EIL Intercultural Learning

TLSDF is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1998. When I was there it had two offices, one located in Chiang Mai and the other in Pang Mapha, Mae Hong Son province. The Foundation focuses on the development of early childhood care, enhancing education, life skills and has established cooperative relationships with international, national and community agencies. Its work is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Thailand in 1992, and follows four basic pillars of human rights; the right to non-discrimination, devotion to the best interests of the child, the right to life, survival and development and the respect for the views of the child. It works primarily with displaced, migrant children from Burma and Indigenous hill-tribe children from Thailand and Burma.

The organisation primarily has four projects it is currently running; "Strengthening the Community and School Based Approach to Solving the Problems of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS" and Strengthening Community-Based Early Childhood Care and Development in the Border Areas of Northern Thailand as Child Friendly Pre-School and Day Care Centers" (ECD) both sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and Save the Children (USA), "Life Skills-based Quality Education Enhancement Project" (LSQE) supported by Pestalozzi Children's Foundation and Development of Networking Magazine for Thailand's Inclusive Education Programs supported by UNICEF. The organisation also runs a living fund project.

For the first two weeks of my six week placement I worked in the Chiang Mai office. Many of the employees in the office struggle with English and without the Director there (whose English was very good) in my first two weeks it was difficult to understand specifically what my role could be within the office and how I could contribute in any way. If anyone else experiences this I would say perseverance and communication is the key. The pace of work is not always what you might expect and the relaxed atmosphere in the office, whilst it can be nice not to be in a more demanding place, it can feel like you are maybe not contributing at all. However, I would say that there are definitely times when things are urgent and deadlines for reports etc need to be met and you need to be prepared for that. In my first two weeks I helped to write articles for TLSDF's website, as well as attending the Festival of the Indigenous Peoples at Chiang Mai University. This gave me a real insight into the target groups of people that TLSDF aims to help through its projects and I also learnt a lot about the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants in northern Thailand. I was helped a lot by one member of the TLSDF team who translated some of the lectures for me.

After two weeks I visited the Pang Mapha office with the ECD team. Whilst I was there I really felt like I was part of the team. I experienced the amazing mountainous countryside of northern Thailand and one of my friends, the project coordinator, took me for a weekend to the city of Mae Hong Son which I would have to say is one of my favourite places in the world. At the Pang Mapha office I worked on the piece of work which I would be most proud of during my internship in Thailand. After visiting project sites and reading and talking with the members of the team I compiled the annual report for the third and final year of the project which would be sent to Johnson & Johnson and Save the Children (USA). My first draft was very vague, poor and hard to understand and I then felt the pressure of enormity of what I was trying to achieve. We held a meeting that was primarily conducted by me and the Director in order for me to ascertain the particulars of the project, and using the framework of a previous volunteer I successfully completed my task. It was the most exhilarating feeling, the feeling of completion and acceptance and I knew then that I had contributed significantly to the organisation and to the specific project I worked on.

Further to this, and together with a new volunteer, I helped to work on the OVC proposal for the current year (2008-2009) and proof read some of the other work such as the new ECD proposal for the current year also. I had a lovely goodbye from the Director and also from members in the team at the Office and I will never forget my time with the organisation.

The people in the office were all Thai and many of them were shy to talk to me. Some I did not know even spoke English until weeks after my placement had started. I would say to other volunteers and really encourage them to try to learn an amount of Thai and also be very approachable and talk to the other team members as much as you can. TLSDF is very team-oriented and focused on what they are trying to achieve and happy to have volunteers there. It will enhance your work if your cooperation and communication skills are good.

It is very daunting going to another country to volunteer especially on your own, without speaking the language. I had never even been to Asia before but it is something that you can do and it is something that makes a difference.

Rosemary Hort