A. General presentation

PRESENTATION OF PITAYA SUWAN FOUNDATION:
«From Greenway to PSF; 10 years of local development and International Voluntary Service in Thailand»

Pitaya Suwan Foundation (PSF) is a charity registered Foundation acting in the field of community development and intercultural learning. Through the development of international voluntary service and educational projects we are present in several rural communities all over Thailand.

Our mission is to support the development of rural communities through the experience of intercultural exchanges.

Our aims are:
➢ To provide and foster education for needy and underprivileged young people living in rural areas; to spread ethical, responsible behaviours and open the youth's mind so that they become active citizens for their society.
➢ To promote and sustain education and research.
➢ To support vocational training for youth, women, and the elderly in the rural areas; to disseminate knowledge and experiences by providing education and training.
➢ To promote and support communities and local people in realizing the importance of the environmental preservation.
➢ To act for pubic benefits and cooperate with other charity organizations for the public interest.


STRUCTURE OF THE FOUNDATION
Pitaya Suwan Foundation (PSF) is a charity registered Foundation acting in the field of community development and intercultural learning. The Foundation is registered in the Songkhla province register of foundations with the license number 533/2546.

The Foundation, according to its constitution and Thai laws, is managed by a Board which is composed by a Chairman, a deputy Chairman, a treasurer, a secretary and a committee member. The board should be composed by minimum 5 and maximum 15 members.

The Board select and employ a general manager/director whom is responsible for the daily management of the Foundation.
The director is directly responsible for the planning and the implementation of the different programs and is supported by a number of other permanent and/or seasonal employees.
At the moment the permanent staff of the Foundation is composed by an International Exchange Coordinator, an Outgoing coordinator, a MLTV national responsible, a MLTV supervisor, a PR coordinator and an accountant. Occasionally the Foundation employs consultants, work camp coordinators, external auditors and technicians.
The Foundation runs the following programs and projects:
- Short Term Voluntary Camps (STVC )
- Medium and Long Term Voluntary Service (MLTV and STAF )
- Sending of Thai volunteers abroad
- Internship and empowerment programs for young disadvantaged Thai volunteers
- Tsunami Children (in cooperation with the Print Rite Foundation)

FINANCES:
Pitaya Suwan Foundation (PSF) is a non-profit and a non governmental organization; as such it does not receive support from the State or other public institutions. The only ways it has to develop projects at local and national level is to ask volunteers and participants to contribute by paying participation fees. Our financial objectives are: to balance our income and expenditures while financing local development and educational projects.

Through the payment of the participation fee, volunteers do not only cover the costs of the community development project they are implementing but they also contribute to all the other projects we carry on all over the year (Print Rite Tsunami Relief project, internships for disadvantaged Thai volunteers, participation to international programs for disadvantaged Thai active members of PSF and financial support to local schools and community activities) and to cover our overhead costs (including the STAF support program).
Some exceptional expenses may be needed in specific situation or for specific projects.


Ethical stands regarding financial management
PSF uses its financial resources according to a number of social and political values and it tries to act in an environmentally and socially sustainable way. To the best of its possibility the Foundation tries to adopt an economic and simple way of functioning.
Sharing a simple life style: hosting centres are simple and adapted to the rural surroundings, we try to follow a sustainable way of living, we do not spoil food and goods;
Sharing belongings and equipment: PSF encourage its staff and volunteers to share Foundations and private resources when working and enjoying free time (examples: car, bikes, IT equipment, etc);
Sustainable consumption: PSF purchases only things it really needs in order to guarantee the functioning of the office and the appropriate development of its projects.
Environmental sustainability: PSF members, staff and international volunteers are encouraged to prudently use water, electricity, cars, paper, etc.

More details in our financial transparency page:
http://www.pitayasuwan.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=148&Itemid=153


2. Technicalities about our projects: «
“What we provide to and expect from the sending organisation and the volunteer”

a: General for 2008

- Pitaya Suwan Foundation – Greenway Thailand will do its utmost to respect and follow the standard procedures and principals of work of the organisations and network they are member of and cooperate with: The CCIVS and NVDA Inter-Regional Exchange procedures, the YAP good practices on international exchanges, the Alliance Guidelines and SCI exchange principals. 2008 is for the Foundation a year of deep changes and evolution in this way. Please help us in this direction by sending us any constructive criticism (or congratulations) you might receive from your volunteers or staffs to support us in our will of change. We will do our best to answer you fast with as motivated explanations as possible.

- We will provide as much support as possible to your volunteers for its project to be a constructive and positive experience. Not being (nor wishing to become) a tourist agency, we don’t base ourselves on the standards practiced by the tourism industry in Thailand but on the way most of the Thai population lives. Food and accommodation, especially, will always be sufficient in quantity but similar to the conditions of living of most Thai people (rarely hot water, basic conditions in general) and of what most Thais eat in ther daily life. Rice is eaten three times a day for example, in Thai houses as in our projects.


- We expect the sending organisations to systematically provide the volunteers with our documentation (workcamp programme and infopack) and at least introduce International Voluntary Service fundamental principles. We recommend holding pre-departure trainings for your participants and introducing the basis of Intercultural learning and cultural diversity, Non violent communication, problem solving, conflict management, and active participation to a voluntary service project. The philosophy of voluntarism is the base of our work here and we expect your volunteer to understand, share and participate to it actively.

b: Specific to Workcamp

- In 2008, we decided to dramatically decrease our number of projects compared to previous years to optimise our attention to these ones - with good and trustable partners, in regions where we work for a long time…- and come back from a large quantity of camps (of insufficient quality, we are aware about it) to fewer optimised camps, with bigger groups of volunteers, better qualified camp-leaders, more attention of the secretariat and the local partners to them. You won’t be able to send us the same big amount of volunteers abut the ones you will place to our projects should be happier about their experience of voluntary service in Thailand. We hope it will bring the desired jump of quality in our projects and our international cooperation. In that case, we will progressively increase our number of projects, sticking on these quality standards, in the coming years.

- All PSF’s workcamps are international projects. We try to reach a maximum cultural diversity in the composition of our groups but you might punctually find more than 2 volunteers from the same country in our workcamps. No “direct placements” will ever be done and volunteers will systematically be re-routed to CCIVS, NVDA, YAP, SCI or Alliance, member organisation active in their country of residence and in capacity to operate the proper preparation and follow-up of the Workcamp.

- All our projects are open to volunteer who are a minimum of 18 years old at the first day of the project. No maximum age limit as we also encourage inter-generational dialogue and cooperation. Statistically, the average age of the international volunteers in our camp is around 25 y.o. but the oldest volunteer we hosted in our camps in past years was 71!!

