Volunteer Jobs and Our Projects

If you have not already done so please read our post, “Volunteering in SE Asia” on how we are able to help.  

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE A COMMENT REGARDING YOUR INTEREST TO VOLUNTEER ON THIS PAGE, SEE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.

NOTE (Feb. 2012): If you happen to catch us on an episode of House Hunters International (HHI), please note that HHI incorrectly stated, several times, that we were opening a tutoring “Business!”

What’s been left out of the non-factual editor’s tale is our sincere and well-intended project of developing a Volunteer English Tutoring Center.  A center to assist, at NO CHARGE, the Burmese/Shan immigrants living in Chiang Mai.

Our HHI contact have ensured us to only re-air re-edited version at later dates.

Further, we maintain a steady and stable income as professionals from J’s employment as an online psychology professor teaching courses for colleges in the US , other consulting projects and A’s online Burmese lessons.

“Much of what we do is like planting trees under which we may never sit, but plant we must.” – Brother James Kimpton

Family Mission

Service.  We build community. We connect people.  We create win-win solutions.  Since J and A are professional helpers, it is second nature to be community-minded, even as we travel and see the world.  We are involved in an ongoing effort (as in daily) to connect volunteers (who happen to be travelers, college students, retirees, anyone) with Community Based Organizations (CBO). We are NOT a money-making business.  Our work in Thailand is strictly voluntary.

Who are the CBOs?

Many CBOs we are connected to are ones that we know personally, and know first hand what their needs are, and their commitment to serving their community.  Because we work as volunteers, we are not compensated by these organizations or any other organizations.  We are not an official non-profit (yet), nor are we a “Volun-Tourism” type of business.  We want your hard-earned dollars (or other currency!) to be spent on your travel and accommodations, and other useful expenses or donations, not to a business that profits from people who want to give time to volunteer.  Our CBO connections are located in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, and provide a wide variety of services to various under-served populations.

We’re not independently wealthy.

People might assume that since we’re able to travel, live abroad, that we’re independently wealthy.  Well, that’s not true.  A left her secure career as a Director of programs at a non-profit a few years ago to focus on this project.  After arriving to Chiang Mai, J. lost his full- time teaching job of 10 yrs without any notice!  Yep!  He prepped his on-line classes from Laos and found out that they were all gone on Monday.  Just like that.

J. is still teaching part-time online, along with occasional freelance work.

We save religiously, and play good defense (i.e., extreme frugalness), and make the most of what we earn.  We don’t buy stuff for the sake of buying stuff.  We’ve taken a drastic cut in income and financial predictability to be able to live out our dreams.

We don’t regret our decision.  We have a purpose – to live a life filled with community service, experiencing the world, and raising our daughter as a global citizen.  Every bit will help us continue the important work we do, now in Chiang Mai.  We have ZERO paid staff or additional volunteers.  We’re it.

You can help, even if you’re not traveling to SE Asia.

You might consider helping us continue the volunteer work we do, by leaving a contribution in our virtual donation jar (click the picture) also known as  ‘Help Us Help Others’ Fund.

Wish List items will be posted here as another project evolves where we will provide Volunteer English Tutoring out of our home.  (E.g., books, school supplies, computers, educational games, DVDs, small furniture, etc.)

When you do help us via donations we definitely want to show our appreciation and give a “shout-out” to each contributor. If you wish to donate anonymously,  please do say so via email and we will respect your wishes!

Please email us – gotpassport (at) gmail (dot) com – indicating your interest to volunteer & the job you are interested in (E.g., “Org. B” and job title ) in the subject line.    Thank you!

NOTE: Org C can no longer provide the financial compensation (updated Feb. 2012)

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela.