderful people from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Burma and I realized how important our contribution was because it changed the life of many poor young local people who now have great jobs, using English and IT they learned with the volunteers. And honestly it changed my life too in so many ways! I really recommend Openmind Projects as the best NGO where to volunteer in Southeast Asia, to learn about local culture, to help make a difference, to meet new friends and to gain a rich experience of a life!
I was a student camper back in 2014, with help of Openmind Projects and local, overseas volunteers, I got to improve my language skills as well as computer skills which I can integrate with my studies.
Later on, I became a camper leader, student volunteer co-oped with the Openmind Projects to expand the chances to more numbers of locals by arranging learning camps, providing free English and I.T. classes for students who are in need, so on.
I got to improve myself a lot in many aspects. For example, I value the value of giving without expecting back. I am more organized and ready to encounter challenges and difficulties in life. I received higher opportunities (winning the scholarships to China, the US, and the Maldives).
Therefore, I could proudly mention that my life couldn't come this far without the help of the Openmind Projects. Thus, I would like the organization to continue helping people as long as possible.
Please do not mind contacting me for more information, my direct experiences regarding the work with Openmind Projects at pharinya.auttho@gmail.com
Great organization and great experience! I am waiting for the time when I'll be able to come back and see all the familiar faces again. Keep doing your great job teaching youth in South East Asia
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Openmind was my first volunteering experience. I quit my job as my soul longed for a change. I decided to spend a couple of month as an English teacher in Asia. After quite a research around the Internet I found Openmind Projects. I was impressed with their website and the amount of activities they were doing. After emailing to them back and forth and obtaining a visa with their great help I was ready to go. I decided to stay at the learning center for living, it's one of the options volunteers have. I didn't know what to expect and was preparing for the trip.
I came to the center late at night and was met by another volunteer Julian and some trainees who didn't retire to bed yet. Julian gave me a great tour around the center and introduced to their schedule. Trainees came to greet me, they wanted to take pictures and were very curious about my reasons to come to the center.
I look back at my experience at Openmind. After three months spent there it became a family to me. It was not just teaching-learning experience. I got to know every trainee in person, their characters, their unique personalities. All of them were so eager to learn: English, presentations, social media, youtube, tourist activities - they wanted to know everything. They knew, they have this chance once in their life. That chance Openmind gives them is to see the world through volunteers eyes. Coming from the tiny rural villages they don't have an opportunity and money to go and explore the world on their own so they would ask you, talk to you, imagine and learn from you as fast as they possibly can. It was very inspiring to me to see my impact on their lives that way.
I learned a lot from my experience too. When you come to Openmind your schedule is tight. It's not only time you spend with trainees. I went to local schools to help kids to improve their English and trainees would be assisting me as they were real teachers; I came to monks university to participate in their speaking club; I went to explore places of Nong Khai with Openmind trainees being my guides, sharing their tradition, culture and family stories; I travelled with Sven and Toto (people who run the Openmind Projects) into villages to see how the locals gather sticky rice, salt, make fabric products from recycled materials. I would visit home villages of trainees in Laos, meet their families, eat their food and see places they love. Anywhere I would go, I would be greeted with an open heart.
I can hardly put in my mind how many things happened to me within those three months. I went back to US to resume my job and Openmind stayed in my heart. I know I will be back, I know I want that experience again. I miss you, Openmind, my dear friend.
My friend and I volunteered with OpenMind in 2016 when I was 19 years old, and it was one of the best summers of my life. We started out in their training centre in Nongkhai, where we stayed with other volunteers and students. We were immediately made to feel at home and went out shopping, learnt to cook and played volley ball with the students.
The teachers and students were great at showing us what local life was like and taught us well known Thai dances as well as giving us a karaoke night (one of my favourite memories).We learnt parts of the Thai language and a lot about Thai culture, after a weeks training we got to go and Teach at a Monastery. At the weekend we got to go to a Muay Thai boxing class and the local markets. On our last night at the training camp some of the volunteers went for a few drinks in the town and met some more locals (everyone is very friendly).
After finishing our training in Nongkhai, my friend and I travelled down to Krabi where we volunteered in a primary school for a few weeks. This was the most amazing experience and the children were incredible and great fun to be around. The Head teacher of the school was exceptionally welcoming and was exited to show us her culture, she took us on a day trip to where she grew up and showed us some of the highlights around Krabi.
