In-Country Team
There are a number of people who will take care of you during your time abroad. You will have contact with many of them. Others will be working ‘behind the scenes’ to ensure you have a fun and rewarding experience.

However, the main person in charge of making sure you are getting the most out of your trip is the Lead Coordinator / United Through Sport Representative. They are a member of staff who live in-country full time and, as their job title suggests, they are responsible for coordinating all aspects of the programme, as well as offering advice and guidance throughout your stay.

Please note that you should go to your Lead Coordinator if you have any problems whatsoever, be it with the trip, your overall experience or something more serious. Make sure you tell them in-country because, if they don’t know about your problem, they can’t solve it for you!

The Team in Thailand
United Through Sport
Whilst in Thailand your main point of contact for support and advice will be our dedicated in-country team members affiliated to our partners The Green Lion / Greenway Thailand and United Through Sport who have over 20 years working in the community, so you will be well looked after.

Enquiries regarding programs, logistics and emergencies
Mr. McGovern, Phil – Country Manager
Mobile: +66 (0) 86 001 2838
Email: [email protected]
Languages: English, Thai

Transfer Coordinator Bangkok
Mr. Korn, Korn
Mobile: +66 (0) 98 263 9052
Languages: English, Thai

Emergency Contact: Mr. McGovern, Phil

Office
Tel./Fax: +66 (0) 36 521 619
Languages: Thai. Wait until you get connected to an English speaker.

Address
Greenway Thailand Headquarters & Accommodation Singburi
40/1 Moo.4 Soi Vihankhao 12
Tombon Vihankhao
Thachang Singburi 16140
Thailand

Arrival In-Country

Arrival Information – what to expect when you arrive in-country?
How and when to arrive

By Flight	By Land
BKK (Suvarnabhumi International Airport): Great, we can pick you up from there. DMK (Don Mueang Airport): Please take the free shuttle to Suvarnabhumi airport and go to our meeting point at Entrance 4.	Meet us at one of our meeting points in Bangkok.

Regular arrival (Sat & Sun)	Early / Late arrival (Mo-Fri)
We will pick you up at one of our meeting points and transfer you to our center.	There are no pick ups during the week. ●       Get to our center on your own (instructions follow) ●       Stay in Bangkok until the weekend.

First Steps
Meet our transfer coordinator
Our transfer coordinator meets you at the meeting point (airport, guesthouse etc) upon your arrival and arranges your transfer to Mo Chit Northern Bangkok bus station and then further on to Singburi bus station, where you will be met by one of our local coordinators. He/She will take you to our accommodation.

Get a SIM card
We highly recommend buying a cheap local SIM card for your whole time in Thailand (for your own personal safety and for easier/cheaper communication with other participants, staff and family back home), and especially if travelling to us by yourself, this becomes especially useful. You can usually get one at the airport for free or at a low cost.

Meeting Points
BKK (Bangkok International Airport)
Saturday, Sunday: All day
After passing through customs, make sure you stay on the same floor and turn right and proceed to ENTRANCE 4. Our Coordinator will be waiting for you in front of this entrance with a sign saying “Green Lion”. Our coordinator will not move to find you, he has firm instructions to stay at ENTRANCE 4.

You may need to wait for several participants to arrive before the group leaves the airport.

If you arrive before 04:00pm, we will transfer you to Singburi on the same day. Arrivals after 04:00pm may have to stay in a hotel next to BKK airport for one night. In this case, we still will pick you up at the airport and accompany you to a hotel. There is no extra cost for you.

You will be given a  time to meet back at the meeting point the following morning for transfer to Singburi.

Please be aware that when your program during the first week is  ‘outside’ of Singburi, you need to arrive before 12:00pm on the Sunday in Bangkok to be able to join the program.

Why?
Many transfers to these ‘outside’ programs are on Sunday evening and Monday morning from our main center in Singburi. If you arrive after 12:00pm on Sunday, you might not be able to be transferred to Singburi on the Sunday to catch your transfer to the ‘outside’ project in time.

Royal Hotel
Sunday: 01:00pm
Address: 2 Ratchadamnoen Avenue
We meet: At the reception of the Royal Hotel

Please let us know at the time of booking if you need to be picked up at the Royal Hotel

New Road Guesthouse
Sunday: 12:00pm
Address: 1216/1 Charoen Krung
We meet: At the reception

Please let us know at the time of booking if you need to be picked up at the New Road Guesthouse

What to do, if…

…you are waiting at the meeting point but can’t find our transfer coordinator?
Make sure that you really are at one of the meeting points as described above. If you are there already, stay where you are and try calling our transfer Coordinator (phone number below). If he doesn’t answer on the first try, keep trying. If he still does not answer after several tries, call the emergency number.

