Since we have been mentioned several times on this forum, and since people ask for references, I would like to point out that we have about 60 volunteers stories on our website and that they all have links to the volunteer who wrote them. This is, off course a selection, and off course the volunteers who did not like us did not offer stories. But all the same I do believe that contacting these volunteers will give you a resonably fair appreciation of what kind of organisaiton we are.
Another way to find out more about us is to read old Newsletters because, together they will give you a sence of what our ambitions are.
I quite appreciate that it is difficult to chose among all the organisaitons. It's so easy, over itnternet, to pretend to be something other than what is true. Some organiations say that they "support" schools when the only actual support they give is sending volunteers. Some insist that they, as opposed to others, have no other intrest that that of the local community, they have no organiation whatsoever, yet they charge greater fees that we do. Some pretend to be "environmentally consious" while they run around in brand new SUV:s.
And how can one judge from a distance?
I think one rule could be to check onfrom the website or just ask how many work with the organisation in what functions and set that information against the fees. If an organisaiton says they support some cause, ask them to be precise, what kind of contribution, to what project. If an organisation does "Home Stays" or lets the school host the volunteer, ask what portion of the fees goes to the family to cover their costs.
Travel to Teach has 5 western and 5 Thai people working full time and 4 thai working part time. We rent 5 big houses in different parts of Thailand. We have no cars but we run one school in Chiang Mai and we have financed renovation of five schools and an endless amount of Camps. Our fee for one month is 500 Euro. (550 from 2008)
So any Thailand based program with less staff and higher fees chould be questioned.
Kerstin
http://www.travel-to-teach.org_________________
I'm founder and director of Travel to Teach.
http://www.travel-to-teach.org This agency provides volunteer work in thirteen countries in Asia and Latin America.
We do very ambitious programs and we charge low fees because we have no European overhead costs.