- We are very open to host physically challenged volunteers but all our projects might not be accessible for individuals in wheelchair or facing large mobility difficulties. Please contact us way in advance in the case one of your members is interested in joining us and we will see together if her/his stay is compatible with the conditions of the workcamps. Please note that Thai standards for general public accessibility are not the best in the world… For mentally challenged participants, the continuous presence and assistance of a dedicated professional tutor is required, with the same conditions, rights and duties as any other participant. Please see above for acceptance delays in this case.

- Most of our projects are two weeks long, start on Saturday (arrival day) and ends on Sunday (departure day). In 2008 one specific project is 3 weeks long (GW 11) but follow the same schedule.
The volunteers are expected to attend the whole duration of the project and any delays in the arrival or departure MUST be officially justified and announced in advance. The incoming officer and the camp leader will keep the right to cancel the inscription of a volunteer or not accept her/him on the camp for any unjustified/unannounced lateness superior to 24 hours after the meeting point time. Please inform very clearly your interested participant as we will be very strict on this point. Any leisure activities in Thailand are to be followed before or after the first and last day of the project.

- We ask 6500 THB participation fee for two weeks-long workcamps and 8500 THB for 3 weeks-long projects (about 140 € and 180€ in Oct. 07). The usual repartition of these costs is around 50% for the direct expenses of the volunteer on the project and 50% for the expenses and projects of the Foundation, including the treatment received by all our camp-leaders but it will in any case adapt to the needs of the project and local partner (generally for the benefice of the volunteers’ part). To be clarified also that this participation fee is not a divided per-diem and is due in its non-refundable integrality in Thai Bath cash the first day of the workcamp even if the volunteer can/choose not to stay the whole duration of the project. No exceptions will be done. Please explain and inform you volunteer about this facts and encourage him to “pay” a visit to our financial web page (address in the introduction above).

- All the volunteers are required to individually subscribe a private insurance for the whole duration of the project, covering third party liability, health care and repatriation. Volunteers must provide the camp leader with an official certificate including the emergency numbers at the beginning of the project to participate to the project. No exception will be allowed.

- The basic timetable on PSF’s camps is about 30-35 hours of work per week, generally from Monday to Friday, but the necessities of the project can bring the volunteers to work some more (rarely less).

- The common languages of the workcamps will be English and Thai. We encourage the volunteers to study basic Thai language before their arrival (see also our Info-pack). An introduction to our language will be anyway provided during the project

- In most of the projects, daily timetable and tasks, free time and global organization will be decided in common, facilitated by the coordinator following the needs of the project and managed in teams. We expect on each workcamp to create a really strong team of volunteers, for the benefit of the project and the local community.

- There will always be at least one Thai coordinator per camp trained by PSF-Greenway for the whole duration of the project.

c: Specific to MLTV and STAF

MLTV projects

- The program is open for volunteers aged 18 or more and do not require previous experience; the activities are accessible to everybody. Maximum age limit is 50. For experienced volunteers we would suggest to have a look to our STAF program (targeted for experienced volunteers).

- Volunteers will be supported by PSF MLTV coordinator/s through the length of their stay. The coordinator will pick them up at the meeting point in Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal and support them both at personal and technical level. S/he is also responsible for the organization and the implementation of two evaluation sessions: a mid term evaluation and a final one.

- Projects start the first Monday of each month and can have duration of 2,3,4,5 or 6 months. For longer placement the volunteer and the sending organization should contact the office before applying. Volunteers should be at the meeting point in Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal at 12.00 o’clock (detailed information on how to get to the meeting point will be sent to volunteers upon confirmation). Upon arrival volunteers will be involved in our orientation week, starting on Tuesday and ending on Friday. On Saturday all the volunteers move to Denrat, where the MLTV program is located. A new program for the orientation week, based on more interactive techniques, has been set for the year 2008.

- Volunteers are required to work at least 6 hours a day, 5 days a week and to contribute to daily chores. Holidays will be organized according to the Thai calendar and volunteers will be able to have a longer break after each two months of service. Any longer break should be discussed and arranged with the coordinator.

- When at the base volunteers will only cook and receive vegetarian meals; they will not be allowed to consume or stock alcohol and smoking should be limited to restricted areas (especially when students are present).

- The living conditions are simple and Thai style: in the house there is no hot water, washing machine or telephone and volunteers sleep together in the second floor. If volunteers have special needs, those should be communicated to the office when applying. PSF will try to accommodate those needs when possible. Please refer to the workcamp section for clarification about the participation of physically challenged volunteers.

- The participation fees are as following: 20.000 Thai Bath for the first two months; 10.000 Thai Bath for the third month; 5.000 Thai Bath for any additional month. The fee should be paid upon arrival in Thai Bath, the amount should correspond to the planned stay. No travel cheques can be accepted by PSF/Greenway.

- PSF advises volunteers to require visa to the closest Thai embassy. More information will be send to the sending organisation and the volunteers upon confirmation. PSF can provide an invitation letter and other additional documents if required by the embassy.


- Volunteers should purchase insurance before the beginning of the project. The insurance should cover at least health care, third party liabilities and repatriation.

STAF projects

- The program is open for volunteers aged 20 or more and do require previous experience or relevant educational background; applicants should match the profile stated in the call or have relevant experience when applying. Maximum age limit is 50.

- Projects start the first Monday of each month and can have duration of 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. After confirmation, volunteers should inform the secretariat about their arrival details. A pick up service or relevant information will be provided according to the project location.

- Volunteers will be supported by PSF coordinator/s through the length of their stay. The coordinator will support them both at personal and technical level. S/he is also responsible for the organization and the implementation of two evaluation sessions: a mid term evaluation and a final one.

- If the STAF project is based in the main PSF/Greenway base in the south of Thailand, volunteers will sleep in huts or dormitories inside the main base. The accommodation will be shared with other volunteers or employees. Basic furniture and bedding items will be provided (including mosquito net). The accommodation is simple, in the base there is no hot water or washing machine. Food will be served for lunch from Monday to Friday, while all the other meals are cooked by the volunteers and the resident staff.

- If the STAF project is based in Denrat, north east of Thailand, the volunteer will sleep in a dormitory style room in the second floor of the MLTV base. In the house there is no hot water, washing machine or telephone. The shower is Thai style, composed by a water bucket/tank and a bowl. Basic furniture and bedding items will be provided (including mosquito net). Food will be cooked by the volunteers and the resident staff in turns.

- Volunteers are required to work at least 6 hours a day, 5 days a week and to contribute to daily chores. Holidays will be organized according to the Thai calendar and volunteers will be able to have a longer break after each three months of service. Any longer break should be discussed and arranged with the coordinator.

- There is no participation fee. PSF provides board, lodging and local transportation (when linked to the project). Volunteers must cover travel, visa, insurance and personal costs. The absence of participation fee is motivated by the will to integrate motivated and experienced volunteers in the Foundation.

