Kuan Mai Bong is a Buddhist village located in Cha-uat district of Nakorn Sri Tammarat province, Southern Thailand. The population of the village consists of approx. 720 people (212 homes). Most villagers make a living on their property such as rubber plantation and fruit orchard. Some others are temporary workers earning wages from occasional hire. The village was named Kuan Mai Bong deriving from its abundance in timber (Kuan Mai Bong = hill of timber). Due to its fertile of natural resources of hardwood and minerals in the past, this province as well as the neighboring provinces, Trang and Pattalung, was announced a concession of forestry by the government in 1971 along with the mine industry. The concession had continuously taken away lots of valuable trees and minerals for years. In the meantime, the government challenged an uprising of anti-government communist groups at the time, it therefore launched a campaign of communist crackdown throughout the nation; the mountainous landscape of the three provinces was thought to be a hidden place of the communists. The forestry and mine concession covering the mountain range of the three provinces was permanently restrained and brought under surveillance by the concerned government. Years later the situation had gradually improved, the government allowed people to make a living on the once-spoiled land. It was possessed by newcomers from nearby villages and soon after, an agricultural community was founded. In 1982, the present-running government proclaimed this area to be restricted and turned it into a preserved forest covering 1100 square kilometers throughout the 3 provinces (Nakorn Sri Tammart, Trang and Pattalung) and launched a policy of pushing settlers to relocate. The villagers rejected but after a negotiation with the government, they were allowed to continue living under the dealt agreement.

In 2005, Kuan Mai Bong villagers began to be aware of their forestry resources. Losses in natural abundance in the past made them concerned on how man and nature can live in balance. Serious forestry preservation and rehabilitation took place. They gathered to explore their forest, paid more attention to natural resources management concerning protection of flash flood and soil problem. They came up with activities such as building a natural dike, making a wildfire-defending range and building a boundary mark between villagers’ land and preserved forest, for example.

Roywan Pan Pba Alternative School was started from nothing but motivation and solidarity in March 2011 by the initiatives of a local environmental activist Pi Ju along with endless support of Kuan Mai Bong villagers and the work of the pilot international volunteers from Finland, Denmark, Germany and Thailand. The main aim shared with the local community of Kuan May Bong is to make the next generation (local kids) be able to stay self-sufficient in their environment and to respect it as a vital part of their life. Actually it could be done only with the transmission of elders’ local skills and knowledge, but we believe the growing temptation of parents to send their kids to study in the city (for “better education”) and the dream of some young locals to leave their village for the consumption world can be refrained by organizing activities, learning and sharing with volunteers from outside.

The alternative school is located in a mountainous village of Ban Tad Mountain Range. It is approx. 16 kilometers far from the main road reaching up to the mountain. It is surrounded by rubber plantations, fruit orchards and scattered settlement of villagers’ homes. This project is strongly recommended to those who come with motivation to work with the nature physically and mentally, being able to handle the most basic living condition with limited facilities, being able to handle the spontaneous working environment, and rather to stay the distance from civilization because there are few chances for town as it is not easy to go out often. Volunteers should bear in mind that you’re going to work in a team, everything shared, and responsibility taken equally. Above all, full involvement in community matters is a must.

Volunteers should keep some time before or after this volunteering if they wish to travel around by themselves

This project is to build and run this alternative school together. Volunteers also dedicate themselves for community work when there’s need. You can this way experience real solidarity in this strong community where money is not as important as some would like to make us believe.

There is still some construction work to be built on/repaired in the school area. As part of the team, volunteers share great support to the local project to help keep the school and its landscape in good order. As well, vegetable gardens as well as mushroom shed, chicken and duck farm and fish pond volunteers are given responsibility to take care of. One of the school plans concerning the campaign of agricultural self-sufficiency is that people need no buying food from a market but to grow or to raise whatever edible and make it into meals for their families.

On week-ends, the kids gather at the school to do activities with the volunteers. About 25 children come every week-end to spend time at the school. Volunteers decide together how the school days are spent. The opportunities are endless: teaching different subjects such as Basic English, art, agriculture, games. The kids vary in age, the youngest ones are approximately 7, and the oldest about 20. This is never a problem. They like to participate in activities together. If you know any activities worth arranging for the kids from your country or any teaching ideas, please bring supplies you may need with you.

In everyday life, apart from main tasks, you are also expected to help with the family’s daily tasks which are helping preparing meals for family members, doing washing up, preparing food for animals and feeding them twice a day, collecting eggs, watering plants in dry season, and keeping the house area, kitchen, coffee-tea table, bathrooms and restrooms tidy and clean. Moreover, you’re more than appreciated to also spend some time after work with villagers in Kuan Kilom village playing sports or keeping on close relationship with them when you’re not very tired from your main tasks.

