Volunteer in Thailand: Elephant Refuge and Education Centre

There are currently five elephants residing at the centre. All the elephants have previously been used in the tourist industry. They are retired and have a permanent home at the centre and will never have to work again.

In Thailand, as in many countries in Asia, the Asian elephant has been domesticated and used by humans for many years to work in the logging industry. Following the ban on commercial logging in Thailand in 1988 these working elephants were no longer needed.  Suddenly hundreds of elephants and their owners were left with a very uncertain future, and their owners were forced to seek alternative methods to use their elephants to make a living, and this has led to the problem of ‘begging’ elephants on city streets.

Volunteer work expectation

As a volunteer at the centre you should expect to work full days. The hours are somewhat flexible, but a general time frame is 6:30am until 5:00pm with a break for breakfast and lunch. You will have one free day per week, which may be taken on any day of the week.

When working with the elephants always remember that, although domesticated, they are still fundamentally wild animals and as such can be very dangerous.  Although volunteers are permitted to be hands on when working with the elephants, they must not climb on, play on or ride the elephants for fun and amusement.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in simple bungalows at the centre, with rooms for one to three people. Each bungalow has its own toilet however the toilets are non flush with a bin beside them for paper, and water to pour into the bowl. The cold showers use water from the local source. There is a large communal volunteer area with seating and a large kitchen. You must have a positive attitude towards working and living in a group and take on the responsibilities that this holds.

Bedding is supplied which consists of a pillowcase, sheet and blanket. Any additional bedding you require should be brought with you.  Volunteers will need to provide their own towel and mosquito net.

Meals

In the Thailand program there is a cook onsite, who prepares the meals for the volunteers on a daily basis. You will have two meals prepared for you each day. These are local Thai dishes as well as some European meals. It is your responsibility to prepare your own breakfast with bread and jam, eggs, fresh fruit, tea, and coffee available.

Vegetarians can be catered for, but you should not expect a special meal to be prepared for you. There will be food options within the regular meal that you can eat.

Free Time

A TV and DVD player are available for use from 17h00 – 22h00 with a large selection of movies. There are also a variety of games available. In the nearby village (10 minutes walk) there are a couple of internet cafes open until about 20h00, a restaurant and a karaoke bar open most nights until 23h00 and on Sundays there is a night market.

During your own free time you can also travel locally. There is a resort within 15 minutes ride of the rescue centre, where volunteers can stay for a preferential rate including free transit. The resort is in a secluded location along the riverside and is very luxurious, with a nice swimming pool and offers Thai massage, etc.

Number of Volunteers

The Thailand Elephant Refuge Centre program usually has between 4 and 12 volunteers per month, but the number of volunteers varies depending on the season. 

Costs

Application Fee – US $97

Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the program, (or any other GVN program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you.*

*Your application fee provides you with access to any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years, as many times as you like without having to pay another application fee!

Children under 18 are not required to pay the application fee when volunteering together with a parent/guardian.  (Except for participants in our Youth Tour program who are required to pay a US$97 application fee.)

To return to the main Thailand program, click here.