Story from Oliwia in ICL Chiangmai

Hi, 

My name is Oliwia and I am a volunteer who regularly participates in projects from WCIA. WCIA is a charitable organisation that got me in touch with VSA Thailand. 

This volunteering was in Chiang Mai in which I was teaching English in schools for a week. It was one of those experiences that stays with you long after it’s over. From the moment I arrived, I felt surprisingly at home. The local students were full of energy and smiles, and even though we didn’t speak the same language, connection came easily. Their English was surprisingly quite good and it made me confident to start some games to interact with the students.

Each day brought something new, helping in classrooms, playing games involving English language, or just listening to the kids talk about themselves. It was simple but incredibly meaningful. There was so much warmth in the way the community welcomed me and Suzann.

In the day 5, a group of Vietnamese students joined, and it made everything even more special. Seeing kids from different backgrounds learning and having fun together with Thai students made me feel very happy for them as they were building connections.

The other volunteers and leaders were so supportive too. There was this huge sense of teamwork and care that made the whole experience feel even more special.

It was only a week, but it taught me so much. Such as, about kindness, culture, and how much impact small actions can have. I came to give, but ended up feeling like I gained even more through further understanding of the Thai culture.