Thailand. Global Village volunteer handbook. disaster recovery. community development. home construction

Transcription

1 Thailand Global Village volunteer handbook home construction community development disaster recovery

2 Welcome to Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. About Habitat Thailand Established in 1998, Habitat for Humanity Thailand improves the quality of Thai people s lives through building homes and transforming communities. HFH Thailand works with like-minded partners, focusing on holistic development and sustainable change to achieve a positive and lasting impact. By providing decent homes, HFH Thailand boosts a family s economic and educational opportunities, improves health and social integration. According to the needs of the families and communities, HFH Thailand and its partners will facilitate job training, encourage home-based businesses, set up health centers, community centers and libraries, among others. Disaster Response During the time of natural disasters, especially flood which becomes more and more catastrophic and leaves more casualties each time it strikes, our challenge is to deliver a response immediately to the shelter-related needs in such harsh conditions and to provide solutions in the Recovery phase by repairing, rehabilitating and rebuilding houses. In 2011, HFHT prepares to respond to the nationwide disaster that affected more households in a larger scale than ever before. HFHT continues to work with private and public sectors to help floodaffected households in the 8 provinces of Phitsanulok, Uthai Thani, Lopburi, Saraburi, Ayudhya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.

3 Global Village builds Thailand Thailand is one of the first GV destinations. Since 1999 Habitat for Humanity Thailand (HFHT) has hosted more than 100 GV teams including youth and adult teams, church teams, corporate teams and JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) teams from Japan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A. The first affiliate of Thailand to host Global Village teams was Udon Thani, the first HFHT affiliate. Following that, we began to get more and more teams coming to Thailand. The next affiliate that hosted GV teams was Chiangmai, Lampang which hosted their first GV team in November 2002 and Nakhon Ratchasrima (Korat), hosted its first GV team in June 2003 and first builder team to Khao Lak Site in the south of Thailand in March 2005 Hosting Capacity: Presently, HFHT has 7 HRCs or regional offices which are located throughout the country, HRC-North, South, Central and Northeast. Hosing Months: Teams are hosted year- round Team Size : The minimum team size is 15 people; while the maximum team size that can be hosted at all affiliates is 25 people.

4 Habitat Homeowner Profile PATCHARIN FAMILY For many years, Patcharin and her children lived in her mother s tiny house with 18 other family members in Pathumthani province near Bangkok. In 2015, Patcharin partnered with Habitat for Humanity Thailand to build a new house. Living in a secure home, she was able to start a drinking water distribution business with some savings. She has also partnered with a community-based group to source locally made cosmetic products which she sells in the weekly Sunday market. Her sons Ammarin and Atsavin, now have space to study, to play and to sleep well. This house means a lot to me, she says, It has given my family the stability that we needed. It has enabled me to become independent and has given me confidence to explore new opportunities.

5 AYYUTTHAYA Global Village volunteer handbook About The Projects Not far North from Bangkok, in the middle of Thailand's central plains lies Ayutthaya. After being sacked by the Burmese the capital of Siam was relocated to Bangkok where it remains today. Ayutthaya has been well preserved and the ancient remains of the city are visited by swarms of tourists every year. Next to tourism the local economy consists mainly of agriculture with rice being the most important crop. Since it is located in the central plains of Thailand floods happen yearly during the rainy season, sometimes with destructive results. CHIANG MA HFHT has been present in Chiang Mai for years. The city/region welcomes ten to twenty volunteer teams every year. Chiang Mai is well known as Thailand's cultural capital not only for its beautifully preserved city centre but also for its strong creative and arts society and the presence of a large student population. It's culture is different from the rest of the country since it was the seat of the Lanna Kingdom which only became a part of the Kingdom of Siam in the late nineteen hundreds. KANCHANABURI Kanchanaburi is a region located in the west of Thailand, topping the Isthmus of Kra and bordering Myanmar Outside of Thailand it is mainly known for the death railway built by Japanese prisoners of war during the Second World War; resulting in a host of museums, monuments and graveyards commemorating the events that took place. Although agriculture is quite big, most people don't own land and work for larger farms. This daywork doesn't provide a stable income as farmers depend on the weather to farm and thus hire workers.

