If you are thinking of volunteering in Thailand..... a suggestion...
Do NOT go through not for profit organizations based in the USA! You can get a much better deal if you work through local organizations. I worked through a USA based organization to volunteer in 2009. The experience was okay..... but.... what I learned from that experience.....
Were I to do the experience over again, I would have gone directly to a local organization. For example, I found a fantastic local organization in Thailand, called Friends For Asia. Here is a link to their site .... www.friendsforasia.org/
Friends for Asia provides a variety of volunteer opportunities in Thailand, has a great local staff that is very, very supportive.
If you want to spend time with elephants in Thailand .... I spent a week at the Thai Elephant Home and was very impressed with this small family owned business. At the Thai Elephant Home, I was taught how to be a "mahout." I spent hours directly working with an elephant at this "Home." The staff are fantastic! Here is their webside:
www.thaielephanthome.com
SOS Village, based in Austria, provides homes for orphans around the world. An incredible organization, with fantastic staff, dedicated to improving the lives of children. SOS Village has programs around the world. Check into this worthy organization and lend a helping hand... here is a link to SOS Villages ...
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/pages/default.aspx
Think global and work local .... locally that is, work through and with a local organization in the country you wish to volunteer in. It can be so very rewarding....