…you can’t reach all of our emergency contact persons on the phone.
Please send them a text message and wait at the meeting point. They might be busy and will get back to you shortly. If for some reason they don’t get back to you, try again.

…you don’t get an answer on your messages
Stay at the meeting point. We will meet you there in any case.

***DO NOT LEAVE THE MEETING POINT, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL
TO OUR CENTER ON YOUR OWN.***

Early/Late Arrivals
What does it mean
Arrivals after the weekend need to make their way to the Singburi bus station on their own accord. Under most circumstances, (excluding extra nights booked through us), we only receive participants on the Saturday and Sunday before a participant’s program begins. We discourage late arrivals as it may take longer for you to settle into your program. Any emergency early/late arrivals need to be communicated to us via email [email protected] and the late arrival instructions need to be followed (see following).

If you arrive before the weekend, you can also stay in Bangkok and meet us on Sunday at one of the meeting points above.

Please make sure to let us know about that when doing the booking.

Instructions: How to get to us on your own
By Taxi
A shuttle taxi hired at the airport can bring you straight to our center house within 3 hours. It should not cost you more than 2000-3000 baht, but it is important to confirm the price before hand.  More expensive options (limousine service) can also be arranged from the airport at higher prices. This should be your last option as taxi will not usually find the accommodation. Best to get  a taxi to Singburi bus station. You must call the emergency number when leaving Bangkok. This gives us time to send someone out to the bus station to pick you up.

By Bus
When you arrive at Bangkok International airport (Suvarnabhumi Int’l Airport, pronounced: su-wan-na-poom), you can continue your trip by BTS airport rail link. This is the easiest and cheapest way to travel to the bus station. The distance from Suvarnabhumi Int’l Airport to Mo-Chit is around 40 km. You should take the rail link all the way to the end station at Phaya Thai which connects you to the BTS sky train.

Take the sky train to Mo Chit station the last on the line. The station is about 2km from the bus terminal. Take a taxi from the BTS to the bus terminal. The taxi should charge you around 100 Baht.

Once you get to Moh-Chit bus terminal, please enter the ground floor to the right and choose to buy a ticket for the first class bus (“1st class” in Thai: Bpau neung) to Singburi Bus Station. It costs around 125 Baht and 3 hours later you arrive at Singburi Bus Station.

Start: Mo Chit Northern Bangkok Bus Station
Destination: Singburi Bus Station
When: 05:00am to 06:00pm everyday
Duration: 3 hours
Price: 113 Baht

Once the bus leaves the bus terminal, please call the program manager (Phil, see “Contacts”) to confirm your arrival time and to allow us to have a coordinator ready to pick you up from the Singburi bus station when you arrive.

***Note: All prices are provided for your information. Actual charges may vary. We can not be held responsible if you pay more than mentioned above.***

Important departure information
Please be aware that the Saturday morning 11:00 return transfers we offer at the end of the participant’s program is to the local bus station near the program, where the participants can continue their travelling. Due to the many different personal plans and return flight times people have, we have found it logistically simpler to send participants to the nearest bus station and allow them to make their own way; whether it is to do more travelling, continue on to nearby islands, or return to the airport. If leaving at a different time please confirm the leaving procedure to Phil in Singburi.

Accommodation & Amenities
Location
You will be located in the outskirts of Singburi, an interesting town 142 km north of Bangkok. Singburi was founded under the reign of King Rama V through the consolidation of 3 small towns located on the bank of The Chao Phraya River. The three small towns, Sing Buri, In Buri and Phrom Buri, were then established as a single town on the west of the Chao Phraya River in 1895.

Your new home is set close to the village of Tha Kham, an extremely rural area that will give you the chance to experience the Thailand that very few get to see.

Accommodation & Food
Overview

	Standard Accommodation	Comfort Accommodation
All meals included	Yes *	Yes *
Free beverages	Yes **	Yes **
Persons per room	4	2
Wifi in public areas	Yes	Yes
Laundry facilities	Yes ***	Yes ***
Safety box	Yes ****	Yes ****
Lockable rooms	Yes	Yes
Hot shower	No	Yes
Private bathroom	Yes	Yes
Bed linen	Yes	Yes
Towels	No	Yes
Mosquito protection	Yes	Yes
Fan	Yes	No
Air conditioning	No	Yes

* On weekends brunch instead of breakfast and lunch
** Water, coffee, tea at the accommodation
*** At extra cost in local launderettes
**** Bring a padlock

Standard Accommodation
Your new home will be one of our 3 ‘Eco Houses’ near Singburi, central Thailand: Lemon House, Twin House and Brown House. They are all located riverside (River Noi – Little River) in the village of Tha Kham and depending on which house you are staying at, is about 8-15km from Singburi (10-15 minutes by car).