- PSF advises volunteers to require visa to the closest Thai embassy. More information will be send to the sending organisation and the volunteers upon confirmation. PSF can provide an invitation letter and other additional documents if required by the embassy.

- Volunteers must purchase a private insurance before the beginning of the project. The insurance has to cover at least health care, third party liabilities and repatriation. Certificates and emergency numbers have to be provided to PSF at the beginning of the volunteer’s permanency.

- When recruiting or selecting volunteers, the sending organization should investigate and make sure that volunteers are suitable for the STAF program. The placements require a great deal of independence, motivation and competences and non-experienced volunteers, youth workers or youngsters may have difficulties to adapt to the local requirements. Initiative and ideas are expected from the volunteers.

B. Workcamp descriptions

1. General list of workcamps:

CODE		NAME	LOCATION		DATES	TYPE	VOLS	AGE
GW 01		SONGKSCHOOL 1	Hat Yai		05/01-20/01	TEACH/	8	18+
GW 02		PHATTAKID 1	Phattalung		26/01-10/02	TEACH/KIDS	8	18+
GW 03		SONGKSCHOOL 2	Hat Yai		09/02-24/02	TEACH	10	18+
GW 04		COST 1	Ranong		16/02-02/03	ENVI	10	18+
GW 05		AKHA 1	Chiang Rai		01/03-16/03	CULT/RENO	10	18+
GW 06		UBON 1	Ubon Ratchatani		05/04-20/04	CULT/TEACH	10	18+
GW 07		COST 2	Ranong		26/04-11/05	ENVI	10	18+
GW 08		PHATTAKID 2	Phattalung		17/05-01/06	TEACH/KIDS	8	18+
GW 09		SONGKSCHOOL 3	Hat Yai		17/05-01/06	TEACH	10	18+
GW 10		AKHA 2	Chiang Rai		07/06-22/06	CONS/CULT	15	18+
GW 11		TSUNAKID	Ranong		07/06-29/06	KIDS	10	18+
GW 12		AKHA 3	Chiang Rai		05/07-20/07	CONS/CULT	15	18+
GW 13		SONGKAIR	Hat Yai		05/07-20/07	TEACH	15	18+
GW 14		UBON 2	Ubon Ratchathani		12/07-27/07	TEACH/RENO	15	18+
GW 15		FLOT 1	Ratchaburi		12/07-27/07	ENVI/TEACH	15	18+
GW 16		SAMRAN 1	Ranong		12/07-27/07	ENVI/SOCI	12	18+
GW 17		KHAOYAI 1	Wang Nam Keow		26/07-09/08	ENVI	15	18+
GW 18		SAMRAN 2	Ranong		02/08-17/08	ENVI/SOCI	12	18+
GW 19		FLOT 2	Ratchaburi		02/08-17/08	ENVI/TEACH	15	18+
GW 20		AKHA 4	Chiang Rai		09/08-24/08	CULT/RENO	15	18+
GW 21		KHAOYAI 2	Wang Nam Keow		16/08-31/08	ENVI	15	18+
GW 22		UBON 3	Ubon Ratchatani		16/08-31/08	TEACH/SOCI	15	18+
GW 23		CAVE 1	Phattalung		23/08-07/09	ENVI	10	18+
GW 24		AKHA 5	Chiang Rai		30/08-14/09	CULT/RENO	15	18+
GW 25		KHAOYAI 3	Wang Nam Keow		06/09-21/09	ENVI/HERI	15	18+
GW 26		FLOT 3	Ratchaburi		06/09-21/09	ENVI/TEACH	15	18+
GW 27		UBON 4	Ubon Ratchatani		13/09-28/09	TEACH/SOCI	15	18+
GW 28		CAVE 2	Phattalung		13/09-28/09	ENVI	10	18+
GW 29		CAVE 3	Phattalung		04/10-19/10	ENVI	10	18+
GW 30		DENRAT1	Roi Et		11/10-26/10	ENVI/CULT	12	18+
GW 31		SONGKHOLI	Hat Yai		18/10-02/11	TEACH/KIDS	10	18+
GW 32		AKHA 6	Chiang Rai		08/11-23/11	CULT/RENO	10	18+
GW 33		PHATTAKID 3	Phattalung		15/11-30/11	TEACH/KIDS	8	18+
GW 34		AKHA 7	Chiang Rai		06/12-21/12	CULT/RENO	10	18+
GW 35		SONGKSCHOOL 4	Hat Yai		06/12-21/12	TEACH	10	18+
GW 36		DENRAT2	Roi Et		20/12-04/01	ENVI/CULT	15	18+
GW 37		SAMRAN 3	Ranong		20/12-04/01	ENVI/SOCI	12	18+
	TOTAL NUMBER OF CAMPS: 37			TOTAL NUMBER OF PLACES: 445

2. Projects

A: The Akha –AFECT projects

THE AKHA ETHNIC GROUP:
The Akha tribe is the fourth largest hill-tribe group in Thailand. Originally from the highlands of the Yunan Province in China, there are now Akha in Thailand, Laos, China and Burma. The population of the Akha in these five countries may range as high as 400,000 or higher. Genealogical charts show 70 generations of Akha, putting the start of their civilization at least 1500 years ago. There are about 63,000 Akha in Northern Thailand scattered over some 278 villages, over 80% of whom live in the Chiang Rai Province. Most Akha are farmers, cultivating dry rice and vegetables, breeding pigs, gathering food from the jungle and occasionally hunting or fishing. The villages are located in remote areas at high elevations. Over the centuries, the Akha have developed unique ceremonies, culture and religion. Up until the last 30 years, there was little contact with outsiders. Due to rapid social and economic changes in this region, most dramatically brought about by western style capitalism, the lifestyle and very lives of these people are being destroyed. They now are having great difficulty holding onto the land on which they live, they are increasingly being pushed into deeper poverty for the majority and they are facing increased problems of drug use, prostitution and imprisonment. Although modernization and missionaries have caused change in some Akha villages, many Akha still maintain much of their culture and traditions.


· OUR PARTNER: AFECT

In 1981, representatives from six Akha villages in Chiang Rai and a Dutch anthropologist set up a project named "Hill-Tribes Culture Education and Development Project" to give the Akha a voice in their own "development." The goals of the project were to raise awareness among hill-tribe members of the social, political, legal and economic situation of Thailand, to assist the Akha in conserving their culture and to build unity amongst the Akha. In order to prevent the Akha culture from disappearing completely, AFECT started teaching Akha to those who had forgotten it and started working with the students in the dormitories, teaching them about Akha life. AFECT also began documenting ceremonies and recording traditional knowledge so that it could be preserved for posterity. In the late 80's and early 90's, AFECT became one of the biggest NGOs in Northern Thailand with over 28 full-time staff and more than fifty volunteers. The number of villages AFECT worked with increased to 72 and the projects AFECT was involved in increased in response to the demands of the villagers. Irrigation projects brought water to fields, water storage facilities provided a clean source of drinking water, handicrafts were promoted to give women a source of cash for their families, community forests were secured, women's groups were established, legal assistance was provided in securing citizenship and soon, AFECT became involved in preventing village relocations and trying to secure community forests.

