Hi everyone! I’m Kiara, a volunteer from Belgium. I’d like to tell you more about my journey. I was a bit scared at first. I had never been so far away from home, for such a long time, surrounded by people I didn’t know yet. But looking back now, those three weeks flew by in the blink of an eye! It turned out to be an unforgettable experience.

I had been so excited about this project, even though I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. During our very first week, we had the chance to meet students from both schools involved. On the day of our arrival, we visited Ban Krogluek School, where we received a warm welcome. We met some students, played games, and exchanged a few words with the teachers.

The next day, we visited Ban Maab Grad School. As we arrived by car, we were greeted by a group of enthusiastic students, waving and calling out “Teacher, teacher!” My heart melted even before we stepped out of the vehicle. On our first day there, we joined an English class and played games with the kids. 

Later, we helped decorate large candles, which would be offered to monks for Khao Phansa.

In the afternoon, some teachers and local residents invited us to join a festive parade they had organized. We danced alongside them, which allowed us to connect with the community and feel more at ease. It was a wonderful way to experience local traditions and feel truly immersed in the culture.

During the second week, we travelled to Khao Yai National Park to create digital content. This content would be used in our final week to teach students about the park through interactive activities. 

On our first day, we watched an introductory video about Khao Yai and received a guided tour of the visitor center from an enthusiastic park ranger.

We then prepared for two nature trails. The second trail (Trail 3) was led by our favourite ranger, who showed us fascinating aspects of the forest and even performed some “insect magic.” It was truly unforgettable. That evening, we hopped into a jeep for a night safari. The park felt like a completely different place after dark—alive with animals such as porcupines, wild cats, deer, and more. 

On our second day, we visited several scenic viewpoints and spent the afternoon creating engaging content for the children. On the third day, we woke up early to catch the sunrise. Our ranger took us to a breathtaking spot with a panoramic view. After this calm morning, we were ready for some adventure—rafting!

The rafting site was about two hours away, so we enjoyed a scenic drive before a short hike to the starting point. We split into two boats, and as it was my first time doing such an adventurous water activity, I was beyond thrilled! There were exhilarating wild stretches, perfect for daredevils, but also calmer sections where we could float in the water and let the river carry us. Afterward, we filmed some more content before heading back.

In our final week, we volunteered at a secondary school for an "English Camp". We engaged with students in conversations about daily life and helped them practice their pronunciation. The pupils were incredibly kind and eager to learn English, which made the experience all the more rewarding.

Later that week, we proudly presented the digital content we had created to the children at both elementary schools. We designed the presentation to be both educational and fun, including activities like puzzles, matching animals, and a game called “What would you take with you to Khao Yai?” The students were very enthusiastic and actively participated.

We also organized a small intercultural exchange, where we presented information about Belgium, complete with language games, songs, and dances from our home country. Both we and the students had an amazing time; the room was filled with laughter and lively interaction. I hope these children will remember this day as fondly as I surely will.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this camp possible. From day one, I felt welcomed with so much warmth and support. Though I was only immersed in this beautiful country and culture for three weeks, I feel that my horizons have truly broadened. I will always cherish this time in my life, and I know I’ll long to relive it again someday.

Thank you so much! And for all of you (future) volunteers still wondering whether you should take the leap—this is your sign! You won’t regret a thing. So, what are you waiting for?