The 3 houses sleep from 30 to 72 people. All rooms in these houses have 2 bunk beds and are shared on a single gender and maximum of 4 person per room. All rooms have a private western style toilet and cold showers (refreshing in the heat of Singburi!).

All doors and windows are fitted with mosquito screens and there are 2 fans in every room. Although not directly on site, there are laundry facilities offered by locals which many of our participants take advantage of (this will probably cost you 5฿ per item, otherwise you can easily wash your clothes by hand.)

All houses have a communal area where you can eat, relax, meet fellow participants or use the free Wifi.

Comfort Accommodation
This accommodation is located in one of our Eco Houses. Here you will find comfortable, spacious and uniquely designed bedrooms with air-conditioning and hot water showers.

We recommend this accommodation for participants who desire more comfort and privacy, families, couples and more elderly participants. Single as well as double rooms are available on the premises. The comfort class accommodation is located apart from the two standard participant residences and so is noticeably quieter.

Comfort class includes a communal area where you can eat, relax, meet any other fellow participants.

Food arrangements
All the meals served inside the accommodation are vegetarian friendly and will be typically Thai, including plenty of rice dishes and fruits. Water, coffee and tea are available all day long.

***Important: A security cash deposit of 500TBH is required for the key to your room. It is payable upon arrival in cash and will be returned when they key is given back at the end of your stay.***

***No alcohol is permitted in any of our accommodations, but we are located within walking distance of a local shop and there is even a makeshift bar provided by the friendly locals in front of the accommodation.***

Passport
Your passport is your most important document when travelling overseas and should be guarded at all times. It is proof of who you are, where you have been, as well as a means of entering or leaving a country. Ensure that your passport is fully up-to-date with at least 6 months of unexpired time after your due return date. This will avoid problems at immigration.
Learn your passport number by memory so you can write it on official forms when required.
Avoid putting your passport in overhead luggage compartments when travelling on planes, trains and buses. Keep it in your pocket.
While undertaking overland travel in-country, as far as possible, don’t allow bus drivers to collect your passports when approaching border crossings. Deal with the customs officials yourself.

Visas

If you are from the Netherlands you can stay until a stay of 30 days without a visa. It will be provided when you arrive by plane. People who enter Thailand by country may stay for a maximum of 14 days without a visa. If you want to stay longer than 30 days you are required to apply for a visa at the embassy in The Hague. Contact your mentor if for the required documents.

Laan Copes van Cattenburch 123
2585 EZ ‘s-Gravenhage

Check www.thaiembassy.org dor the latest news about visa for Thailand.

State that the reason of your trip is tourism.

Volunteers/interns from all other countries should check with the Thailand Consulate in their home countries about entering Thailand as a tourist. Standard immigration requirements apply to all travellers to Thailand, and volunteers/interns will be required to provide evidence of:

• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you intend to leave the country (and note that to get back into your own country, you often need a passport that does not expire for at least 6 months)
• Travel tickets or evidence of onward travel arrangements
• Sufficient funds on your debit card.

Photocopies
You should make photocopies of all your important documents. Keep one copy with you while overseas (separate from the original documents of course!) and leave another copy at home with a friend or family member. We recommend you make photocopies of the following documents in case of loss or theft:
Passport: your passport number, date and place of issue and any visa pages.
Flight Details: your flight numbers, connections and destination airports.
Insurance Policy: your policy number, 24-hr medical emergency telephone number, general claims number
Vaccination Card: documents stating what vaccinations you have.
Travelers’ Cheques: all the serial numbers and cancellation phone number.
Bank Cards: the phone number needed to report/cancel credit or debit cards.

Email Yourself!
It is also wise to scan your important documents into a computer and attach them to an email as jpeg files. You can then send this email to an account that you can access from an internet connection anywhere in the world (e.g. hotmail, yahoo mail, gmail). This ensures you still have copies of your documents even if the originals and photocopies are lost or stolen.