Apart from staying with your volunteer friends at the school, there is another way to get deeper understanding of the village life-style. Volunteers will have the opportunity to stay with a Thai family in Kuan Mai Bong village.

Drinking habit of male villagers - You may be surprised to see men gather up for their after-work drinking party. After the exhausting day from gardening work, drinking is what they normally enjoy. It’s a local habit, way of community lifestyle.

- To support Roywan Pan Pba Alternative School
- To learn from each other among volunteers themselves, and from volunteers to villagers vice versa through “learning by doing” concept
- To build good relationship between volunteers and local people
- To be a part of Kuan Mai Bong community
- To let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere

Huts shared with other volunteers/home-stay

Cha-uat district, Nakorn Sri Tammarat province, Southern Thailand.

Hat Yai (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train).

- Participants are responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participants are responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participants should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendship with local people and other volunteers, let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!
-Participants should have the basic skills/knowledge toward the project they apply for.
- Participants should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and officially registered paper.

The minimum period of staying is two months.
The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and for materials used in projects/activities. Also some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

The fee will be used for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food) and materials used in projects/activities. Some part of the fee will be used to support Thai volunteers and our organization.

8,000 THB per month (approx. 200 Euro), but if you stay over 3 months, from 4th month onward, instead of paying 8,000 THB every month, we reduce the fee to 7,000 THB (approx. 175 Euro) per month.

A 6 months stay volunteer, during months 1 to 3, 8,000 THBx3=24,000 THB, and months 4 to 6, 7,000 THBx3=21,000 THB. Alltogether 45,000 THB/6 months.

Ten years ago a Thai-French family with 3 children started a new life experience in close harmony with nature. They bought a piece of land in a small valley far from the crowded cities and decided to build a small, spiritual and self-sufficient eco-community. They choose to lead a life “back to basics”, making every effort not to harm their environment, as an alternative way of living to the straight-to-the-wall civilization that exists across the globe. With the help of friends, and lately DaLaa volunteers (in 2009-2010), over 300 species of fruit trees have been planted in their 6 hectare garden which provides a great source of food and a treasure of tropical fruit diversity.

Over the years many people, mainly foreigners, have visited and lived at this place, helping with the garden. Unfortunately most of them had to return home to their different countries leaving this community as a dream unachieved. By the time, the money civilization has reached this remote area, and most of the land around is now planted in oil palm trees and rubber plantations (but a border is in contact with Khao Sok, a huge national park). It looks like people around are more interested in money than environment preservation. Jean-Luc lost hope in this project and decided to move with his family in a more remote area in Kalimantan (Indonesia).

Jean-Luc asked DaLaa to take care of this treasure garden for the future and we believe that we can continue the aims of realizing this alternative community. With our Thai association, it’s easier to promote this benefic project among local people and to get support from motivated people around. Also, environment respect is a growing need everywhere and many Thai people are (just) getting aware of it nowadays. Some other self-sufficient projects are starting in different provinces and are well recognized and supported.

We started in 2012 (from May to November) a new and fresh start to this project in maintaining its philosophy of a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. We had 7 international volunteers staying between 1-3 months and we tried to follow the main aim: give to the coming generations the opportunity to have a sustainable life around there. We could build a gathering hut for local kids and start meaningful activities and reflections with them. We spent also lots of energy in taking care of the garden, planting new trees, spreading them around and managing our community life. (for more details, see the report on our website)

In 2013 and after a 2 month break, we will organize the first middle term project there starting in beginning February to go on with our actions from 2012. The plan is for 5 weeks until around 10th of March. Then in May we will welcome again middle or long term volunteers.

Volunteers will help to take care of the agro-forest and the vegetable garden. This work will include planting seeds, nursing young plants, cutting the grass around young trees, gardening, collecting fruits, repair the tools.

We will continue activities on the area with local kids on week-ends or evening (environment, gardening, art and craft, sport… depending on volunteers’ skills). It is the easiest way to get in contact with local people and to share our project aims. It’s the part where international volunteers can bring a lot to this project. Thai people will usually see interest for their kids to learn from an international environment. Let’s share and improve together our love for nature and others.

An important part of the project is to manage smoothly our daily life in community. Getting our food, cleaning, cooking, times to get together, times needed for privacy, different opinions or life visions…, we’ll all have to adapt ourselves.

We can start/continue any other projects according to our aims (Ex: distributing seeds or young trees around).

I am the coordinator of the project. My name is Alex and I am working with DaLaa association since the beginning. I know Jean-Luc since 5 years and have spent several months living in Wipawadi. I will be living there with my wife A and our 3-year-old daughter Amanda. A is Thai and working in DaLaa since 2008; she will help to coordinate this project as well.

