Community Projects
Our community programs are developed when a perceived unmet need is noticed. We talk to locals, discuss options then develop a program. Our unique position of being in regular contact with socially aware foreigners and being active members of local communities has opened a variety of social opportunities. We currently host or sponsor the following community projects.
Highland Farm & Gibbon Sanctuary - Prop Phra, Tak Province, Thailand
Lending grass-route support to a truly inspirational animal refuge and reforestation project that cares for injured/abused gibbon apes and other creatures in need.
We first met Pharanee (Thai) & Bill Deters (American) in 2000 during a visit to a remote corner of Tak province, along Thailand's border with Myanmar in the northern part of the kingdom. While building a home for a 'quiet' retirement in 1991, the Deters took in one long-limbed gibbon ape and soon after began taking in more animals as they learned of these creatures' vanishing from thier forest homes and all-to-often mistreatment by humans. And so it went, with more apes taking-up residence at what is now Highland Farm and Gibbon Sanctuary, home to more than 40 creatures in need. Run entirely on the Deters pension and private donations, life became more challenging after Bill's sudden passing in 2002. Pharanee continues to care for her "kids" as she calls them and keeps Highland running smoothly. Smiling Albino is been proud to donate a portion of client revenues to help care for "Jerry" the gibbon and other residents at Highland Farm.
Building Schools - Nepal
While hiking in the Chepang Hills during Smiling Albino's first Nepal adventure in 2006, we noticed a need for new schools in this remote mountainous area. Guests on that inaugural trip jumped-to-the-cause and donated money to build a small school, which was completed in early 2007. Since then we've continued to channel and manage client donations to build several schools along our trekking trails. In these rural areas educational opportunities are poor and state funding insufficient, creating the ideal opportunity for guests to leave their mark well after their Smiling Albino adventure.
English Fun Days
If you're interested in participating as a volunteer teacher at any of these locations, please fill out our Questionnaire.
If you have questions after reading this information, please contact us at community@smilingalbino.com.
Santikiri High School - Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand
A unique program that develops curriculum and places foreign volunteers as short-term English teachers at a school in Thailand's remote north.
During our first months in Thailand, back in 1999, we fell in love with the charming mountain town of Doi Mae Salong. Tucked along the Thai-Myanmar border in the country's northermost province Chiang Rai, this area is home to Chinese that fled their home country after the Cultural Revolution. Many hilltribe groups, notably Ahka, originally from Tibet, continue to live in this community creating an eclectic mix of people.
While visiting local schools we came up with the idea to send English-speaking volunteers to spend two-weeks teaching fun, hands-on English programs, creating an ideal cultural exchange for everyone.
Response was great and we've been facilitating programs here ever since. Smiling Albino sources volunteers, designs curriculum, makes local arrangements and provides funds to make this rare opportunity for local children to learn from native speakers possible.
Surowa Huamark Noi School - Bangkok, Thailand
Placing short-term foreign volunteers at an urban school to teach English.
The popularity and success of our Doi Mae Salong English Fun Days program led us to start a new version of the program at a school in suburban Bangkok.
Since 2003 we have coordinated short sessions (usually a few days) of English instruction and activities for the 800 mostly Muslim students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 at Surowa Huamark Noi School in Bangkok's eastern suburbs.
As is the case at most public Thai schools, the students at Surowa Huamark Noi rarely have the chance learn or interact with a native English speaker, making this an ideal cultural exchange for all.
Ban Rachawadee Ying Girls Home - Bangkok, Thailand
This heart-warming home for mentally handicapped women is one of our favorite places for cultural exchanges and lending support.
Ban Rachawadee Ying (BRY), a wonderful girl's home for mentally challenged females located in Bangkok's suburbs, is a moving place. Operated by the Department of Social Development and Welfare, it's home to more than 500 women typically ranging in age from seven to 18. Residents come from a variety of backgrounds,some are brought to BRY as their families can't properly care for them, while others are abandoned and some are brought for a short-term stay and never picked up again.Their abilities and needs are as varied as their backgrounds - some residents can play sport and read books, while others can't enjoy more than lying in their beds.
Smiling Albino (SA) lends support to BRY several times per year in the form of social exchanges and activities. These range from beautification sessions, such as mural paintings, to brighten the overall environment of the home, to swimming trips and arts and crafts workshops.
Ban Rachawadee Ying does not accept drop-in visitors. While they appreciate your interest, such visits are more disruptive than helpful. A better way to lend assistance is by donating funds or apply towards an upcoming SA social exchange. If you would like to pursue this avenue, send an email to community@smilingalbino.com. Please note we can not provide tax receipts.
Clothing, Toys, & Other Stuff - all regions we travel
Via guests and friends, SA regularly collects clothing and other donations for hilltribe villages and remote communities throughout the regions we travel.
Smiling Albino's unique position of being in regular contact with foreigners and travelers enables us to collect blankets, clothing and mosquito nets to assist rural communities in the areas we travel. On occasion we also donate items such as children's toys and books to lower opportunity areas around the region. Our Team regularly makes deliveries of such items to far-flung villages most in need of assistance.
Rather than giving money and items to locals during your trip we ask that you direct donations to our Team directly, who will then channel these items to the most deserving persons at the most appropriate time. Assisting in this manner ensures we do not disrupt local communities and their often delicate social balance and hierarchies.
If you're interested in donating useful items or funds please contact us at community@smilingalbino.com. We're making a difference one Smile at a time.
Supporting Rural Students in Thailand - Ban Nam Khem, Phang Nga Province, Thailand
Sponsoring two students who survived the 2004 tsunami
While visiting tsunami-affected areas in southern Thailand in 2004 we were struck by the fact that so many lives are forever changed - especially those of children. While discussing this tragedy with our friend Sa-ngiam Yarangsee, a famous Thai painter, he suggested creating a painting, which we put on a t-shirt to raise money to assist children who lost family or economic livelihood during the tsunami.
Through t-shirt sales we raised several thousand dollars and established educational trust funds for students, Big and Kik. The program will provide financial support that covers their schooling costs until the end of their formal education at university.
Everyone who comes on a Smiling Albino adventure helps support our community involvement as a portion of your adventure fees go directly to these programs.
If you have further questions, email us at: community@smilingalbino.com.