Today, AFECT’s main campaigns are:
1. Cultural Study and Revival Project (Akha cultural heritage conservation)
2. Children Education and Development Project (secondary school scholarship for Akha youth)
3. The Development of Underprivileged Elders Project (Akha elder support)
4. Twins Project (Akha twin baby support and protection)
5. Akha life, culture and environment school (Akha culture and language educational center)
6. Akha women and children council for development (Women groups’ empowerment)

PSF/Greenway is cooperating with AFECT on short and long term projects since 1999 and we have organised together more than 50 international Workcamps.

More informations about the Akhas and AFECT can be found at:
http://www.akhathai.org/ and http://www.akha.org/





B: The Ubon Ratchatani projects

UBON RATCHATANI AND THE ISAN:
Ubon Ratchatani is one of the biggest provinces of the North East region of Thailand. The North East is known between Thais as Isan. The region faces major environmental, economical and social problems; due to the high percentage of sand present in the soil and the shortage of water, agriculture is limited to some traditional crops and does not reach the same results as in other Thai regions (main crops are: rice, peanuts and vegetables). The economical problem caused by the environmental situation cause a massive emigration of young adults toward Bangkok and other big cities. Often the young adults leaving for big cities leave their children with the grand parents; while the grand parents take care of the animals and the fields, the children hang around in the villages and try to have fun. Not always the local institutions have a strategy to involve children in outdoor or leisure activities.
The Isan is also one of the regions of Thailand where traditions are preserved and respected; the Isan culture is influenced by Laos and Lao culture. This influence is represented in their special cooking, handicrafts, music and dance and on the typical Muay Thai Boxing. PSF/Greenway has been present in the Isan region for already 5 years; where it aims at supporting the education of children and young people and the socio–cultural development of the villages.

· OUR PARTNERS: KHUEANG NAI DITSRICT AND BAN THAI SUB DISTRICT
The Khueang Nai district and the Ban Thai sub-districts are PSF partners in the framework of the projects taking place in the Ubon Ratchatani province. As all the other areas in the Isan region, Khueang Nai district face major environmental and economic problems; the main needs they have identified and would like to address are:

- The development of alternative agriculture and the introduction of new crops and products that could support the economic development and food sustainability of the area.
- Health care and healthy ways of living, especially for the elders whom are affected by diabetes and other diseases connected with age.
- Education and cultural exchange, where the institutions would like to promote the local culture and share others while educating students and giving them the opportunity to gain skills and competences.

PSF, in its capacity as voluntary service and local development organisation, decided to support the two institutions in the field of Education and cultural exchange. The main target group of the project will be young people and children. Inside this larger framework, each workcamp will address the specific target group in different villages in the Ban Thai area. In the future, and depending on the results of the 2008 workcamps, PSF may decide to get also involved in addressing the other two main needs the district and the sub - district have identified.





C: The Roi Et projects

ROI ET AND THE ISAN:
Roi-Et is one of the province in the North East is known between Thais as Isan. The region faces major environmental, economical and social problems; due to the high percentage of sand present in the soil and the shortage of water, agriculture is limited to some traditional crops and does not reach the same results as in other Thai regions (main crops are: rice, peanuts and vegetables). The economical problem caused by the environmental situation cause a massive emigration of young adults toward Bangkok and other big cities. Often the young adults leaving for big cities leave their children with the grand parents; while the grand parents take care of the animals and the fields, the children hang around in the villages and try to have fun. Not always the local institutions have a strategy to involve children in outdoor or leisure activities.

The Isan is also one of the regions of Thailand where traditions are preserved and respected; the Isan culture is influenced by Laos and Lao culture. This influence is represented in their special cooking, handicrafts, music and dance and on the typical Muay Thai Boxing. PSF/Greenway has been present in the Isan region for already 5 years; where it aims at supporting the education of children and young people and the socio–cultural development of the villages.

· OUR PARTNERS: NONG HI DITSRICT AND DENRAT SUB DISTRICT

The Nong Hi district and the Denrat sub-district are PSF partners in the framework of the projects taking place in the Roi- Et province. As all the other areas in the Isan region, Nong Hi district face major environmental and economic problems; the main needs they have identified and would like to address are:
· The development of alternative environment at Bo Pan khan to clean the lake.
· Education and cultural exchange, where the institutions would like to promote the local culture and share others while educating students and giving them the opportunity to gain skills and competences.

Denrat village is a small rural developing community based in the countryside. It is surrounded by rice fields and many other small villages. The Denrat sub-district lies on a slope, small wood forests alternate the area and it is about 130 meters above the sea level. In Denrat Village there are about 1200 inhabitants, among whom 550 are male and 570 female. These villagers have a strong faith in Buddhism and this has an influential way as to how they live their life.

PSF, in its capacity as voluntary service and local development organisation, decided to support the two institutions in the field of Education and cultural exchange. The main target group of the project will be young people and children. Inside this larger framework, each workcamp will address the specific target group in different villages in the Denrat area. In the future, and depending on the results of the 2008 work camps, PSF may decide to get also involved in addressing the other two main needs the district and the sub - district have identified.


D: The Nakhon Ratchasima projects

NAKHON RATCHASIMA AND KHAO YAI:
Nakhon Ratchasima, generally known as " Khorat ", is Thailand's largest province situated on sprawling northeast plateau. Located approximately 260 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, the city itself serves as the gateway to the lower northeastern region.

Covering an area of 25,494 square kilometres that is mainly plateaus and mountainous terrain, Khorat has fascinating traditions, charming hospitality, splendid natural scenery and awesome historical sites.

Khorat is also the largest northeastern province. Inhabitants of the province are mainly engaged in agricultural activities that include farming of rice and other crops such as sugar cane, tapioca, corn, jute, peanuts, sesame and fruits. There are more than 100 savings and agricultural cooperatives in the province, 35 irrigation projects and 7,122 industrial factories. Most of the factories are rice mills, tapioca product manufacturers, and industrial factories.

The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (Ref: 590rev) spans 230 km between Ta Phraya National Park on the Cambodian border in the east, and Khao Yai National Park in the west. The site is home to more than 800 species of fauna, including 112 mammal species (among them two species of gibbon), 392 bird species and 200 reptile and amphibian species. It is internationally important for the conservation of globally threatened and endangered mammal, bird and reptile species, among them 19 that are vulnerable, four that are endangered, and one that is critically endangered. The area contains substantial and important tropical forest ecosystems, which can provide a viable habitat for the long-term survival of these species.