Pi Jan is the Thai companion of Jean-Luc and the mother of their 3 children. She may be living with us as she has been going back and forth from Indonesia often.

We would like to find at least 1 other Thai volunteer and about 5 international volunteers for our team. We hope we can get volunteers from different ages (but over 18) as it is usually benefit for the team (Family would be welcome too).

Concerning local people, we cannot guaranty a warm support. It will surely depend on our actions and we will have to work for it but the kids are willing to join and we have very good contacts with some of them.

The land is on both side of a small river (stream) coming 1km down of Wipawadi beautiful 9 floors waterfall. It is a mountainous area. It brings some freshness (for tropical Thailand) to this place, a lot of rain and many mosquitoes as well. It is situated in a small, Buddhist village of about 50 houses: “Ban Wang Pack Wenn”. At the entry, close to the village main intersection, there is the main house (with electricity), then the land goes down to the river, this part has been planted since several years and trees are well grown. There are a few neighbors too. There is a small bamboo bridge to cross the stream without being wet. Then on the other side, there is an old house and the new gathering hut where people can sleep on. There is no electricity on this side. This area has been planted recently with small fruit trees and need more care. It is going almost 200 meters long and higher to Khao Sok national park border. The place is surrounded by rubber tree plantations.

Most of villagers make a living from rubber and oil palm trees. Apart from work, some spend fare amount of time on lotteries and gambling. There are also some small shops and local restaurants in the village. However, tt’s only a few decades that some people are living there. It was the jungle 50 years ago.

The village is in Takuk Tai sub district, Wipawadi (also written Vibhawadi) district, Surat Thani province.

It is situated about 1 hour drive, West of Phun Phin town (Surat Thani train station) but it’s not easy to get there. Public transport will only bring you to Khirirat Nikhom or Wipawadi towns. Takuk Tai is half way between those two small towns. Then you have another 8 km to the village.

There are several markets in the area almost every day but sometimes a bit far. We use a 3 wheels motorcycle for our transports. Otherwise we need to rely on neighbors’ kindness; most of them have a pick-up trucks.

There are internet cafes, small hospitals and banks with ATM in Wipawadi and Kirirat towns (20 to 30km).

We believe healthy food is directly linked to a healthy mind and we will give a strong importance to our alimentation. Fruits will be in a big part of it. One of the most important is banana, easy to grow and nourishing. There are many different species of fruits and vegetables on the land. There are also many coconuts, pineapples, a kind of annona and passion fruits in good quantity. Depending on the season, there are also avocados, durians, jackfruits, rambutans, wild mangos and many others but in fewer quantities. Some trees (all planted by seeds) are not fully grown. They are also missing people to take care of them.
We will start again the vegetable garden so we can get some safe good food from it, sweet potatoes, beans, cabbage or pumpkins.
But for sure, we will need to buy some more food from the markets, at least this year. We will avoid a maximum industrial (packaged) food and meat. Fruits are getting more expensive in Thailand so it may be an important part of our budget as we want good quality food (between half a euro and 1 euro for a kg of most seasonal fruits).
We will take turn cooking 1 or 2 meals a day (rice or potatoes with vegetables, curries, salads, soups…) and just enjoy fruits any time.
We will also avoid to fry our food but rather to boil it. Thais often use coconut milk for cooking which gives a nice taste.

• We use dry toilets (2 of them on the main house side), natural toilets are also fine since the land is big.
• We can shower and wash clothes in the river (bring some natural soap), there is one private shower room at the main house.
• The climate is tropical, temperature is usually between 20 in the night and 30-35 during the day, high humidity with rain shower often, rather more rain and cooler at the end of the year, it can be kind of oppressing with all the trees around for people coming from “temperate“ countries.
• We love the nature and all of it, snakes, scorpions and centipedes and other less dangerous bugs or mosquitoes are sharing the area with us. There are some precautions to take but no reasons to be afraid.

Huts shared with other volunteers.

10,000 THB (approx. 250 Euro) for 5 weeks.

Wipawadi, Surat Thai province, Southern Thailand.

Phun Pin train station (from Bangkok you can choose to travel by plane, bus or train).

- Participants are responsible for their own travel costs and all personal expenses during free time.
- Participants are responsible for taking care of their own insurance.
- Participants should respect and have willingness to understand other cultures and backgrounds.
- Living conditions will be in Thai style (willingness to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living).
- Willingness to work and live together, build friendship with local people and other volunteers, let's try to make this world a nice place to live in!!
- Participants should have the basic skills/knowledge toward the project they apply for.
- Participants should ask for a visa “Non-Immigrant type”. DaLaa will provide an invitation letter and officially registered paper.