6 KRABI Global Village volunteer handbook About The Projects Krabi is known for its beautiful beaches and stunning lime stone cliffs. High-end resorts are spread throughout the province, nonetheless, living conditions for most locals are less than agreeable. Many people live in old houses constructed out of temporary materials. It won't come as a surprise then that those houses, exposed to the coastal elements, are anything but safe. Due to poverty, a lot of people, have to live with their family, often creating cramped, overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions. Krabi's inhabitants worked in agriculture. In recent years tourism has become an important source of income.. PHANG NGA Many houses are built out of improper and temporary materials facing rough elements, especially during rainy season. Houses are also old, being passed on throughout generations with little renovation. Together with overcrowding, this leads to unsafe and unsuitable living conditions. Houses and business in this area were also greatly affected by the 2004 Tsunami, of which the effects are still lingering today, leaving some people still struggling to get their lives back on track.. PATHUM THANI About an hour and a half driving from Bangkok lies Pathum Thani. Although the city is close to Bangkok it is surrounded by rice fields. Next to rice farming, manufacturing and low level administrative jobs make up for most of the local economy. Poor building materials often lead to unsafe housing conditions. And since the area is part of Thailand's central plains, floods easily destroy many houses during rainy season. On top of that many homes are overcrowded. All of these factors obviously lead to unsuitable living conditions.

7 About The Projects PHUKET Phuket is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands off its coast. The island is famous for its beaches and many tourists traveling to Thailand arrive in Phuket. The island was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami and most of the tourist infrastructure has been restored. Yet many poor households didn't have the means to rebuild and are still suffering from the consequences of the disaster. Apart from that many of the same symptoms around the country occur. Large families living in small houses, houses are either old and decrepit or constructed out of temporary materials, creating cramped, unsafe and unstable living conditions.. RAYONG Rayong is a famous province for tourists as it has a lot of exciting activities; with more than 100 kilometre-long coastline. There are beautiful beaches and scenic waterfalls amid natural surroundings. Rayong is also rich in sea-life resources and considered a major agricultural and industrial province. Boasting indispensable sea-life resources, Rayong is one of the country s major agricultural and industrial provinces. On the other hand, the province has maintained its traditions and customs in the daily lifestyles of the locals.

8 What Will You Build? Day 1 Day 5 WHAT WILL YOU BUILD? - A CONCRETE HOUSE Made from concrete hollow blocks, 1-storey. Roof structure is made of steel bars with tiles used for roof. The size is 42 SQ.M. PROGRESS Volunteers will start off each house from the beginning (day 1 photo) and will finish every wall on day 5. BUILDING TASKS 1. Moving the earth and filling the ground beam 2. Mixing cement and cementing the floor 3. Mixing cement and laying bricks as walls 4. Digging a hole for septic tanks 8

9 Ayutthaya - Airport Travel By Location Habitat staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign. Then volunteers will travel by vans to the hotel in Ayutthaya (1 1 hour and 30 mins drive). Kanchananburi - Habitat Staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign. Then volunteers will travel by vans to Kanchanaburi (3 hours drive) **VOLUNTEERS SHOULD ARRIVE BANGKOK NOT LATER THAN 2 P.M. TOGETHER BEFORE TRAVELING TO KANCHANABURI Krabi - Habitat Staff will be at Krabi International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up. 1. Volunteers can fly directly from abroad to Krabi International Airport 2. Volunteers can fly to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok first then take a domestic flight from either airport to Krabi (1 hour & 20 mins flight) Phang Nga - Habitat Staff will be at Phuket International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up. Volunteers then will travel by vans to Phang Nga ( 1 hour drive) 1. Teams can fly directly from abroad to Phuket International Airport 2. Teams can fly to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok first then take a domestic flight from either airport to Phuket (1 hour & 20 mins flight). Phuket - Habitat Staff will be at Phuket International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up. 1. Volunteers can fly directly from abroad to Phuket International Airport 2. Volunteers can fly to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok first then take a domestic flight from either airport to Phuket (1 hour & 20 mins flight). Rayong - Habitat Staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign. Then volunteers will travel by vans to Rayong (3 hours drive) **VOLUNTEERS SHOULD ARRIVE BANGKOK NOT LATER THAN 2 P.M. TOGETHER BEFORE TRAVELING TO RAYONG Chiang Mai - Habitat Staff will be at Chiang Mai International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up. 1. Volunteers can fly directly from abroad to Chiang Mai International Airport 2. Volunteers can fly to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok first then take a domestic flight from either airport to Chiang Mai (1 hour flight). Pathum Thani - Habitat staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign. 9