· OUR PARTNERS: WANG NAM KEOW DISTRICT AND THE KHAO YAI CONSERVATION PROJECT (KYCP)

The Wang Nam Keow district and the Khao Yai Conservation Project (KYCP) are PSF partners in the framework of the projects taking place in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The biggest threat to the Khao Yai National Park is humans. The people living in villages surrounding the park are poor and often make their living by going into the forest illegally to cut the plants and kill the animals to sell on the black market. The National Park is changing this with the Khao Yai Conservation Project (KYCP) which has three teams;
1. a patrol team that protects wildlife from poachers
2. a scientific team that counts animal population to measure the park's biological health
3. a community outreach team that works with local children and villagers

The Wang Nam Keow district supports the KYCP actions, and wishes to focus mainly on awareness raising in schools and local communities, especially since Khao Yai National Park was recognised as Unesco world heritage.

PSF, in its capacity as voluntary service and local development organisation, has organised several international camps in and around the Khao Yai national park in the past years, thus bringing an international context to the project.






E: The Ratchaburi projects

RATCHABURI AND DAMNOEN SADUAK
Ratchaburi province is an important town in the history of Thailand since the Mon kingdom. Its name means “City of the King” as it was the hometown of King Rama I (1737 – 1802) founder of the Chakri dynasty still ruling Thailand to this day. Relieves have been found in the region demonstrating human settlements since the Stone Age. The city is located on the bank of the Mae Klong River and one of its main features is the high number of man made channels surrounding the different cities.
Ratchaburi is administratively divided into nine districts, Pitaya Suwan Foundation works in cooperation with the Damnoen Saduak one. The region attacts all year long a large number of tourists and foreigners. The district is home to the oldest and best known floating market in Thailand.
While being a tourist place, the district also preserves and represents Thai culture and customs in one of the most preserved ways.

· OUR PARTNER: DAMNOEN SADUAK DISTRICT
Nowadays in Damnoen Saduak most people live densely along both sides of the canal from one end of the canal to another. The majority of this people are farmers. They grow several different kinds of fruit and vegetable like dragon fruit, oranges, grapes, papayas, cabbages, beans or onion. The land in this area is naturally fertile. Apart from providing transportation, Damnoen Saduak Canal also provides farmers with adequate water for agricultural purposes all year long. More than 200 small canals were dug by local peasants to connect with it to get water to splatter their land. As many other natural or artificial resources the channel is today facing environmental threats; even if the city hall has a policy related to the collection of the garbage, a major campaign should be started in order to improve the conditions of the channel and to promote environmental friendly practices (the villagers are used to wash dished and clothes in the water and to throw there a part of their rubbish). The district would also like to promote English teaching in the schools and enable the children and the young adults to better speak English and communicate with the visitors. The district identifies a need for improved communication especially in order to better promote and share the original culture of the region.
PSF workcamps in the area will mainly aim at developing an environmental campaign and promoting eco – friendly practices.




F. The Ranong projects

RANONG / SUK SAMRAK
In the morning of December 26th 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake lasting for about 9 minutes centred close to the Sumatra Island created a gigantic Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Its final result at the human level is about 280.000 dead and missing, 125.000 injured and about 1.7 million persons displaced in Asia and Africa. In Thailand, 2000 Km2 of the southern occidental coastline was hardly hit by 6 meters high waves. About 9.000 died or disappeared, 8500 get injured and about 7.000 persons were displaced. On this very morning, Greenway was starting an eco-tourism development camp in the Ranong province (northern coast) which was immediately converted into a tsunami relief camp. That makes us one of the first NGOs who reacted to the disaster and started the rehabilitation of the region. This continuous Relief project, which went on during the whole year, involved more than 400 Volunteers in 2005.

The same year, Greenway started a Tsunami orphan's project in cooperation with The Hong Kong based Print Rite Foundation. In Suk Samrak village, we still carry the scholarship costs of about 45 kids in who lost everything in the disaster and we continue to be involved in local development initiatives. We attend to give our support to these projects that will benefit the future of the children. From its side, the Thai government did a lot for their own people in the hit area after the tsunami. They were active in bigger scaled project operated by International NGOs and Companies. Nowadays, almost the whole Tsunami-hit related areas in Thailand are recovered and developed again. Unfortunately most of international NGOs are now gone and the Thai Government can’t heal all remaining wounds. We continue to stay active in setting up small-scale projects related to rehabilitation and development of the local economy.

· OUR PARTNERS: THE RANONG COASTAL RESOURCE RESEARCH CENTER AND PRINT RITE FOUNDATION

The Laem Son National Park is situated on the Andaman sea coast in Ranong and Phang Nga provinces (South of Ranong city). The 315 square kilometres park consists of approximately 60 km of coastline and 15 islands. Roughly 85% of total area is open water. The park was established on 19 August 1983. In the sea around the islands and offshore coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove swamps can be found. On the land the mangrove forest covers around half of coast area in the park. The park is a home for more than 130 bird species of which over 50% are residents. Mammals found in the park include common tree shrew, Malayan flying lemur, Slow loris, Pig-talied macaque, crab eating macaque, nanded langur, masked plam civet, mouse deer.
The tsunami had a strong impact on the Laem Son Marine National Park and destroyed the buildings of the Ranong Coastal Resource Research centre almost completely. 2 of its staff died this day! The rebuilding has being taken care of by the Direction of the project and the Thai Government, with the support of European Funds and the activities of this Scientific base is now almost back on normality. Out of their main researches in the park, they are very involved in environmental education toward local children and villagers and the rebuilding of an environmental friendly local economy. Our cooperation is oriented on general support to the Centre’s activity, both fundamental environmental protection and study and educational activities with the local population.

The Print-Rite Charity Foundation Limited (www.printritecharity.org.hk) was founded in 1999 aiming to raise the public awareness for environmental protection (including through their Green Recycle Campaign). It has, among its objects, been established to advance education, encourage public awareness of conservation of world resources and natural environment, and promote public health hygiene and the relief of victims of disasters. Following the Tsunami, Greenway and this Foundation initiated the “Said Children Relief Project”, aiming to provide financial assistance to 45 Thai children who lost their parent(s) during the 2004 Tsunami and relieve their hardship in completing their 9-year elementary education. Under the project, each of the Said Children receives a sum every year to discharge their expenses in connection with education, such as books, lunch allowance, etc. We also organise activities in cooperation with the schools where the study which involve Volunteers, as the 2008 workcamp.





