Volunteering with school children in northern Thailand
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During a year that’s been hard on the travel industry in Canada,
at least one company is still grinning.
Smiling Albino, the adventure travel company founded in 2000 by Calgarians
Scott Coates and Dan Fraser, continues to transport travelers around Thailand
by sea kayak and elephant. The intrepid company has even expanded its
volunteer programs in the country to include a program at a Bangkok orphanage.
Here travelers can help teach western customs to Thai children awaiting
adoption by western parents. Another volunteer program is teaching English
at a Muslim elementary school in the capital.
Co-founder Coates attributes his company’s success to several factors.
First, Smiling Albino discovered a niche market by catering to the 35-55
crowd interested in mid-range, small group and educational adventure travel.
Coates also notes that, despite world events, people still answer the
call to travel and Thailand, a Buddhist kingdom, is perceived as a safe
destination.
Finally, he says that by branching into volunteer programs – as
add-ons or enhancements to the Thai travel experience – Smiling
Albino has tapped into a growing trend. More travelers are interested
in making a difference in the countries they are visiting instead of just
passing through.
“Canadians and Americans are becoming more interested in volunteer-based
holidays,” says Coates. “They’re also interested in
different experiences and (our programs) can give them a richer experience
and a sense of giving back to the country they’re traveling in.”
That was the main reason Calgarians Jimmy Montalvo and Jodi Bruder volunteered
at the Phayathai Babies’ Home last February – they were looking
for a unique way to experience Thai culture.
The 29-year-old and his friend, 26, spent 10 days at the orphanage with
three children, aged 14 to 16 months, who were awaiting adoption by families
in Canada, Finland and France. Montalvo and Bruder helped feed their charges,
played with them and talked to them in English. “The idea of the
program is to…get them immersed or have them exposed to western
people before they’re adopted,” says Montalvo. “We have
an opportunity to minimize their culture shock.”
For many of the kids, it was the first time they had seen, heard, or smelled
foreigners (yes, evidently westerners smell differently). It is believed
such exposure eases the children’s transition from Thai culture
into the culture of their adoptive home. Montalvo loved the program and
felt he experienced real Thai life while making a difference. He and Bruder
had direct interaction with the locals, something that many travelers
on tours miss. The experience also demonstrated that there was a need
to give children at the orphanage a little more attention, as the facility
lacks to resources to hire full-time caregivers. “We learned that
anyone (who) can assist – especially at that particular orphanage
– can make a difference,” he says. “The more that people
interact with people from other cultures, the better we’ll understand
each other.”
Coates says Smiling Albino’s programs have gone a long way toward
bridging the often wide gap between cultures.
In addition to its English teaching and orphanage programs, the company
is involved in two more community projects in Thailand including the Highland
Farm & Gibbon Sanctuary and a clothing/toys donation program.
The success of these programs keeps inspiring the team at Smiling Albino
to find more ways for westerners to help while on holiday. This fall,
the company will begin offering a two-week adventure that combines community
outreach with a full vacation throughout Thailand. While experiencing
Thai food, adventure and culture, clients will spend time with Thai orphans,
teach English to underprivileged school kids and help care for gibbon
apes.
For more information on Smiling Albino’s volunteer programs visit
www.smilingalbino.com/community
or email info@smilingalbino.com
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