THAILAND
BOR KEAW & TRAT, THAILAND
Our first Service Year team went to Thailand back 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.
In addition to moving to Northern Thailand, in 2016 we also opened a second Thailand site in the South Eastern city of Trat. Our Trat partner is an organization called Glovolex spearheaded by the lovely Meaw Chanphum. Meaw seems to know everyone in Trat and is often able to achieve the impossible for our teams!
Our teams work hard but also get to have some fun. The Chiang Mai team spends their last couple days in Chaing Mai city exploring the temples and night markets. They also take a visit to Ran-tong Save and Rescue Centre where they get to spend the afternoon feeding and playing with elephants.
Our Trat teams spend their last few days visiting the beautiful nearby island of Koh Chang. The team stays at Nature Beach Resort where you can eat your breakfast overlooking the ocean and when you’re done walk right out onto the beach.
Read the details about our 2019 Team Projects
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
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
Meg Ashton
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