Koh Sukorn Harvesting rice and watermelon

CODE: TH-DA 11.6813

Description: Koh Sukorn is a preserved island of Andaman Sea in the south of Thailand. During this work camp, the volunteers will help with hand rice and watermelon harvesting together with community members to preserve the local agriculture and learn about their way of living. Moreover, we will be organizing activities and games for children and young people to broaden their world’s views and let them learn about international culture together. We will need your creativity and ideas of games and activities that will create a multi-cultural atmosphere for them.

Type of Work: Harvesting rice by hand - The rice have been replanted in late August- September. The field are flooded for the first 2 months during the raining season then November and December are the start of the dry season. The rice will be ready at that time and the farmers will cut the top part of the plant where the rice seeds are located. This is the work that the volunteers will experience. It’s usually very hot in the field and one must protect oneself from the sun. • Harvesting watermelons: Koh Sukorn is very famous for the rich taste of its watermelons. Volunteers will help to harvest and carry the watermelons to be sold on the continents- All these work are community work.

Study Theme: On this small island of the Andaman coast, in South Thailand, the local community still give importance to the culture of supporting and sharing with each other. They're also aware that paddy and agriculture is the main food stability of the village. They have a very sustainable life style and we want to give importance to it. We want to support the local sustainable agricultural activities, be part of the community and let children be familiar with volunteers and learn in international/multi-cultural atmosphere.

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay at the local people house. You will be provided, a small mattress, a pillow and a mosquito net. It’s good if you can bring your own light blanket/sleeping bag/bed sheet while the temperature will be around 25 in the night. The living condition is very simple, you may find it completely different than in your country. There are basic toilets and showers and a kitchen where volunteers will cook by themselves. The village is Muslim so there is no pork and no alcohol.

Language: Local people speak mostly Thai but of course we'll use English to discuss among the volunteers.

Approximate Location: Sukorn Island (Koh Sukorn) is a small island situated in Palian district, Trang province. The island covers an area of 14 sq km. In these 2 villages, there is population of 1,200 or 337 families, of which 95% are Muslims. The common occupations of the villagers are fishing, rubber tapping, as well as agriculture; growing paddy, watermelons, traditional way of growing vegetables, and keeping livestock.

Extra fee to be paid in the hosting country:
6500.00 Thai Baht [5239098 Viet Nam Dong]
Breakdown:

• Accommodation and food: 3500.00 Thai Baht
• Transportation: 500.00 Thai Baht
• Activities: 500.00 Thai Baht
• Hosting organisation support: 2000 Thai Baht

Purpose of extra costs:
The fee includes with the cost of on-arrival pick-up and departure to and from the meeting point, charter boat to and from the island, for living expenses (gas, water, electricity, food, transport) and materials used in projects/activities and for the other part to support financially our organization. Volunteers’ fee is our only income.