Thailand

THAILAND

THAILAND 2024

Anticipated Trip Cost: $3,899
Anticipated Dates: JUNE 30 – JULY 14

REGISTER FOR THAILAND

Leadership Development

  • 9-month leadership development program with integrated local service component
  • Youthlinc’s mission is to transform volunteers into lifetime humanitarians, which takes time and effort- we are not a “pay-and-go” program
  • Twenty five years of proven curriculum and data show that our program truly changes and improves our volunteers & communities abroad
  • Connect and build friendships with your team for 9 months prior to travel

Projects

  • Work with Travel2Teach to make lasting impacts on rural villages outside of Chiang Mai
  •  Projects relate to community health, business & vocational skills, ecological improvements, construction, cultural exchange, and education

What's Included?

  • We are a Utah-based program. Round-trip international airfare is included from Salt Lake City. Minors will never be asked to fly alone to another city to meet their team for the first time.
  • All meals, accommodation, transportation, & clean water
  • Excursions include trips to a butterfly biome, elephant sanctuary, and gorgeous Buddhist temples
  • Travel insurance, medical professional travels with team, 1:3 ratio of adults:student

BAN MAE MAE, THAILAND

Our first Service Year team went to Thailand in the summer of 2008. It’s hard to believe it was that long ago. Our first partnership was with the Rotary Club of Patong Beach in Southern Thailand. We are so grateful for them and their many years of coordinating for our teams.

In 2015 we made the move up to Northern Thailand with a new partner Travel to Teach in Chiang Mai. Travel to Teach is an NGO focused on organizing volunteers to teach English across the globe. The Chiang Mai Travel to Teach coordinating efforts are spearheaded by Jim Wiengyos. Jim is amazing and she does such a fantastic job making sure everything is prepared and runs as smooth as possible for our teams.

Our teams work hard but also get to have some fun. The Chiang Mai team spends their last couple days in Chiang Mai exploring the temples and night markets. They also visit Ran-tong Save and Rescue Centre where they spend the afternoon feeding, playing, and bathing elephants.

Read About Our 2023 Projects

The team did a variety of construction projects, including improving drainage away from the school so it would stop eroding into the hillside, doing improvements various structures on the school grounds, and doing improvements in the dormitories.
The cultural committee organized Opening and Closing ceremonies-- which included the team and the local community learning dances and performing together at the end of the trip. The committee also designed and painted the largest mural in Youthlinc history, covering the entire side of the boys' dormitory.
The education committee designed and carried out an English Camp for the students still living in the dorms. Most of the students that attend this school are from migrant farmers, gatherers, and works who drop their children at this school during the year so they can receive an education while they work to substist.
The community health committee worked with and learned from the local health clinic. They also ran a health fair for men and women where they taught lessons related to hand-hygiene, first aid, maturation, and feminine hygiene.
The vocational committee worked with the local women's co-op to improve their approach to selling their homemade and handmade items. Products included organic massage oils, organic tea, handmade clothing and bags, organic balms and other items related to health & wellness.
The business committee worked with the local women's co-op to take their business ventures to the next level. The committee organized a "shark tank" activity where the women's group presented their business plans and products to a panel of judges. The winners received cash prizes to invest in their businesses and the whole co-op was gifted sewing machines to support their work in that regard.
The ecological committee planted coffee at the nearby Buddhist temple and engaged with the community on eco-brick projects. The area of Ban Mae Mae is also a holistically organic village where no pesticides are used in any way. This allows for all plant and animal life in the area to thrive under natural means only.
Excursions included trips to a butterfly biome, Rantong Elephant Sanctuary, gorgeous Buddhist temples, and jungle hikes.

In-country Coordinator

Meaw

Suphaporn Chanphum “Meaw” is our In- Country, Trat Thailand Project coordinator.

In 2002 she finished her studies in Thailand with an Associate in Arts from FGCC (the First Global Community College) where she also learned how to speak English. While studying at FGCC she took a year off and went to Munich, Germany to work as Aupair. Upon Meaw ‘s return to Thailand, she was working as a Volunteer Coordinator for a leading volunteer abroad agency in Thailand. After a year and a half, Meaw moved to London and spent a year there before moving to Costa Rica Nov. 2006. where she was one of the founders of a Volunteer Agency. Her role in Costa Rica was a headquarter office manager & program developer. After 5 years of developing projects with the Costa Rican team she decided to return to her home country, Thailand. She had a mission to set up a Volunteer Project in Trat. In 2015 Meaw set up another Volunteer Agency called “ GloVolEx” and providing volunteers to remote schools in Trat and nearby areas.