10 About The Trip Before You Leave IMMUNIZATIONS AND HEALTH REMINDERS For your personal health safety, please contact your doctor or local travel clinic to find out which immunizations you will need to get for travel to Thailand. This could vary depending on factors such as your health and immunization history. Some immunizations might need to be administered a certain number of weeks before departure, so you'll want to make sure you re on top of this. Here is a link to the CDC website where you can find additional information on what is recommended: PASSPORTS AND VISAS Your team leader will provide you with passport and visa information. PACKING SUGGESTIONS Thailand is a conservative and predominantly Buddhist country. Volunteers need to respect to local people, customs and culture to avoid causing offence. This includes wearing conservative clothing, particularly for women, both while at the worksite and during our time off. General guidelines: Long pants are recommended as being more respectful off-site and safer at the worksite, for both men and women. For women especially, clothing should be loose-fitting. Wear skirts and pants that reach below the knees. If visiting a pagoda, it is recommended that men and women wear long pants (for women, a long skirt is also acceptable). Everyone should avoid sleeveless tops at all times and wear shirts that cover the shoulder. No shirts exposing the midriff please Specifically for the worksite: We highly recommend quick-dry sport-type shirts instead of cotton shirts. They are easy to wash in your sink at night, dry fast and wick away the sweat better than cotton. For sun protection and to save your arms from cuts and scratches, we suggest light, long-sleeved shirts Please also have a carry bag that can get dirty to bring what you want to have with you on the worksite.

11 About The Trip Upon Arrival NAVIGATING THE AIRPORT Once you ve cleared customs and immigration and have retrieved your luggage, head to the exit. There you will be met by a representative of Habitat, who will escort you to the hotel and help you check in. It s often helpful if you wear your Global Village t-shirt at the airport on arrival so that it is easy to recognize you. IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BEFORE THE SCHEDULED ARRIVAL DATE Habitat can help arrange the hotel shuttle to meet you at the airport, if you plan to stay your extra days at the team hotel. Another option is to take a taxi, which can be arranged at booths at the airport. AIRPORT SAFETY The airport can be a little chaotic, so please be sure to keep close guard of your personal belongings at all times. You should be careful with your bags and do not allow people to touch or carry them unless directed by Habitat staff. Avoid accepting help with your bags unless you are prepared to pay a tip. DELAYED OR CANCELLED FLIGHTS If for some reason your flight is delayed, cancelled or you have other travel mishaps, you will need to contact Habitat by phone right away at the numbers listed on the Emergency Contact information sheet that will be provided to you by your Team Leader. You are provided with several emergency numbers keep trying them in the order they appear on the sheet, until you are able to reach someone. Remember to carry the emergency contact information with you (not in your checked luggage) while traveling. LOST LUGGAGE If your luggage is missing, be sure to inform the Habitat representative meeting you at the airport. Also talk to your airline agent representative at the airport if possible. It s a good idea when travelling to keep a few days worth of clothes and other necessities in your carry on in case your luggage if it s lost.

12 About The Trip General Info LODGING HFHT will reserve the most decent and suitable accommodation for volunteers but special requirements are possible to be arranged. MEALS We will provide lunch at site each day. It is a Thai-styled lunch with all you can eat. Food options will be according to volunteers dietary requests. Snacks, drinking water, energy drinks and soft drinks will be provided at site all day. TRANSPORTATION Volunteers will transport from the hotel to the build site with vans (up to 10 pax/van). Every van has AC and safety belts. COMMUNICATION Internet access will be available at the hotel and other places nearby where we are staying. Please be prepared for very slow speed and frequent interrupted connections. If you plan on using your cell phone to call home while you are traveling, be sure that you have a good calling plan for international calls. Otherwise it can be shockingly expensive. A better alternative if you have a GSM unlocked phone, is to purchase a local SIM card and airtime credit to call or text the United States. To purchase a SIM card, foreigners need to have photocopies of their passport photo page and Phillipines visa page, as well as one passport photo. SIM cards are 3G mobile data enabled and standard SIM and micro SIM cards are available.

13 HISTORY Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is situated in Southeast Asia. It covers an area of roughly 514,000 km² with Myanmar and Laos occupying the area beyond its Northern border, Cambodia to the East and Malaysia to the South. It is estimated that the population of Thailand is approximately 63 million people of which 75 percent is ethnically Thai and 14 percent originating from China. Thailand is also often referred to as the Kingdom of Thailand since it is a constitutional monarchy. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, has reigned since 1946 making him the longest-serving monarch in the world. The king also acts as the head of state, the head of the armed forces, and the upholder of the main religion in Thailand, Buddhism. RELIGION The main religion in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by nearly 95 percent of Thai people. Those remaining are either Muslims, Christians or other faiths. FOOD Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge. It is known for its complex interplay of at least three and up to four or five fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy. Unlike many other cuisines, Thai cooking rejects simplicity and is about "the juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish". Thailand s Culture LANGUAGE The official language of Thailand is Thai, a Siamese language closely related to Lao, Shan in Burma, and numerous smaller languages of southern China and northern Vietnam. It is the principal language of education and government and is spoken throughout the country. The standard is based on the dialect of Bangkok, and it is written in the Thai alphabet, an abugida that evolved from the Khmer script. Several other Tai languages exist: Southern Thai is spoken in the southern provinces, and Lanna is spoken in the provinces that were formerly part of the independent kingdom of Lanna. Thailand is also host to several minority languages. The largest minority language is Lao, a dialect of Isan spoken in the northeastern provinces. The region in where it is traditionally spoken was historically part of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. In the far south, Yawi, a dialect of Malay, is the primary language of the Malay Muslims. Varieties of Chinese are also spoken by the large Thai Chinese population, with the Teochew dialect being best represented.

