This International Volunteer Program to Thailand is organized and run by Seattle Works to offer the best in Volunteer Travel. Seattle Works moves people from good intentions to action. Their mission is to engage, connect, and inspire people in their 20s and 30s to take action in our community.

Your visit to the Andaman Sea will amaze you. Here the local people are still recovering from the devastating tsunami and have developed a community based tourism program which they are hoping will bring much needed money, jobs and support. You will be living and working with these wonderfully resilient people. You will be working on a mangrove restoration project and helping to restore a badly damaged bridge. There will be time to take walks to waterfalls and spectacular beaches. Villagers can bring you fishing, and take you to visit their old villages that were washed away. They will share their customs, culture, art, food and laughter with you. This will be a truly amazing time for you and them.  During your home-stay your accommodations will be simple yet comfortable and the food is traditional, nourishing and grown locally.

The tsunami dramatically altered the traditional way of fishing which was environmentally friendly and sustainable with a respect for nature and conserving fish and supplies. The planting of mangrove trees is critical to helping restore the fish populations.

Located close to Phuket, the (in)famous Thai beach resort town, the villagers are well aware of the dangers of mass tourism and are controlling mass tourism development in their villages by developing their own community based tourism program which incorporates homestays, tours and community service projects. It is this project (developed by the local people) that you will join in.

A 4 day extension to explore Bangkok and Ayuthaya can be arranged as an optional extension at the end of the program. Please indicate your interest in this when you apply.