Jimmy (UK)

Like 99% of gap year students in the UK I decided to make the journey to south east Asia. I had decided early on that I had wanted to do some kind of work there; hopefully to see more of the culture and what life there really is like. So I was extremely lucky when I came across Learn2Give and the English Crazy Club on helpx.net, also considering that I had no teaching qualifications or experience. So I filled in the application form and sent it off before leaving for Thailand.

I arrived in Thailand with two friends and we travelled around for two months, including to Cambodia and Laos, before they left Thailand. I did have a good time, but was disappointed at how touristy many places had become. I had just got back from a four day trek when I saw the email telling me to be in Ubon the day before! So I rushed onto the 16 hour bus from Chiang Mai.
There I met with Ozzy who was to be my host and guide in Ubon for the next couple of days. There he taught me the

Carolina Villafuerte/ the Philipines - February 2010

Like most of the previous volunteers, I stumbled upon Learn2Give at Helpexchange.net in my search for a place to travel not just as a tourist chase by time but a “traveler” taking time. I actually intended to find a safe destination for a first time solo traveler where I could culturally immerse in two weeks (the longest vacation leave I was allowed by my employer). Thus, Learn2Give Project of the English Crazy Club fits the bill, so I emailed the Project Staff to signify my interest. In no time, everything was set. Conveniently, before I left for Bangkok I was informed of the details about the school where I would be assigned and the names of my local hosts. Arriving by train in Ubon Ratchathani without any idea who could be Aom from the throng of Thais in the station, a petite young lady – distinctively not a tout – approached me and asked if I am who I am. Instantly, I was relieved and glad to meet the person whom I’ve been exchanging emails. On her motorbike, we took the road to Ubon Ratchathani University where

Paula Burgi / November 2009

I found out about the Learn2give project through a website called helpx.net. The website involves giving your help in exchange for accommodation. I was still new to the website, and had been disappointed by hosts failing to send responses to my emails, so I was very happy when I got not only a quick response, but a very excited email welcoming me to the project.


After sending a resume and a few more confirmation emails, I was on a bus to Ubon Ratachani. At the bus station, I was picked up by 2 very enthusiastic students, both first years and part of the English Crazy Club. They took me to the Ubon Museum, and then to the University, where I met tons of people and felt instantly welcomed. As a gap year student thus soon going to college, it was great to be around other college students, as I had been with a bunch of middle aged people for the past month

Maria Jesus Saelices/Spain/November 2009

THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

Thailand…

One thinks of Buddhism, great temples; tribes, elephants and tigers; paradisiacal islands; amazing cities and the best food ever…

To me… it’s been much more than that. There I found a family, and friends –great friends. I went to teach, but I was the one being taught –Thai language and alphabet, cooking, festivities, culture and religion… I went to volunteer, but I received much more than I could ever give.

I arrived in Non Dang (from now on, “my village”) in November 09. In the very South of Ubon Ratchathani province (near Cambodia), it’s not easy to get there, so I was picked up in Ubon by two teachers from the school.

Tilda & Kristina (Sweden)

Could we find a place to volunteer even as non-native English speakers and when only having 1½ week available to volunteer? It did not seem likely but we still searched the web for it. We, meaning myself aged 38 and daughter 15, both Swedish wanted to find a place where we cold stay as volunteers for such a limited period of time. We already had a holiday planned to south of Thailand with the rest of our family and wanted to stay behind to see another side of Thailand and also to try to do some good.

After finding the Learn2Give project on the web all was arranged for us in just days. The people in the project, especially Aom, fixed all and a little more with a smile.

We were a bit nervous when we arrived to Ubon. What had we gotten ourselves in to? We were still unsure of where to go and what sort of reaching we would be expected to do.

The English Crazy crew

Morgan Coudray (France)

The Real Thailand - 2nd and Last Week in Ubon

This is it, my time in Ubon is almost over. Regretably. It was hard saying bye to the children, the family and my friends here. The 'On the Road' chapter opens up... I'm really excited.

A Tribute to the Children

It's been great to teach the children but also to see the differences in the way things are done