Where does my money go?
Gap Year Thailand has been set up on a not-for-profit basis with two aims:
- to provide an experience for volunteers which is valuable, interesting and worthwhile; and
- to help schools and universities in Thailand.
Our costs (see the "Details" page) cover the organisation of the placement to meet your personal preferences, the pre-departure weekend in UK, the orientation programme on arrival in Thailand, accommodation in Thailand, and on-going support from our team whilst you are in Thailand.
Unlike some other organisations which provide gap years (some of which are subsidiaries of travel companies) we are not a commercial organisation aiming to make a profit from you.
A professional education organisation
We are a specialist organisation in the education sector. We do not provide gap year programmes in lots and lots of diverse areas (animals, conservation, health, etc, etc).
Our team in UK and in Thailand (see the "Our Team" page) are all specialists in education, particularly in teacher training.
A specialist organisation focusing on Thailand
We are not a "general" provider of gap year programmes working in many many countries.
We work only in Thailand – so we know and understand the country well.
Our reputation in Thailand
We are well known in the education sector in Thailand - as a professional, high quality organisation.
Approved and endorsed by the South East Asian Ministers of Education Organisation, Regional Centre for Higher Education Development.
Also, we work with the Teacher Plus Foundation, a charity helping schools in rural Thailand to develop their English language teaching capability.
We are members of the Anglo-Thai Society, a group of British people who have worked in Thailand and Thai people who are working in Britain.
We are linked with the Thai Students Association in UK.
The President of the Thai Students Association of UK said of Gap Year Thailand:
"the project is very interesting and beneficial, and we are happy to be associated with you in our capacity"Organisations which Gap Year Thailand, or its leader David Lancaster, have worked with in Thailand include:
Baan Chamkho School, Rayong | Montessori School, Naklua | Prachaniwech Primary School, Bangkok | Sarasas Ektra School, Bangkok | Suan Pa Khao Cha Ang School, Chonburi | Thaiwat Witaya School, Chantaburi Province | Wat Nong Gate Yai School, Pattaya | Watluangprommawat School, Chonburi Province | Wattharoe School, Rayong | Wittayasathaworn School, Klaeng | BangkokThonburi University, Thonburi | Christian University of Thailand, Bangkok | Dhurakij Bundit University, Bangkok | Eastern Asia University, Rangsit | Nakhom Pathom Rajabhat University, Nakhom Pathom | Naresuan University, Phitsanulok | Rattana Bundit University, Bangkok | Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin
Why OUR programme? What's special about us?
- We are specialists in Thailand (Thailand is not "just another one of lots of countries")
- We are specialists in schools and universities
- Our programme is professionally organised and run:
- Supported from the local Rajabhat University (teacher training university)
- Our Programme Manager in Thailand, Dr Chawalert, is a former teacher in the Faculty of Education at Chulalongkorn University
- Our knowledge of Thailand, and our team in Thailand ensure that we can provide good support for you whilst you are there, and assist appropriately in the unlikely event of any emergencies.
- For those people for whom it is relevant, if you wish, we are happy to speak to your parents to provide them with reassurance, if that would be helpful.