G. The Phattalung projects

PHATTALUNG
Phatthalung is an ancient city in southern Thailand. It is a land of mountains. In town is Khao Ok Thalu, which is clearly visible from afar. Phatthalung is regarded as the birthplace of the Shadow play and the Nora dance. From ancient times to the present, Phatthalung has been closely linked to Songkhla Province, particularly in terms of geography, history and migratory settlements through many ages. During the Srivijaya period (13th-14th Buddhist century), the Phatthalung community received Indian cultural influence in the way of Mahayana Buddhism. Phatthalung is subdivided into 11 districts. The districts are further subdivided into 65 sub districts and 626 villages. About 11% of the population is Muslim. Phattalung is not a tourist area and it is not especially known by foreigners, even though it is home of natural beauties and cultural heritage.

• OUR PARTNERS: PHATTALUNG DISTRICT, KONG LA VILLAGE AND KLONG CHA LEUM SUB DISTRICT

The Project with the Klon La village
The Phattalung district and the Kong La village, in cooperation with the Eco Tourism club of Phattalung are interested in the promotion of eco – tourism as income generating activity for the poorest families in the area. The local institutions would like to promote both the development of home stay solutions and trekking/tourist opportunities. An important natural and cultural heritage site has been identified and the headman of the village would like to clean it and to prepare it in order to receive visitors. In parallel, he would like to teach English to youth and young adults in order to increase their personal and professional competences. PSF will cooperate with the village and the district both to provide English course and to refurbish and prepare the area.

The PSF/Greenway project in the Klong Cha Leum sub district
Pitaya Suwan Foundation/Greenway Thailand has one of its permanent centres in one of the many villages of the Klong Cha Leum sub district. At the moment the centre hosts workcamps and short term volunteers. PSF would like to increase the number of activities developed around the centre in order to promote non formal education and intercultural/inter religious dialogue. The area is inhabited both by Buddhists and Muslims; PSF wants to work in order to enhance the level of mutual understanding between children and young students belonging to the two social groups through non formal education and outdoor/leisure activities. Through the development of educational and leisure time activities PSF and the locals want to involve children in common activities that can put them together and develop stronger relationships.






H. The Songkhla projects

SONGKHLA
Songkhla is the one of the southern provinces of Thailand. The name derives from its original Malay name Singgora (city of lions). This refers to a lion-shaped mountain near the city of Songkhla. In contrast to most other provinces, the capital Songkhla is not the largest city in the province. The much newer city of Hat Yai, with a population of 194,000, is twice as big as Songkhla. This often leads to the misconception that Hat Yai is the provincial capital. Both cities are part of Greater Hatyai-Songkhla Metropolitan Area. Songkhla, or in its correct Malay form Singgora, was the seat of an old Malay Kingdom with heavy Srivijayan influence. In ancient times (200 AD - 1400 AD), Songkhla formed the northern extremity of the Malay Kingdom of Langkasuka. Since the 18th century, Songkla has been firmly under Thai suverainty. In 1909, Songkla was formally annexed by Siam as part of Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 negotiated with the British Empire. About a third of the population are Muslim, most of which are of Malay ancestry. The ethnic Thai and Chinese make up the remainder.

Khlong Hoi Khong is a district of Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. The minor district was established on April 1st 1992 by splitting off the three sub districts Khlong Hoi Khong, Khok Muang and Thung Lan from Hat Yai district. It was upgraded to a full district on October 11 1997.The district is subdivided into 4 subdistricts, which are further subdivided into 32 villages. There are no municipal areas within the district, and further 4 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

PITAYA SUWAN FOUNDATION/GREENWAY
PSF/Greenway started to work in the Khlong Hoi Khong district in 1998, when Greenway Thailand was created. Since the very beginning its main objectives have been the promotion of a sustainable and eco – friendly life style, long term community development and intercultural exchange. In order to achieve its objectives the organisation has been developing a number of different activities and projects: English teaching, environmental education and campaigns, leisure time activities for children, agriculture and many others. Its main tools are voluntary service and non formal education. The target groups are: children, students, young people and adults. In the past some activities were also dedicated to elders.

PSF believes in encounter as a tool to get to know the “others” while developing personal and professional competences. It believes each voluntary service project is an occasion for the community to grow and to expand its view and understanding and it knows that the presence of international volunteers can each day make a difference. This is why PSF is still present in the same village, in the same district after 10 years.

The workcamps that will take place in the Songkhla province are all part of this effort of long term community development and intercultural exchange.








C. Mid and Long term Projects descriptions

1. The MLTV projects

A: Presentation

PSF/Greenway started to develop mid and long term voluntary service placements in 2001. Since the beginning we have been able to host volunteers all over Thailand, in different centres and projects. Nowadays our MLTV programme is concentrated in the Roiet Province, in the North East of Thailand. Activities take place in Denrat village and its surroundings and they are focused on the following main areas:

- Education and teaching
- Environmentalism and agriculture
- Social, children and youth

Main aims of the MLTV programme are:

1. Providing on going support for community development to the Foundation;
2. Creating a stable and closer relationship with the local communities, both for the Foundation and the volunteer;
3. Building bridges between the international community, Thai citizens, Thai institutions and the NGO sector all over the country;
4. Stimulating the educational development of Thai youngsters through their participation to equivalent projects.

The MLTV programme is open to everybody aged 18 or more. No specific experience or educational background is required.

Application procedure

Volunteers should fill in the PSF application form for MLTV and submit it with an updated CV and motivation letter. Documents should be sent to in@pitayasuwan.org (Jeaw – International Exchange Coordinator). As soon as possible our secretariat will answer the placement; if the volunteer is accepted, you will receive our Hand Book for MLTV volunteers and our conditions. The hand book with all the needed information should be sent to the volunteers while the conditions should be signed by the volunteers and sent back to PSF/Greenway (by fax or email). The volunteer should bring the original copy of the conditions with him/her when coming to Thailand.
As soon as possible, travel details should be sent to PSF office. If volunteers have special needs or require specific assistance, please communicate with the office during the application process. PSF can accommodate some special needs but our camps may not be accessible for volunteers facing physical challenges.




B: The projects

NAME OF PROJECT	Denrat Village – Teaching
LOCATION	Denrat, Roiet Province, North East of Thailand
COUNTRY	Thailand
THEME OR TYPE OF PROJECT	Education and Teaching
AIMS OF THE PROJECT	- To promote non formal education and learning - To teach foreign languages to the students - To stimulate intercultural learning
PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES	- Formal and non formal English Teaching - Entertainment activities for children and students - Education
COMMUNITY CONTEXT	Denrat is a small village in rural Thailand. The closest urban area is 10 km away.
VOLUNTEER’S REQUIREMENTS	- Intermediate level of English - Interest in education and cultural diversity - Motivated to spend a consequent amount of time with children - Reliable and self – responsible - Able/willing to live in a collective setting - Ready to adapt to simple living conditions
VOLUNTEER’S TASKS	- To organise and hold English lessons - To contribute to the organisation of non formal work shops at the PSF/Greenway base - To organise games and entertaining activities for children - To contribute to the overall project
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROJECT	Depending on the number of applications/maximum four for the same project.
HOST SITUATION	Accommodation is provided in a collective setting. Volunteer will share his/her room and the other facilities with other volunteers and the MLTV coordinator/s. Facilities are simple and Thai style (no hot water, no internet, no telephone, no washing machine). Volunteers manage the daily chores (including cooking).

