Volunteer in Thai Myanmar mountains

Volunteer in the Thai Myanmar Mountains Information the North

Umpang is a small beautiful town on the Thai-Myanmar border offereing some of the most scenic experiences in Thailand.

Content 1. Information the Northwest 2. Projects

What do the Thai Myanmar Mountains offer?

Volunteer in the remote Thai Myanmar Mountains Umpang is a small beautiful town on the Thai-Myanmar border offereing some of the most scenic experiences in Thailand. But it is also the least accessible part of Thailand!

Therefore it was once a base for communist insurgents. Today volunteers are very welcome!

Only one road links Umpang to the rest of Thailand. 160 km With over 1200 curves up and downhill this trip takes many hours. Not for the motion sick! However, the mountains and valleys are amazing and even providing the rare opportunity to spot the endangered giant fern, contemporary with the dinosaurs!

One highlight in these mountains is the Tee Lor Su Waterfall. It stands 250 meters high and nearly 450 meters wide, an impressive sight, To get here you have yto Drive through the lush jungle for several hours, only 4 wheel drive, and then walk along the river for another hour! The white water rafting is probably the best in Thailand! Other may go for exotic and rare wildlife in these jungles, the largest in Southeast Asia and home to elephants, tigers, tapirs, gibbons, hornbills and the giant Asian bison!

The population is mainly so-called hill tribes, the ethnic Karen being the largest group. They were the original settlers.

Volunteering in this remote part of Thailand with its friendly people and stunning nature is a once in a lifetime experience!

Our volunteers are lucky to have the opportunity to do so since we support several villages, schools with mixed Karen, Burmese and Thai students, many of whom are stateless and refugees.

You help disadvantaged Karen, Burmese, Thai, stateless and refugee children in the Thai Burma mountains. You teach English, maybe IT and Internet if possible and here is electricity.

Openmind Projects arranges special learning camps in October and November and you may be able to join!

if you are curious, willing to rough it a bit, come to live with and help these people! You are in for an ultimate and wonderful expereicne! Dare it! Do it!

Sven Mauleon, Chairman, cofounder, Openmind Projects.

Volunteering in the Thai Burma Mountains with Openmind Projects

Where you can go with Openmind Projects Poeng Khloeng School This beautiful village is located about 80 km from Umpang town in the Mountains and on the Myanmar border. Most of the people are Karen and Burmese. Some of the students come from Myanmar and some from refugee camps. The nearest refugee camp is Nupo.

Be prepared for simple life, no banks, shopping centers or internet shops. There is a food market and small restaurants serving Burmese, Karen and Thai food. The villagers provide their own electricity, hydro and solar power, which they share. One week some have electricity in the morning and next week in the afternoon. There is no mobile network but the school has Wi-Fi and uses solar power. Villagers grow traditional betel nuts,durian and rambutang in their gardens The school, near the temple and health center has about 800 students’ 30% are stateless. Some students cross over from Myanmar to study and some students come from the refugee camps. Most students speak Karen, Burmese and learn Thai at school.Volunteers mainly teach English, sometimes also IT/Internet and Volunteers stay and eat at the school where some teachers also stay.

Klothor School This very nice school is located in Ban Mae Chan village, an hour from Umpang town and not far from the largest waterfall in SE Asia, Thi Lo Su and close to the Myanmar border. The village got electricity just 2 years ago!

The school has about 1000 students, all ethnic Karen who learn Thai at school. The school has a nursery, primary and secondary level students.

Volunteers teach English and sometimes IT/Internet. Many students and teachers stay at this school. Volunteers also stay at the school.

Openmind Projects arranged a successful mobile mountain camp at this school in 2016

Samakkeewittaya School, Located in Giehang village 8 km outside of Umpang town, and surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, cornfields and jungle.

This small primary school has about 200 students only and 10 teachers with some 20 computers and internet. 70% of the children are Karen, 15% Burmese and 15% Thai.

Volunteers can stay at a local guesthouse in nearby Umpang town and the school can provide a motorbike for the volunteer who will teach English, maybe also IT/Internet use.

Want to learn more?

READ ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN MOUNTAINS

1.BAN POENG KHLOENG SCHOOL MYANMAR MOUNTAINS 2.KLO THOR SCHOOL 3.SA MAK KEE WIT TA YA SCHOOL

Ban Poeng Khloeng school Myanmar mountains

Information The village is on the Myanmar border.

Most of the people are Karen and Burmese.

The village is on a mountain and there are many streams nearby.

Some students are from Myanmar and some are from refugee camps. The nearest camp to the village is called Nupo.

The school is near a temple and a public health center.

Be prepared to live a simple life as there are not markets, ATM or bank, shopping center or internet shops but there is a local food shop and a small restauran t.The village is not even connecte d to the national electricit y!

In the village the villagers tend to Betel nut gardens, Durian gardens and Rambuta n gardens!

The school alternately uses solar power and hydro power to generate electricity.

The village does not have phone service but the school has Wi-Fi.

The school has 786 students, 29% don't have a nationality (stateless).

Some students even crossover the border from Myanmar to learn!

ExtraInformation Information Extra

Ban Poeng Khloeng village, where the school is, is 80KM far from Umphang.

The school will provide meals for the volunteers The electricity is split up by North and South, each side either gets electricity at night time or day time. This switches every week.

LOCATION

Name of School (Thai): Thanpuying Vilai Amatayakul (Ban Ping Cing) School Name (English): Tanpuyingwilai Address: Moo 9 Ban Ping Kling District: Mae Chan District: Umphang Province: Tak

KLO THOR SCHOOL

Klo Thor School This school has mixed levels: kindergarten, primary and high school. It is a large school with 1000 students.

All the students are ethnic Karen.

90 students and teachers stay at the school.

Volunteers can stay at the school guesthouse.

LOCATION

The school is located in Tak district. 302 km from Klo Thor School town and near the Thai-Burma mountains.

Want to learn more?

SA MAK KEE WIT TA YA SCHOOL

TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

This primary school has about 200 students.

70% are ethnic Karen, 15% ethnic Burmese and 15% ethnic Thai.

Levels: primary : Seven - Twelve Number of teachers: 10 Number of students: 200

LOCATION

The school is located 262 kilometers outside of Umpang town in Tak province.

The volunteer can stay at a local guesthouse.

The school can provide a motorbike for the volunteer.

OPENMIND PROJECTS FOUNDATION 856/9 Moo.15 Prajark RD. A.Muang Nong Khai 43000 Thailand

Website: www.openmindprojects.org Faceook/Youtube/IG: OpenmindProjects