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.
Leadership Development
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9-month leadership development program with integrated local service component
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Youthlinc’s mission is to transform volunteers into lifetime humanitarians, which takes time and effort- we are not a “pay-and-go” program
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Twenty five years of proven curriculum and data show that our program truly changes and improves our volunteers & communities abroad
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Connect and build friendships with your team for 9 months prior to travel
Projects
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Work with Travel2Teach to make lasting impacts on rural villages outside of Chiang Mai
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Projects relate to community health, business & vocational skills, ecological improvements, construction, cultural exchange, and education
What's Included?
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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.
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All meals, accommodation, transportation, & clean water
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Excursions include trips to a butterfly biome, elephant sanctuary, and gorgeous Buddhist temples
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Travel insurance, medical professional travels with team, 1:3 ratio of adults:student
Requirements
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80 Hours of Local Service
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Monthly Team Meeting Attendance
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Engaged in Project Planning
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Engaged in Project Fundraising
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Uphold Youthlinc Code of Conduct
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Passport (valid for 6 months after trip)
Read about our 2024 projects
Meet Our
In-Country Coordinator
Maneerat "Jim" Wiengyos- Travel 2 Teach
My name is Maneerat but you can call me Jim. I am from Chiang Mai, Thailand. I Graduated from Khon kaen University in Hotel and tourism management. I am the director of Travel 2 Teach in Thailand and Coordinate Volunteers and manage collaboration with other volunteer organizations including Youthlinc. Enjoy working with international volunteers on project aimed at improving the daily lives of communities.
Meet the Team Leaders
Co-Team Leaders (TL)
Brian Larson (He/Him)
Christie Larson (She/Her)
Brian introduced Christie to Youthlinc after they got married in 2018, and they served as Mentors on the Thailand June team for 2019. They love seeing the transformation students can go through as they experience the world outside of themselves a little more.
Brian and Christie love to travel and spend time with family – especially playing games. They both love Thailand and are excited to share that enthusiasm with the Thailand June team!
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Assistant Team Leader (ATL)
Eleanor Condie (She/Her)
My name is Eleanor Condie, I am a senior at Olympus High but hoping to study something along the lines of international humanities or conservation in college. With Youthlinc I have been to Thailand as a first time humanitarian and Vietnam as an alum leader. I am very passionate about service, film, and the outdoors! For fun you can find me skiing, climbing, volunteering, or trying something new! I am so stoked to be able to help lead an amazing team of hardworking people as they fall in love with the power of service! Especially excited to get to work with such incredible teams in Thailand like travel to teach and the one we build here locally through Youthlinc. It is going to be an epic service year :)
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Email: eleanor.c@youthlinc.org
Thailand SU Leadership
Team Leader (TL)
DeeAnna Phelps (She/Her)
DeeAnna first became involved with Youthlic as a Student Humanitarian to Peru in 2003. Since then she has beeen a mentor to Thailand in 2017 and 2018 and Co-lead a team to Peru in 2021.
She believes this program is one of the best things you can do with your life.
DeeAnna is most excited to help great people realize what an immense impact they can make wherever they currently are and to get to share Thailand with another group of amazing people!​
Outside of volunteering DeeAnna likes to Hike, draw, photography, dance, be with her people.
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Email: DeeAnna.p@youthlinc.org
Basic Itinerary
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Depart SLC
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Travel Day
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Arrive Chiang Mai
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Opening Ceremonies
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Projects and Cultural Exchange
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Projects and Cultural Exchange
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Projects and Cultural Exchange
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Projects and Cultural Exchange
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Projects and Cultural Exchange
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Projects and Cultural Exchange
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Closing Ceremonies
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Elephant Excursion
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Depart Chiang Mai
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Arrive back to SLC