About

Volunteer Spirit Association (VSA Thailand) is an Informal Education Organization, Non-Profit Organization (NPO), Non-Government Organization (NGO), and Peace Organization. VSA collaborates on international voluntary projects open to people of all ages, cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds.

Serving as the IVS (International Voluntary Service) representative in Thailand, VSA acts as a bridge, connecting people from diverse cultures and beliefs. Through activities that support local communities around the world, VSA promotes understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, fostering companionship, reducing conflicts, building individual capacities, and developing community potential.

Founded in 2008 as SAWASDEE Thailand (ST), VSA organized its first international workcamp in 2009. Today, VSA is a proud member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), actively promoting International Voluntary Service (IVS) in Thailand

VSA Quote

'Think Global Act Local'

Activities

• Short Term Workcamp (STV) 1-3 weeks workcamp 

• Very Short Term Workcamp (VSTV) weekend workcamp or 3-4 days workcamp

•  Mid-Long Term Volunteer (MLTV) Internship and volunteer project for 1 – 12 months.

• Volunteer abroad Thai volunteer participate in voluntary workcamp an project abroad

• Bilateral / Group Workcamp the voluntary workcamp with 2 nationalities

• VSA Open House organize on 1th - 5th of every month

• InterCutural and Language learning program 

Significant History

2008 

• Established as the SAWASDEE Group (World Tanabata Action) 

2009

• August, First International Camp at Klonghae Temple (Songkhla)

2010

• Officially registered as the Volunteer Spirit Association (VSA Thailand) on 17 March 2010 

• Became an associate member of the Network for Voluntary Development in Asia (NVDA), an international networking organization founded in 1997 to promote international voluntary service in the Asia-Pacific region 

2011

• Joined the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), an international networking organization founded in 1948 under UNESCO 

• Become full member of NVDA

• Initiated the MLTV Project 

• Established Peace Village: The Intercultural and Language Learning Center (ICL Center) 

• Launched Bilateral/Group Workcamps and Outgoing Program 

• Began Thai Volunteers Outgoing Program

2012

• Expanded projects across Thailand, including Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Trang, Loei, Nakhon Pathom, and Kanchanaburi 

2013

• Attended Alliance Technical Meeting as a guest in Slovakia (February) 

• Became a partner of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations (November) 

• Relocated VSA Office to ICL House 

2014 

• Hosted the Pre-Workcamp - Organic Agriculture Camp, Songkhla, 12-15 January 2014 

• Hosted the 10th Training and Networking Workcamp, the 9th General Assembly, and the Asian Summit for International Voluntary Service (January) 

• Hosted the 5th Global LMTV Meeting (GLM), 21-25 January 2014 in Songkhla, Thailand 

• Held the position of NVDA Executive Committee Treasurer (2014-2015) 

• Started VSA Volunteer project

• Relocated VSA Office to Learning HOME 

• Initiated VSA Publishing and collaborated with partners on the Erasmus+ Program 

• Began coorparation with partners on Eramus+ program

2015

• Hosted the Asian Youth Leadership Training, 16-24 April 2015, at Ban Krok Luk School, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand 

• Began working with CSR projects in collaboration with business companies 

2016

• Held the position of NVDA Executive Committee General Secretary (2016-2017) 

• Relocated VSA Office to Palm Spring Village Airport, Hat Yai, Songkhla 

2017

• Held the first General Assembly with local partners 

• Launched a project at Ban Din Na School, Krabi 

2019

• Become Member of IAVE

• Established networking with the Foundation for Thailand Rural Reconstruction Movement under Royal Patronage, Thai Health Promotion, and the Volunteer Spirit Network in Thailand (October) 

• Began networking with the Community Development Department, Thailand (November) 

2020

• Post-COVID-19: Relocated VSA Office back to Learning HOME 

• Launched Virtual Workcamp 

• 17 March: Approved by the Community Development Department, Ministry of Interior, Thailand, to organize international workcamps with OTOP Nawatvitee Communities in five pilot provinces: Chiang Mai, Nakhon Phanom, Sing Buri, Trang, and Chon Buri 

• Held the NVDA Executive Committee Treasurer position (August 2020 - June 2021) 

• Published IVS in Thailand Book

2022

• Initiated cooperation with the Weltwärts Program, Germany (July) 

• Took Over the Volunteer Spirit Network Web-Portal in Thailand (29 June: Social Media, 17 August: Web Portal) 

• Started the Waste Upcycling Project 

• Began hosting volunteers from the Weltwärts Program from Germany (August)

• Launched VSpace and the VSA Podcast (December)

• Began VSA Podcast (December)

• Pubished IVS in Asia Book

2023

• Became a member of International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE), 30 May

• Started hosting student immersion groups (June)

• Approved for participation in the UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers program (June)

• Launched Health and Wellness Program for Medical Students (December)

• Laksana Rodtrakul, VSA President, joined the Khok Muang Credit Union Cooperative Committee (2023-2024) 

2024

• Hosted the ICYE Asia-Pacific Meeting and Safer Together Policy Against Sexual Violence Training (March)

• Started hosting a psychology group program for psychology students and a teacher group study visit program (November)

• Started hosting  Teacher group study visit program (November)

• Began a new workcamp in Ghana (December)