Meaw has joined Youthlinc and taking part as an in-country coordinator since 2017. She has been hosting Youthlinc teams in Trat, Thailand each year and loves having our teams. She believes they are truly doing great project work and have a major impact with the locals.

Meaw enjoys traveling and exploring different cultures, languages and meeting new people. She loves cooking, and spending her free time gardening, drawing, and sewing. She also runs a delicious Mexican restaurant called “Volunteer Café ” that provides the space for the locals to practice their English and Foreign tourists to meet the locals’ friends.

Easton Bearnson
Ellie Israelsen

Thailand co-Team Leaders
Thailand

Hi! I’m Easton. I’m in my final year at the University of Utah studying Psychology. I’m also doing pre med, and I’ll be studying for the MCAT shortly after this trip! (Wish me luck). This will be our third trip with Youthlinc and we are so excited to be leading! 

Hi, I’m Ellie! I’m in nursing school at Joyce University and hoping to eventually work in labor and delivery or pediatrics. When I’m not a slave to homework I love doing anything outside! Camping, hiking and skiing are my favorite. Easton and I met on a youthlinc trip to Cambodia in 2017, so we’re big fans of youthlinc. I’m so excited to go to Thailand this summer!! 

Hello! My name is Zoie. I’m a freshman at the University of Utah and am studying Biochemistry. I love the outdoors and cooking. This year, I’ll be the Assistant Team Leader (ATL) for Youthlinc’s Thailand team. My job is to help humanitarians understand what they need to complete and help them complete it. I’m not only here to help, I’m also here to make sure participants feel comfortable going on this trip. This will be my third trip with Youthlinc. In 2021 I went to Costa Rica (with our amazing team leaders Easton and Ellie) as a humanitarian and in 2022 I went to Peru as an ATL. I love Youthlinc and everything it stands for and hope to continue working with them in the future.

Zoie Frisby

Thailand ATL
THAILAND

Meg Ashton

Thailand July Team Leader
Thailand JULY

Meg is thrilled to be leading the Thailand 2 team this year!! Ever since participating as a student in 2009, Meg has had a passion for helping others and humanitarian work. This great love is a driving force in her life; she is continuously seeking opportunities to improve the lives of others.

Meg took her first trip with Youthlinc to Kenya in 2009, and in 2018 was one of the very lucky mother-daughter duos to take on Thailand. Between 2009 and 2018, Meg had awesome adventures living in New York, Indiana, Nebraska, and Massachusetts; learning and growing every step of the way. Living in so many places has helped her to love and appreciate many different cultures and lifestyles.

The highlight of Meg’s day job is setting up relationships and events with various non-profit organizations throughout the Salt Lake valley; creating volunteer opportunities for herself and her co-workers. Through these efforts, she has met many incredible people. She sparks enthusiasm in so many by finding a way to share their time and abilities in meaningful endeavors.

Meg stays busy working a 9-5 job in downtown Salt Lake City, and when she isn’t working, she looks forward to constant excursions with her husband, two dogs, and a cat. They love adventuring in the outdoors and hanging out with their nephews. Meg cannot wait to meet her team and make this year an unforgettable life-changing experience

My name is Kodie Osterberg and I am currently at Utah State University, studying Business Administration. I have also been a dancer for 19 years and am currently teaching dance at a local studio. Other hobbies of mine outside of dance are snowboarding, hiking, wakeboarding, and any other outdoor activity.  

I joined Youthlinc in 2018 and went to Thailand. I enjoyed every moment of this experience. Not only the international service but the local service as well. During my experience with Youthlinc, I realized how much a lot of people take for granted. I returned home and appreciated every little thing I had a lot more than I ever did in the past. The Thai people taught me many life lessons and ones I would have never been taught without this unique experience.  

I am excited to be joining the 2020-2021 service year as a recruitment intern. Working with others has always been something I loved. I am excited to get to know the other interns, Youthlinc staff, and the other people I will meet throughout the recruitment process. I am excited to continue to learn, grow, and experience all the opportunities that come my way during this experience.

Kodie Osterberg

Thailand July ATL
THAILAND JULY