Kok Payom is a strong Muslim fishermen community in Satun province, Southern Thailand. Over 30 families in the village gathered to protect the bio diversity of their mangrove forest for over 15 years. As DaLaa, we support them since 2009 by sending short and long term volunteers to help. This work camp will focus on building the tree house for the long term volunteers and visitors, and to renovate the community meeting places, volunteer will be able to feel and share the spirit and energy of the community.
Aims of the project : • To preserve the mangrove forest and the environment
• To support and be a part of Kok Payom learning community (to preserve their community values and life style).
• To build a good relationship between volunteers and local people
• To learn about local cultures and wisdom
Volunteers should be ready to stay in a local area, and to adapt to the local conditions with only basic facilities. Very few local people are able to speak in English. Volunteers should be able to handle spontaneous working environment and constant changes in the plans. You should be prepared about the different mentality of people here. For all 2 weeks, you will be assisted by a DaLaa member/staff who will connect you with the community. Volunteers should be able to stay in a remote environment, without public transport.
Volunteers should be able to take responsibility for themselves and the team by taking care of their health and security and be fully involved in the daily tasks.
** Clothes worn in the village- schools and temples: skirts or shorts long enough to cover your knees also when you are sitting. Women should wear tops that cover their shoulders, no low neckline. Bikinis are not appropriate to swim if you go on holidays. Please wear long shorts and a top instead.
• Volunteers are expected to take full commitment in the voluntary project in which he/ she is
attending. However, try not to create big expectations about the work you will do. Instead, please
bear in mind that you are not coming to save the project from its problem, but you are coming to
learn about the host country and to lend a hand in the process.
You will have to be flexible with limitation or some certain condition that something might not be
able to be done or changed.
•Try to take as much initiative as possible. This is one of the qualities you are expected to show in
your project and it is a basic tool for your development in the project.
• Responsibility is essential. The projects may not have specific rules but when the hosts ask you
to do or not to do something, please follow their instructions. If you follow them, people will be
impressed by and appreciate your cooperation, respect and goodwill.
• Do your best to become a part of the team. This is very important and will help ensure that your
placement is a positive and rewarding experience. In your role as the newcomer, you will have to
make the effort to reach out to the project hosts, community members, and other volunteers in
order to develop a good and healthy relationship.
• Give yourself time to understand the reasons why things are done the way they are. Sometimes
the reasons will not be easy to understand from your point of view but you need to be patient and
accepting.
•Be creative but at the same time always be respectful.
• Volunteers should take care of their own belongings such as money, passport, flight tickets,
electrical devices, etc. DaLaa will not be responsible for any loses. However, volunteers can leave
a copy of their passport and flight ticket at DaLaa Office, in case of emergency.
• To help build the tree house for long term volunteers and visitors
• To renovate the community’s places.
• To provide activities with kids especially on Sundays at Klong Toh
Lem forest school.
• Learning the local life of this fishermen’s village
Volunteers will stay at a open-air pavilion on the pier (Villagers use this place for the meeting and dock their boats sometimes). Tents, yoga mats, pillows, and mosquito nets will be provided. We suggest you bring your own sleeping bag, inflatable mattress, or another yoga mat. It’s OK if you don’t bring any of those, but you need to be sure that you will be comfortable in such condition.
There are basic toilets, showers and a kitchen at the school canteen. The teachers and villagers are willing to help you to cook as well. Local people eat rice (or noodles) 3 times a day with side dishes like curries, omelets, local leaves and vegetables. Volunteers will be welcome to cook their own food using the ingredients available there. (No oven, only a gas and woks or pans).