Earth Systems Science, Inc.

Thailand Volunteers: Heads Up!

Dec 10, 2004

Plans are going strong for the ESSI Thailand Summer 2005 Volunteer trip. The theme is ?“Sustainable Communities?”. In addition to the usual environmental / agricultural sustainable and land stewardship practices of past ESSI projects (non-toxic pest control, composting, soil conservation), we are also directing volunteer efforts toward REEEPP (Rural Environmental Educational Enhancement Pilot Program). [Editor?’s Note: See the 9 Sep 2004 article in the Newsletter on this site to learn more about REEEPP.]

REEEP and the Volunteer trip are living examples of the ESSI theme of sustainable neighborhoods using multi-path approaches. In addition to the environmentally sustainable practices, this summer?’s effort has an added twist of ?“giving back to the community.?” REEEPP was launched this past summer when Saifon Lee, ESSI Director of Programs, went home for a family visit. During her stay, she met and talked with some of her former teachers at her old elementary school. [Note: Four of the 8 teachers currently on staff were her teachers from yesteryear!] Remembering them, her basic education experiences, and reflecting on her subsequent education and career, she began to direct her efforts to improve the quality of education for Na Fa Elementary School. If this was not enough, her father (now deceased) had once served as the custodian at the school when he was struggling to earn money to start his own farm. The pieces all fell into place. Neighborhood sustainability also involves giving back to the community---and the process of learning, caring, and sharing are life long. (Watch for future updates and details on this innovative project!)

We are still working on the itinerary and pricing for the summer 2005 Thailand volunteer project. But with the coming of the new year, we wanted to give folks early warning to start checking on some preparatory items:

PASSPORTS
Please check the expiration date on your passport. Thai passport control calls for your passport to be valid for 6 months AFTER your trip to Thailand ends. We are anticipating departing Los Angeles about July 6-9, 2005. Depending on if you are with the group for 1, 2, or 3 weeks, the date used for calculating the 6 months will vary. So check your passport and your 2005 calendar. You can get passport information and forms at http://travel.state.gov/passport/

VISAS
As a tourist in Thailand, you do not need to apply for a visa. The visa is stamped into your passport upon entry to Thailand. However, if you intend to do the extension trip to China, you will need to apply for a PR China visa separately BEFORE leaving the US. PR China visa information can be found at http://losangeles.china-consulate.org/eng/

GENERAL TENTATIVE ITINERARY (Travel in Northern Thailand)
You can opt to travel with us for Week 1 only; Weeks 1 & 2 only; or all three weeks. Generally, we are expecting to segment the itinerary something like this:
Week 1, Introduction and Orientation to Northern Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Rai Province.

Week 2: Volunteer Project in Na Fa Village, Thawangpha City, Nan Province: We travel through the following Chiang Rai, Phrae, and Phayao Provinces to get to Nan Province (destination and site of the volunteer project). The project has two portions: sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing rural schools. The locals in Na Fa Village will provide volunteers with home stay opportunities in exchange for practicing their English with ?“native speakers?”. (Watch for more details and updates in the ESSI web newsletter.) Volunteers will be trained before leaving the US.

Week 3 Optional Extension to Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, PR China via the Mekong: We plan to travel by boat up the Mekong along the borders of Laos and Myanmar to Jinghong in Yunnan Province, PR China. The goal is to visit Yexianggu (?“Wild Elephant Valley?”---one of the few places in China you can hope to see wild elephants in the jungle).

MEDICAL PREPARATIONS
This is a good time to also start checking on your basic immunizations and talking with your personal physician about your summer travel plans. You can also get traveler?’s health information from www.cdc.gov

DISCLOSURE
Earth Systems Science, Inc. (ESSI) is not a travel company or tour operator. We are an educational non-profit. We are not in the travel business. We are providing you with an opportunity to travel in Thailand as an individual. The volunteer project we are conducting in Na Fa Village is a personal quest. It does not involve the US or Thai governments. This is strictly a people-to-people community-based environmental education effort.

As an independent traveler, you are responsible for your own expenses, insurances (life, trip cancellation, medical, medical evacuation, etc.), travel documents. ESSI facilitates the project in Thailand, and helps you make the connections for the trip. ESSI provides Geographic background information to prepare you for the volunteer effort (cultural orientation and training on the relevant project training topics).

SIGN UP NOW
Send us an e-mail (earthsytemsscience@yahoo.com) if you are interested seeing Thailand and volunteering on the Na Fa Village project effort. We will put you on the e-mail list for information. We hope to see you in Thailand!