This program offers volunteers to work in the poorer communities to assist in caring their children of age 3-6 yrs. Volunteers/interns can play with the kids, sing, dance, painting, drawing etc depending upon the skills they have. At teh same time, they will be helping them taking food, showering, and sleeping.

In Thailand, there are 4 types of child care shelters to admit children with various type of cases based on their age and conditions;

Baby homes (0-5 years of age) are to admit newly-born and younger children abandoned in hospitals and other vulnerable places.

Emergency homes (5-18 years of age) are to provide primary protection and welfare to children before transferring them to other appropriate places.

Child protection centers (7-18 years of age) are to admit transferred children from baby and emergency homes or other child service agencies. Some children in these centers are victims that involve legal process.

Children homes (5-18 years of age) are similar to the protection centers and admit children transferred from various child service agencies throughout the country. However, the condition of children might not be severe. One crucial task of the home is to re-integrate children with the family and community. Children are trained how to survive in the community. They walk to Suksa Songkroh or Ratprajanukroh schools (see details in special education chapter) located nearby. Vocational training units are often established inside to ensure the future employment of the children after they reach 20 years of age.

Preparation centers: These centers are for physical and mental handicapped children. These centers have few children (4-10). They are admitted there to make ready to go to special schools.

Special Schools/Centers: Some of the children studying in these schools are from local communities and ordinary families. Some of the children admitted to and living in child care shelters and emergency homes are transferred to these schools. Followings are the category and brief description of this type of placements.

Suksa Songkroh or Ratprajanukroh Schools – This means “Royal Education Welfare”. There are 39 schools throughout the country, e.g Petchburi, Chainat, Petchabun, Nongkhai and Khon Kaen Provinces. Children who have normal mental and physical conditions are sent to study in these schools. They continue their education starting from Kindergarten to high school levels. Some schools also arrange or provide for children to re-integrate with the local communities. These children live in the children home and study with the children of local communities.

Suksapisesh or Sothasuksa Schools – There are 17 schools in Thailand including in Prachinburi, Udonthani, Nonthaburi, Nokhonpathom, Prachuabkhirikhan, Khon Kaen and Petchabun provinces. In these schools, children with weak hearing ability (i.e. absolutely or partially deaf) study here. Almost all the students in these schools live on-campus. These schools accept volunteers who have special communication skills (sign/body languages).

Special Schools for Mentally Retarded Children – There are 21 schools in Thailand including Suphanburi, Prachinburi, Petchburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Sawan provinces. All the children live on-campus in dormitories. Volunteers with nursing background, physiotherapy, sports, music, arts, would be helpful.

Schools for the blind – There are about 10 schools in Thailand e.g. Khon Kaen, Lopburi, Lampang, Bangkok etc. Most of the children live on campus. Volunteers who have Braille script skill would be helpful. Volunteers for teaching English, music, games, etc. can be helpful.

Schools for physically handicapped Children - There are 4-5 schools for the children normally without one or two legs/arms e.g. in Khon Kaen.

Schools for young offenders – Accused children who are under legal proceedings live and study in these schools which are under the ministry of justice and located nearby the accommodation or shelters. English, arts and craft shall be organized to release stress and distress complex of the children.

Child care shelters have specialists to accomplish these broader objectives of child development. Although, our volunteers are not experts, they can be involved in some activities with those specialists to help and learn as well. In order to work there we will need to apply in advance and approved by the concerned authority. It is essential to send us a scanned copy of your photograph (2 x 4”) and the passport before you arrive in Thailand. Please specify in your application about your interest and experiences so we can choose the appropriate group of children and the place for you and we will send you the detail of the placements, works and others.