14 Sample Cultural Experiences* WAT PHRA THAT DOI SUTHEP TEMPLE Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a Theravada wat in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain where it's located. It is a sacred site to many Thai people. The temple is 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from the city of Chiang Mai. From the temple, impressive views of Chiang Mai can be seen. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first stupa was built. Over time, the temple has expanded, and been made to look more extravagant with many more holy shrines added. DOI INTHANON NATIONAL PARK Doi Inthanon National Park, nicknamed "the roof of Thailand", is in the Thanon Thong Chai Range, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It includes Doi Inthanon, the country's highest mountain. It includes Karen and Meo Hmong villages of about 4,500 people. Within its borders are a number of waterfalls: Mae Klang Falls, Wachiratan Falls, Siriphum Falls, and Mae Ya Falls. LONG NECK KAREN TRIBE VILLAGE Most people know of the Karen people from television documentaries, magazines and encyclopedias as the "long-neck" or "giraffe" tribe. But the women who wear these brass rings on their neck belong to a sub-group of the Karen known as the Padaung. There are other subgroups who do not and never have practiced this custom. THAI COOKING CLASS You will be able to find the best Thai chefs n the world to teach you the intricacies of Thai cooking. For hundreds of years Thai cooking wisdom has been passed down from generation to generation. People continue this custom by offering Thai cooking classes to carry on the Thai homemade culinary tradition while, nonetheless, enhancing the art of living and well-being. *Cultural experiences will depend on hosting location within the country.

15 Being aware of differences in our culture to yours will help you avoid unfortunate situations of unintentional offence, and make your stay in Thailand even more enjoyable. Here are a few cultural tips for you to keep in mind: Cultural Tips THE MONARCHY - The king and the royal family are much loved by the people of Thailand. Criticism or any negative comments regarding the royal family is not only considered offensive and inappropriate, it is against the law. GREETINGS - Thais do not shake hands; they wai a gesture made by placing your hands together in front of your face as if in prayer and bowing slightly. Generally, you should not wai to a child, and a younger person should wai an older person first. RELIGION - Buddha images are sacred, whatever size or condition. Some photographs of images or statues are forbidden. Always dress politely when entering a temple or religious shrine. Shorts, tops that show bare arms and open-toed sandals are considered inappropriate. In most temples, you must remove your shoes before entering, and you may have to rent sarongs and strips of material to cover yourself up before being permitted to enter. THE HEAD AND FEET - Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, i.e., the temple. Touching someone s head is considered offensive and inappropriate. Conversely, the foot is the lowest part of the body. It is inappropriate to point your feet toward someone when sitting down.

16 Basic Thai Phrases No English Burmese GREETINGS 1 Hello/goodbye Sawasdee Ka (Female)/Krap (Male) 2 Thank you Kob Khun Ka (Female)/Krap (Male) 3 Thank you very much Kob Khun Mak 4 It s nothing Mai Pen Rai 5 Sorry/Excuse me Khaw Tod Ka (Female)/Krap (Male) 6 See you later Pop Gun Mai USEFUL PHRASES 8 How s it going? Pen Ngai Bang 9 How are you Sa-bai dee mai How are you Sa-bai dee mai 10 Fine/Well Sa-bai dee 11 I am well Sa-bai dee 12 Glad to know you Yin dee tea dai roo juk 13 I m glad to see you again Dee jai ti pop khun eek 14 Can you help me? Chuay pom(male)/chan (female) die mai 15 What is your name? Khun chue ar-rai 16 My name is Pom/chan chue 17 I understand Khao Jai Ka (female)/krap (male) 18 Congratulations Yin dee duay 19 What s this Ni kue are rai 20 Where is the? You tea nai 21 Bathroom Hong nam 22 Post office Prai-sa-nee 23 This way Thang ni 24 Can you reduce this price? Can you reduce this price? Lod dai mai 25 I m lost Pom/chan long tang 26 I m Tired Pom/chan noo-ay 27 I m not well Pom/chan mai sabuy 16

