This is the third article in The Stag's new Travel series, Travels with The Stag, where we’ll be encouraging our readers to get out there and see the world. If you have any pitches for contributions, get in touch with us on ussu.thestag@surrey.ac.uk.
This time, Nell takes us through the experience of volunteering in Bangkok, what that meant to her, and why you should consider trying it out too.
If someone was to mention Thailand to you, what would you first think of? Street food? Crystal clear water? Island hopping? Whatever it is that inspires you to take a trip to the sweltering heat of “The Land of Smiles”, it is bound to have something for anyone.
Visiting Thailand’s most popular destination spots is a dream for any avid traveller – the bustling, street food filled city of Bangkok, the sandy beaches and James Bond style islands of Southern Thailand or the thick, dense rainforests of Chiang Mai. Once you’re there, you are truly wrapped up in a bubble or hit with a sense of serious imposter syndrome the minute you step off the plane. It is clear to see why people come year after year, adding Thailand to the roster of countries they have travelled to – it truly is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to.
It is clear to see why people come year after year, adding Thailand to the roster of countries they have travelled to – it truly is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to.
However, as someone who spent the two months of my time in Thailand teaching, I was exposed to the side of Thailand that, I think, a lot of travellers do not get the opportunity to see. Sure, any article that one reads over and over again in excitement or preparation of a trip will tell you what to avoid and what to prepare for. However, it seemed that “Thai Tummy” was the least of my worries and I instead found myself amongst some of the most gut-wrenching displays of poverty I’d ever seen.
It’s sad, upon self-reflection, that the reason that Thailand is so highly visited is not only its beautiful scenery and the stories you’ll tell of your experiences out there but also because it is cheap, almost scarily cheap. You’re quickly sucked into the void of how cheap everything is – taxi rides, drinks, food, clothes; everything and anything out there costs significantly less than anywhere in the West. However, it’s not until you speak with other Thai people, volunteers or travellers who have spent some significant time in the country, do you realise how although it may seem cheap to us, to residents of Thailand, it’s expensive.
To put it into perspective, the minimum wage for someone aged twenty-three and over in the UK is £10.42 an hour. In Thailand, the minimum wage for an adult is 354 THB per day, which is equivalent to about £7.88 per day. Using this statistic, it is easy to see why tourism is so imperative to their country.
The biggest display of poverty that I personally saw was after the guide for our volunteering group took us to a Muay-Thai Kickboxing class. Although this class was amazing and such a good way to release some pent-up aggression, there was one thing I couldn't stop thinking about – majority of the demonstrators were children. After asking a few questions, we discovered that they were orphans and if that didn’t tug on my heartstrings enough, the fact that the only reason they took up Muay-Thai in the first place was to earn money as they had no source of income.
To me, as someone from a Western country who has never been exposed to this before, it was heartbreaking. Perhaps it was the maternal instinct or knowing this was the only way for these children to be kept off the streets, I couldn't help but think about how dangerous living below the poverty line is for vulnerable children and adults.
In a similar vein, I was given the opportunity by the company I volunteered with, The Mighty Roar, to teach children with special needs and learning difficulties. Although this was difficult due to lack of resources provided by the company and by the school, it was so rewarding to see how much younger children who not only came from poorer backgrounds but also struggled with special needs and learning difficulties enjoyed English and making that available to them was unmatched. My experience was only made better by the feedback I was given by teachers, who at the end of my two months, practically begged me to come back and teach the children further. Although this was emotional, it showed me how impactful my time was for students and teachers.
It was through this that I realised how beneficial volunteering is and understood the impact of the work I was doing. That was the very reason I decided to go in the first place; to give poorer children the opportunity to speak English with a native speaker, which the probability of is usually slim to none. It was such a rewarding experience, to have such an impact on such a large community that I think a lot of people cease to think exist.
This is why I think that if you are financially able to, your volunteering is crucial for younger generations in countries where poverty is so prevalent. That being said, I think it’s important for the younger generation to volunteer with anyone living on the poverty line whether that’s abroad or within their own country. Therefore, if you do have the opportunity to visit Thailand whether that’s for travelling or volunteering, it is so important to realise just how beneficial your tourism and time is to their society.
I think it’s important for the younger generation to volunteer with anyone living on the poverty line whether that’s abroad or within their own country.