The Thailand Teacher Project is a program of Volunteers On Call, Inc., a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization. Specifically the Thailand Teacher Project is dedicated to the education of students recovering from the 2005 tsunami devastation. Funds contributed immediately after the disaster were used to construct an elementary school on Phi Phi Island in order to provide the children with a chance to rebuild their lives. Since then, however, the sources of funding are no longer available, thus creating a new set of challenges for the school. Most importantly, the school is struggling to find volunteers to teach the children. The purpose of the Thailand Teacher Project is to answer this need by providing trained teachers to give direct services to the students. In addition to this immediate need, the staff will create curriculum tailored to meet the academic needs of this population. In so doing, the work of the Thailand Teacher Project will establish a foundation that will impact faculty and students in the coming years.

Teachers from the Thailand Teacher Project are trained in special education techniques, which will enable them to meet the diverse needs of the students. Primarily, these teachers will be involved in the instruction of English as a second language in order to expose the children to opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Furthermore, the Thailand Teacher Project will use technology to make international connections between students in Thailand and the United States. As students develop understanding between these different cultures, they will be empowered to make choices for their futures and to impact their world in a profound way. In addition to helping with the current relief efforts in Thailand, the purpose of this project is to initiate a long-term teacher exchange program between the United States and Thailand allowing for long-term educational growth for generations to come.

About the School

Children go to the primary school at Phi Phi Island Village School, but at the age of 12 there is no more schooling available. If the children’s family has money, which is not common, the kids may stay with relatives in Krabi, an island about 2 hours away by boat, for their secondary education. However, The Phi Phi School Education Fund as been formed to assist Phi Phi Island children in the future. Each child who successfully passes year 9 can receive money to go on to secondary school. The Thailand Teacher Project hopes to be able to guarantee that more students will be assured of passing year 9 in the school, giving them brighter options for the future.

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