17 Safety On The Work Site No alcohol or drugs are permitted on site at any time. Volunteers who need prescription drugs (inhalers, etc.) should make sure they have a sufficient supply on site. Wear sun screen of a suitable factor and reapply it throughout the day. Wear appropriate clothing for the tasks involved. Drink plenty of water at least 2 liters a day, even more when it is hot. Wear your hard hat at all times on site, except in designated break areas. Proper gloves can protect your hands from: Cuts when carrying sharp-edged materials and equipment. Skin irritation from cement, paint, lime wash and other chemicals. Getting a corn while working with the tools for long time. Wear ear protection when: Any equipment is being used nearby that may cause damage to your ears. Heavy machinery is working nearby you for prolonged time. Wear a face mask when: You understand the mask type and its designation. Using chemicals, painting lime wash, mixing cement. Scraping old paints and sanding the items to smooth. Wear eye protection when: You or someone nearby is using a hammer, chisel or planer. You or somebody next to you is using any type of power tool. Using lime wash or chemicals or mixing or pouring cement. Wear proper footwear at all times: Open-toed shoes are forbidden on the site. Footwear must be covered and hardsoled. Steel-toed safety boots must be worn in demolition works. When lifting an item: Know your capacity and weight limits. Ask your site supervisor. Keep legs slightly apart, bend the knees, keep the back straight. Grab by both hands, and lift with the legs, not the back.

18 Gift Giving Policy From the perspective of Habitat s partner families and communities who are often in great need, foreigners are assumed to be wealthy. Although they are asked not to make such requests, at some point during our stay, you may be approached by the home owners or local laborers or others in the community with requests for material contributions (clothing, money, gifts, etc). Or you yourself, after witnessing the great needs in the community, might be compelled to give gifts. But, it is very important that everyone realize the unintended consequences that giving gifts can have, and to strictly adhere to Habitat s gift giving policy. While well intended, gift giving can run counter to the purposes of the Habitat s goal of empowering families and communities, and compromises Habitat s goal of instilling a sense of responsibility and motivation from the family to make house payments. It is common that gifts can create a dependence on others to provide assistance, while the Habitat model focuses on breaking the dependence. Giving gifts may also lead not only to conflicts within Habitat s development activities and relationships with their local partners, but to embarrassment and sometimes resentment. It could create a situation where others in the community become upset because they feel left out. A team can come and go from a community without realizing the major problems they have left for Habitat to fix. But we do understand that relationships will be made. In order to ensure consistency in what volunteer teams do give, we must ask that everyone please strictly adhere to the following guidelines: Do not give gifts individually. Each team should collect and compile all gift items from team members. With the help of the local Habitat staff, we can then decide how best to share the gifts with the community. This sends a clear message that all the families in the community are valued. Gifts will be given out at the end of the build or at the farewell celebration. Some ideas of what you might bring include: books for the community center, sports balls, playground equipment, extra work gloves, tools, etc. It is okay to bring toys to the worksite such as toys. In fact, it s a great way to fill downtime, playing with the children that will likely be nearby. But these items must be taken back with you at the end of each day. They can be donated and distributed at the end of the build. Leaving behind clothing and work boots is always appreciated. Clothing should be in good condition. Please have the clothes cleaned or include a small donation to pay for the laundering of any donated clothing. Donated clothing is distributed by the local host program to those most in need. Never offer to give money, especially to make a mortgage payment. 18

19 Global Village volunteers experiences It was AMAZING!!! It was my first ever global village trip, and while I had minor skepticism going in, my expectations were mostly very high. Everything about this trip exceeded my expectations. The planning, coordination, information and execution allowed me to feel comfortable and confident about traveling to a new area and all of the people on the team were of like mind and ambition and the camaraderie was incredible. The organization was well done, and I truly felt that the community was happy and welcoming to have us there and appreciated the contribution we were able to provide. 1,000 thumbs up! Danica C. Habitat Global Village volunteer 2017 GV is a fantastic way to see different cultures and meet new people-both the local people and other volunteers on the team. And GV also provides a way for travelers to enhance their travel experience with community and humanitarian service which makes our world a better place to live. The work projects are well organized, the trip leaders have been fantastic and the local Habitat leaders are talented and great to work with. A GV trip also includes local cultural activities which add to the trip's "fun" experience, and it promotes team cohesion as well. A GV trip is a valuable, effective and enlightening travel opportunity for those who want to put a bit more into as well as get a bit more out of their world travels. Mark. J Habitat Global Village volunteer 2017

20 every hand makes a difference