Our family of 4 helped to build an extension for their existing chicken coop. The eggs from the chicken (and chickens themselves) are an essential source of protein to feed the over 200 children living there. We saw where the caretaker Chow was already hatching close to 50 new chickens, so we knew the extension to the coop was needed in the very near future.
We worked hard the first 3 mornings from 9am-1pm and were able to complete the chicken coop in 3 days. This allowed us free time in the afternoons and on the final day to explore nearby Chiang Dao in the hill tribe village, visit an elephant sanctuary, enjoy a dinner out with the team and guests, and more time with the children!
Experiencing the mission of the project site, meeting the exceptional staff, and interacting with the children they serve were the best parts of this experience. Learning about the history of Hill Tribe villages in northern Thailand gave us the foundation to understand why a program such as this is valuable for these students. From the moment our coordinator, Thak, picked us up, he briefed us on the program and how/why they serve this community of children. The entire staff has the best interests of these children in mind, and entering the property, you could feel the love, dedication, determination, and hope provided. The children, coming from such difficult circumstances, were all joy-filled, greeting us with smiles, hugs, high-fives, and more hugs, every day. They confidently showed us around to the frogs, fish, soccer field, and their community areas. It was evident that they felt safe and cared for, as they were all ready in their uniforms and in line at 6:30 am each morning, ready to board the bus to school. The kids shared with us their school work and, despite a language barrier, we learned from each other about our lives. It was evident they were serious about their education and the opportunity provided to them.
In terms of the program, we enjoyed the flexibility offered for us to interact with the students in our own ways. We enjoyed reading to the younger kids in the evenings, but also, my daughter loves volleyball - so we planned volleyball matches for 2 nights with the older students. We were able to treat the children to ice cream one night, which Thak helped arranged on property. 100% - we enjoyed the one-on-one interactions with the children and also experienced the local customs, culture, food, and activities of the northern Thai and Chiang Dao region.
Thak clearly communicated the pickup time/location, and from then on remained by our side answering questions, setting expectations of what the week entailed, listening to our interests, and being flexible when activities had to shift. Truly outstanding! We could not have imagined the week without his incredible kindness, enthusiasm, and guidance. He is so knowledgeable about this region, how the program started by his father, and clearly explained the mission. He joined us on all the outings to Thai massage, hot pot dinner, temples, the elephant sanctuary, and restaurant meals out. He even sweated alongside us while building the chicken coop - all with a smile on his face the whole week! In addition, he was able to share challenges they face, local cultural norms, and answer hundreds of our questions, with patience, interest, humor, and genuine friendship. We feel so lucky to have had him as our volunteer coordinator!
We would highly recommend this volunteer trip and there's nothing we would have changed about our experience. We are so excited to work with Coordinator Joshua in setting up sponsorship for 2 of the children we met while at Leadership Home! We visited during the start of the 'rainy season' in June, and even the weather cooperated, with rain never impacting our activities or plans!
Kathy Lindner
Thailand Hill Tribes
June 2025