I would absolutely love to go back and volunteer with Open Mind again and if it is something you are considering, you should definitely go for a fun, rewarding and unforgettable trip.
My partner and I volunteered alongside Open mind projects in their training centre in Nongkhai. From the people working to support the Ngo, to the trainees themselves - it was a family. Our time here was equally rewarding and important and the work that open mind is doing is fantastic. In the two weeks that we were there I felt like we were able to engage with the students in such a constructive and positive way. They are so willing and want to learn As much as they can and weekly meetings and updates ensure their continuous growth and input into what they have been learning. The team really work one on one to make sure they are getting the best experience they can. We also learned so much about The culture, values And traditions of isaan and had our eyes opened to an incredibly new and interesting way of life. We shared family style meals, played games, learned from each other and were taken to local places of interest among many things. We spent a day in a village were the woman were creating amazing fashion items out of recycled materials - just one of the projects open mind foundation has curated. I can’t put into words how amazing my experience with open mind projects was, I can’t wait until the day I can go back again.
It's awesome and great and people like us love to help ppl and we also need to help the homeless and find them jobs. And be more loving and lend out a helping hand to thoes in need.
It has been 3 consecutive years now that the family spends one week in a Lao village thanks to Openmind projects. Teaching, learning by doing, sharing, so emotional... we maybe haven’t the same life but we share the same planet and the same smile !
My life changed since I participated Openmind Product summer camp. It was such a inspirational moment that empowered me to improve my English further. I met amazing people from different countries which inspired me to be a better person and open-minded one. Openmind project is one of the factors that create who I am today.
James Theerapong Srisuphan,
Openmind Project Alumni,
International Business Student.
In 2014, I was a camper for the OMP English Camp. The camp went super well, I got to meet many interesting and talented volunteers, also got to make a lot of new friends there. My mind got opened and filled with inspiration, motivation and curiosity in learning English, I.T. and well-living skill.
Later on, in 2015-Now, I have been participating in the camp (as a camp leader), cooperationg with oversea volunteers arranging the camp and so on.
In gerenal, I would like to inform you all that this nonprofit organization is where the opportunity given. No matter where we come from (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, etc.) Everybody is welcomed here.
What I am thankful for the OMP the most, last year (2019), I have achieved the most rewarding scholarship in my life: the USA scholarship (directly sponsored by the US government). Without the help of OMP, I would not have come this far.
I volunteered with Openmind with my best friend in the Summer, and it was an amazing experience. We taught English at a local primary school and worked on other projects as well. You can learn about how a NGO operates as well as what the impacts are of it on its community. We learned all about the Thai culture from the language to even learning how to cook traditional Thai food! Sven and Toto know what they are doing, and the volunteer center really is a family. I remember one night when we all played volleyball after dinner (the trainees and other volunteers), and we all were having so much fun we couldn’t stop laughing. Also, the location in Nong Khai is beautiful situated right by the Mekong River. There are not very many tourists which is really nice. On of the the weekends, we even crossed the border to Laos! This is a great place to volunteer at; you’ll learn a lot—not only about the Thai culture, but also about yourself. I would highly recommend Openmind!!
We as a family experienced a meaningful And unforgettable volunteering with the school children, faculty, host family, Open Mind staff, and locals. Through volunteering work, we gained an insight into the daily life of the Thai village, culture and tradition. I can recommend the volunteering with OMP to any family with children who seek an unique and meaningful vacation. The volunteering program is well structured and supported by the staff from OMP, so there is nothing to worry even if you don’t speak the language. You even learn Thai and Laos!
A really fantastic organisation run by lovely local people. I worked at their training centre for 2 months and loved it. Everyone is really welcoming and they're making a huge difference to young people's lives. Would definitely recommend volunteering with them !
We have already been volunteering with Openmind twice. The first time we taught English at a summer school, to great, adamantly listening and practising students. We stayed at the campus, being involved in its daily life.
Many years later we returned to Northeast Thailand with our then 8 yeras old daughter. Having grown up with English too, she could help us in teaching at a village school, and break down barriers between student and teacher. Again, we felt at home right away at our homestay, the village we stayed in and the separate village where we taught. Even our vegan preferences were taken in account by our host mother. She cooked us marvelous meals. Despite limited Thai knowledge we chatted away, connecting easily with everybody.
We will return!