Volunteer in Northern Thailand and study the Akha culture!

The camp will consist of studying the Akha culture while working with the villagers on their land and teaching in their schools. The work will take place in villages surrounded by beautiful mountains, isolated from the rest of the world.

Although more than 90% of Thai nationals belong to the same ethnic group, there are a few uniquely different hill tribes that stay or move along the Thai borders with Burma and Laos. One of the most colorful cultures is the Akha, which can be found in the hills in Northern Thailand. Some of them have Thai citizenship, some not; they are merely tolerated by the government and often accused of opium growing and/or forest depletion. Their relative isolation in the hills has helped to preserve their particular culture but now also poses a threat as their education level is low and their sources of information (an understanding of AIDS, for example) are limited. Together with local NGOs, we are trying to preserve the Akha culture by helping with practical matters while at the same time giving young Akha students access to education. In total, about 50 Akha students live and study at two centers in the city of Chieng Rai, where they are educated about their cultural heritage. This is done in an attempt to preserve it by having the next generation bring their knowledge back to the villages.

Location: Chieng Rai Province, Northern Thailand. The camp will be held in Chieng Rai and different villages in the surrounding mountains all the way to the borders, one of the most beautiful locations in Thailand! The influence of the hill tribes and nearby Burma and China shapes the culture here.

Special requirements: Interest in social and cultural work.

For more details visit: www.cadip.org/volunteer-in-thailand.htm

For volunteer opportunities in other countries: www.cadip.org/workcamps.htm



phone: 604-628-7400
www.cadip.org