NAME OF PROJECT	Denrat Village – Social
LOCATION	Denrat, Roiet Province, North East of Thailand
COUNTRY	Thailand
THEME OR TYPE OF PROJECT	Social, children and youth
AIMS OF THE PROJECT	- To support the families in taking care of the children - To provide non formal education solutions - To provide entertainment to the children/youth - To stimulate intercultural learning
PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES	- Youth club - Entertainment activities - Sport activities and tournaments - Non formal education work shops - General assistance to children after school hours
COMMUNITY CONTEXT	Denrat is a small village in rural Thailand. The closest urban area is 10 km away.
VOLUNTEER’S REQUIREMENTS	- Intermediate level of English - Interest in education, sport and cultural diversity - Practice or/and knowledge of sport activities - Motivated to spend a consequent amount of time with children - Reliable and self – responsible - Able/willing to live in a collective setting - Ready to adapt to simple living conditions
VOLUNTEER’S TASKS	- To organise, promote and manage activities in the framework of Youth club - To organise, promote and manage sport activities and tournaments - To support the development and the management of a PSF library - To organise games and entertaining activities for children - To contribute to the overall project
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROJECT	Depending on the number of applications/maximum four for the same project.
HOST SITUATION	Accommodation is provided in a collective setting. Volunteer will share his/her room and the other facilities with other volunteers and the MLTV coordinator/s. Facilities are simple and Thai style (no hot water, no internet, no telephone, no washing machine). Volunteers manage the daily chores (including cooking).

NAME OF PROJECT	Denrat Village – Environment
LOCATION	Denrat, Roiet Province, North East of Thailand
COUNTRY	Thailand
THEME OR TYPE OF PROJECT	Environmentalism and Agriculture
AIMS OF THE PROJECT	- to promote sustainable development - to promote and develop organic farming - to provide environmental education in a non formal setting
PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES	- set up of recycling systems/treatment of the garbage - tree nursery and tree planting - organic agriculture (farming and promotion of best practices) - general environmental education
COMMUNITY CONTEXT	Denrat is a small village in rural Thailand. The closest urban area is 10 km away.
VOLUNTEER’S REQUIREMENTS	- Intermediate level of English - Interest in environment, agriculture and education - Ready for physical demanding work - Motivated to develop education activities with children (in cooperation with other volunteers) - Reliable and self – responsible - Able/willing to live in a collective setting - Ready to adapt to simple living conditions
VOLUNTEER’S TASKS	- To support the development and the implementation of environmental education for children and adults - To contribute to the creation and management of the recycling system/garbage treatment system - To contribute to the development of organic vegetable gardens in the temples, the house and the village - To contribute to the production and promotion of organic fertilizers - To plant trees and clean the forest - To contribute to campaigning activities - To contribute to the overall project
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROJECT	Depending on the number of applications/maximum four for the same project.
HOST SITUATION	Accommodation is provided in a collective setting. Volunteer will share his/her room and the other facilities with other volunteers and the MLTV coordinator/s. Facilities are simple and Thai style (no hot water, no internet, no telephone, no washing machine). Volunteers manage the daily chores (including cooking).

3. The STAF projects

A: Presentation

In 2005 the Pitaya Suwan Foundation/Greenway Thailand decided to establish a new MLTV programme in order to support the work of the organization and the stay of experienced volunteers. Through the STAF mid and long term voluntary service program, the Foundation would like to involve motivated and experienced volunteers in the development of specific projects and office administration.
The main difference between the STAF and the MLTV program is the profile of volunteers we require in order to join the activities. While everybody can join the MLTV program, the STAF one is dedicated to those with some relevant experience or educational background in the field of work. We count on our partner organizations in order to select volunteers for the two programs according to the requirements and to enable us to provide to different volunteers the experience that suit them most.

Main aims of the STAF program are:

• To create a permanent support system for the employees and the local volunteers;
• To exchange best practices and ideas with international experienced volunteers and their sending organizations;
• To contribute to the staying of experienced volunteers through the elimination of the participation fee;
• To have a multicultural team and stimulate encounter.

Application procedure
The STAF program foresees two types of application procedures:

1. Answer to a call for volunteer/s. On a regular basis, PSF sends out a call for volunteer/s to be placed in a specific project in Khlong Hoi Khong or Denrat. Calls for volunteer/s contain a clear description of the tasks the volunteer will need to carry on and a clear volunteer’s profile. In this case, the projects correspond to a specific need PSF has identified inside the organizations. The placements are promoted through an email to partner organizations and the PSF website.

2. Spontaneous candidatures: with the support of their sending organizations, volunteers can submit their application stating which field of the STAF program interests them most (application downloadable at:

http://www.pitayasuwan.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=187). In this case our office will answer according to local available places and running projects.

In both cases, documents should be sent to in@pitayasuwan.org (Jeaw – International Exchange Coordinator). As soon as possible our secretariat will answer the placement; if the volunteer is accepted, you will receive an information sheet and our conditions. The information sheet with all the needed information should be sent to the volunteers while the conditions should be signed by the volunteers and sent back to PSF/Greenway (by fax or email). The volunteer should bring the original copy of the conditions with him/her when coming to Thailand.

As soon as possible, travel details should be sent to PSF office. If volunteers have special needs or require specific assistance, please communicate with the office during the application process. PSF can accommodate some special needs but our camps may not be accessible for volunteers facing physical challenges.


B: Main fields of work


TEACHING

When PSF started to work in Khlong Hoi Khong lot of our efforts were dedicated to teach English to local youngsters and villagers. Since then PSF/Greenway has become a place where people learn English and exchange culture. Many Thai youngsters, officers, police men and children have learnt with us and we want to keep guaranteeing this service. If you would like to organize language workshops in our main base, work inside local schools or public offices, develop educational material and if you enjoy the idea of supporting our STVC dedicated to the same objectives, come and become one of our English teachers. You will not regret it!

