Baan Unrak (means Home of Joy in Thai) Foundation is a non-government, non-religious, non-political community development project which provides humanitarian aid to the neediest in Thailand. The Neo-Humanist philosophy is the guiding principle regarding the voluntary work:

• The largest part of the project is the Children’s Home which provides a safe and loving home to
  over 140 children.
• The Baan Unrak Primary School teaches over 200 students, is fully accredited by the Thai
  government and functions under its own budget.
• The Women’s Project includes several enterprises including a weaving center, sewing center,
  a bakery, a shop and an internet café which provide employment as well as a small income to the
  home.
• The Outreach Program provides food and assistance to those in the community (mainly Burmese
  refugees) without incomes, who have dire medical conditions and/or do not have the resources to
  get the care that they need.

Neo-Humanism is a philosophy developed by the Indian philosopher Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar. The practice of Neo-Humanism follows a set of principles based on the ethic of universal love. This includes respect for all beings including plants and animals. The children at our home follow the philosophy by not eating meat and meditating twice daily. The children are encouraged to express and continue to follow their own religions of choice (mostly Christian or Buddhist).

Volunteers need not be followers of the Neo-Humanist philosophy, but are asked to respect the principles by maintaining a vegetarian diet, by not smoking and/or drinking alcohol while volunteering at the home. There are daily meditation sessions, which you are welcome to attend but are not required. The food at the home follows a balanced and healthy vegetarian diet (including no eggs, mushrooms, onion or garlic) and we ask that you respect this diet of ‘pure foods’ and not bring any foods from the outside into our home.

Volunteer tasks

• Teaching English to housemothers, home schooled kids and other staff
• Teaching basic Computer P.C. skills to staff
•  Organize weekend games/activities with the children
•  Relief work with the teenagerss
• Supervising teenagers’ morning chores
• Driving the school bus and assisting with weekend field trips
• Supervising children and managing our library
• Corresponding with potential/new volunteers
• Conducting tours for guests/ visitors
• Updating children’s profiles
• Updating sponsors on children’s progress
• Producing newsletters
• Fundraising
• Website maintenance
• Marketing Baan Unrak Weaving Center products (e.g. producing catalogues)
• Updating staff and children’s board as and when required
•  Office/administrative tasks as required
•  Assisting other staff as required
• Maintenance
• Painting and decorating
• Agriculture/gardening

Long-term volunteers are expected to take on a full-time workload while at Baan Unrak, taking only one day off per week. Food and accommodation are provided free of charge to full-time volunteers who stay for 6 months or longer. Volunteers who stay for shorter periods are asked US$150 per week, with a maximum of US$900 as a donation to help cover the expenses of the project.

Please, read the full volunteer documentation here before you apply!

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