Activities

• Teaching English in local schools
• Teaching English to police men and public officers in their offices
• Develop educational material
• Organize workshops in the PSF/Greenway base in Khlong Hoi Khon
• Train English teachers

Profile of the volunteer:
Volunteers should be/have:

• Independent, flexible, interested in cultural diversity and exchange and willing to adapt to a new way of living.
• Previous experience or education background in the field of teaching/education.
• Previous experience and interest in non formal education and learning
• Fluent in English (Grammar and Conversation) and ability to independently teach to Thai citizens.
• Knowledge of educational methods (traditional or innovative) and capacity to put them into practice

Expected results:
Through the different project in this field we would like to achieve the following results

• a strong relation with the local community and its institutions;
• a set of innovative educational materials and methods we could use in the future and other volunteers could adopt;
• a training module for English teachers PSF staff and volunteers could use in order to train Thai teachers;
• Guaranteeing English workshops in the main base or in the Eco House all year long.

Our coordinators will guarantee the link between the different projects and will ensure the use of the developed material.

AGRICULTURE
PSF aims at living and working in an environmentally friendly way and it has its main offices in the middle of the Thai nature in the South of Thailand. In order to promote its way of thinking and to bring organic farming to the attention of youngsters and villagers around the base, it would like to create a vegetable farm and a nice garden inside the base together with the locals. PSF would also like to propose the same inside local schools. If you are interested in agriculture and organic farming, this is the project for you!
Activities

• Build an organic vegetable garden in the PSF/Greenway base
• Build organic gardens in local schools
• Organize workshops about organic agriculture
• Improve the area around the main office

Profile of the volunteer:
Volunteers should be/have:

• Independent, flexible, interested in cultural diversity and exchange and willing to adapt to a new way of living.
• Interested in organic farming
• Previous experience or educational background in a related subject
• Ready for hard work.
• Ready to involve other people and coordinate a small team of local children or youngsters.

Expected results:
Our objectives are:

• to grow vegetables using natural substances and no chemical pesticides
• to donate the products to the poorer schools or sell them in the market so that the money earned can be used for the development of new agricultural projects
• to promote organic farming and sustainable development

ENVIRONMENT
As for the projects related to Agriculture and organic farming, PSF would like to promote environmental preservation and protection through the participation of villagers, youngsters and children. The Foundation would like to create recycling banks in local schools, recycling projects, garbage art workshops and environmental education activities inside the centre. If you have studied environmental sciences or you are interested on the topic, you should know that Thai youth and citizens would like to know more about the subject!

Activities

• Set up a “Recycling Bank” in local schools
• Organize environmental work shops for Thai youth
• Organize groups to clean the areas around the base and the surroundings
• Promote environmental preservation and care
• Cooperate for the organizations of short term environmental projects

Profile of the volunteer
Volunteers should be/have:

• Independent, flexible, interested in cultural diversity and exchange and willing to adapt to a new way of living.
• Interested in environmental issues
• Previous experience or educational background in a related subject
• Ready for hard work.
• Ready to involve other people and coordinate a small team of local children or youngsters.

Expected results:

• organize regular workshops and training on environmental issues
• improve the environment in the base and the surrounding village
• become an example of environmental protection and care
• implement an environmental sustainable life in our centres and projects
• involve groups of young people in environmental preservation action

YOUTH
PSF has been involving international and Thai youngsters in its project since the very beginning of its activities. We run international voluntary service project, internships for Thai volunteers and we have started an outbound department in order to send active member and Thai students abroad. We do our best to act for the benefit of youth and we believe we can do more. To do more we need your help and your ideas. PSF would like to create a space where young people and children can have fun, learn, practice arts and music, exchange ideas and empower themselves. If you would like to plan, organize, implement and evaluate activities and programs for local youngsters and children, please come and join us!
Volunteers working in the youth field should be ready to work also with children and to think about stimulating entertaining activities that could promote activism and participation. We would like to stimulate local children from a very early stage.

Activities:

• Organize art workshops or sport activities
• Show movies and documentaries
• Organize excursions or debates
• Organize thematic festivals or parties
• Organize training courses on different subjects that may be interesting for young people

Profile of the volunteer:
Volunteers should be/have:

• Independent, flexible, interested in cultural diversity and exchange and willing to adapt to a new way of living.
• Fluent in English (grammar and conversation).
• Able to facilitate a group of youngsters or children without the permanent help of a Thai person.
• Willing to learn Thai and to deep his/her knowledge of Thai culture in order to better understand and communicate with the local youngsters/children.
• Have previous experience in the field of youth or community life.
• Willing to organize entertaining activities and to promote them.

Expected results:

• A more dynamic centre where youngsters and children go to have fun, learn and became active citizens.
• A number of permanent entertainment activities local youth and villagers can join.
• A group of active Thai volunteers who could take part in training activities and programs with PSF.
• Regular workshop and activities to involve young people in the life of their societies.

ADMINISTRATION AND PROJECT COORDINATION
PSF needs more English speakers to work in the office together with our local staff. We need editors, researchers, communication and media experts, marketing experts and experienced volunteers/youth leaders to lead our programs. Each year we need to prepare, promote and implement our programs; we need to write reports, to up date our web site, to promote the possibility to go abroad, to exchange volunteers, to communicate with our international partners and to host international volunteers. If one of these activities interests you and if you have previous experience, the administration and project coordination field is the one for you! Through this exiting experience you will not only contribute to our work but also gain professional and personal skills. Come and join the PSF staff in Khlong Hoi Khong.

Activities:

• Office administration
• Communication (writing emails, updating website, answering phone calls, etc)
• Developing information material about PSF programs
• Writing reports
• Coordinate STVC projects around Thailand
• Research on social and global issues and develop discussion papers/documents
• Promote international exchange
• Participate and support training courses and workshops

Profile of the volunteer:
Volunteers should be/have:

• Independent, flexible, interested in cultural diversity and exchange and willing to adapt to a new way of living.
• Fluent in English (grammar and conversation).
• Good knowledge of MS Office.
• Previous experience in the field of office administration, youth work, project management or/and communication/media.

Expected results:

• An improved communication system
• Better quality information documents
• New discussion paper on different social issues
• An international staff
• More permanent support for our local staff
• A permanent flow of new ideas and energy

D. Appendix:

1. Location of the projects

Akha Workcamps

Nakhon Ratchasima Workcamps

Roi Et Workcamps MLTV and STAF projects

Ubon Ratchatani Workcamps

Phattalung Workcamps

Songkla Workcamps , STAF projects and National secretariat

Ratchaburi Workcamps

Ranong Workcamps

2. Contact for the 2008 season



International coordinator (Incoming placements Workcamps and MLTV)

Yuparat “Jeaw” RUEANGDAM ()
in@pitayasuwan.org





Website: www.pitayasuwan.org
Skype: psf_in

Postal Address	Physical address of the secretariat
PITAYA SUWAN FOUNDATION- Greenway Thailand PO-Box 21, Had Yai Airport, Had Yai, 90115 Thailand	73 Moo 7, Ban Chomlam, Tambon Khok Muang, Amphur Khlong Hoi Khong, Songkhla Province, 90230 Thailand