Travel Insurance for your Trip

We believe that safety and enjoyment are equally important when travelling with United Through Sport. It is therefore one of our terms and conditions of booking that you have adequate travel insurance in place before you travel; cover must include emergency medical expenses, personal accident and repatriation. In addition, we strongly recommend that you include baggage, personal liability and cancellation cover.

Insurance
You can only join your chosen programme if you have taken out adequate travel insurance. Read the notes in the insurance section of this document and make sure that the policy you buy provides you with the essential cover listed.
Always read through your chosen policy holder’s terms and conditions thoroughly, especially the ‘small print’.
Make sure you keep your insurance policy in a convenient place and leave a copy with your next of kin. This will be vital in the event of an accident when someone else needs to notify the insurance company. Beware hospitals may also want proof of insurance before giving you medical treatment

Additional Notes from United Through Sport:

Remember to travel with us, you must have a full insurance policy that covers the activities you will be undertaking overseas. This is compulsory. You need to be fully covered for the whole time you are away (from initial departure date to arrival back in home country date), so may need to choose a policy that is 1-2 weeks longer than your placement dates. Also include any extra weeks of independent travel you plan to do after the programme.

Look at your chosen policy carefully (read the small print (Terms and Conditions)) and make sure that you are comfortable with the cover offered and have paid particular attention to general exclusions and pre existing medical conditions.

Also think about other activities that you intend to undertake that are not part of your programme and ensure that you policy also covers them. We further recommend that your policy includes personal liability.

Health and Hygiene
We are not medically qualified and so can not give any medical advice with regards to travel health and vaccinations, so it is absolutely essential that you seek professional medical advice (GP / Travel nurse / Travel clinic) before departure (also see link in pre departure check ups).

Ensure that you make photocopies of your vaccination certificates and medical documentation, and ask a friend or family member to keep a copy at home while you are away.

As with all things, the best way to look after yourself is to prevent illness and injury as much as possible. There are a number of things you must do before leaving to make sure you remain fit and healthy overseas. Read the advice and recommendations below carefully.
What can I do to prepare for my trip?

Pre Departure Check Ups
• Visit a travel nurse or travel clinic to discuss and organise vaccinations required and recommended for your destination. Ensure that you tell the clinic where you are going and what you are going to be doing in country (and after if travelling on).
• It is advisable to visit your doctor at least 2-3 months before departure for a general check up.
• Stock up on any prescription medication you are taking, including any contraception medication you are using.
• Check with your doctor (or your governmental Department of Health) that it is legal to take your prescribed medication in-country. If taking medication into the country, it’s advisable to have an accompanying letter from your doctor stating what the medication is for and why you are taking a batch in country with you.
• Book an appointment with your dentist. Toothache will ruin your trip, and dental work overseas is usually very expensive. The quality of treatment may also be very poor.

Stomach Bugs
Many of our travellers contract a 24 hour/48 hour stomach upset early into their trip due to changes in the environment and adjusting to new bacteria. By resting, drinking lots of fluids and replacing salts, you will soon recover from such upsets. Some people travel with 1-a-day multivitamins to encourage and promote the body’s defences through these changes.
If you are unwell, be sure to contact the Lead Coordinator in country.

Sunburn
Beware of hot climates and intense sunshine found in other countries. Dehydration, sunburn and heat stroke are all too common among our ‘overeager’ travelers. However, you can easily avoid these problems by taking the following preventative measures:
– Avoid direct sunlight when the sun is at its strongest (e.g. midday)
– Wear sunglasses
– Wear a cap or hat
– Apply a high factor sunscreen
– Drink lots of water throughout the day and always carry a full bottle of water
– Add re-hydration sachets to your water to add lost salts and minerals

HIV and AIDS
All travellers should be aware of the HIV virus and how it is transmitted. HIV and AIDS is present everywhere in world. Therefore, make sure you follow these basic rules wherever you are:
– Avoid casual sex and contact with infected bodily fluids
– Never allow yourself to be injected with an unsterilized needle or syringe
– Where possible, avoid any other blood-to-blood contact

First Aid Kits
It is advisable to take a personal first aid kit with you. This will be essential for any minor accident or injury you encounter abroad. The big high street chemists and outdoor travel shops sell medical kits with all the key items. Also make sure you keep it in a convenient place throughout your stay and take it to your placement each day

Vaccinations, Malaria, Sun Precautions and Dehydration
For the latest advice about health including in country requirements and recommended vaccinations and prophylaxis, we recommend that you contact your local Travel Nurse.

Safety + Security
Unfortunately, problems with security, including theft and robbery, affect all of us everywhere. However, danger can be avoided by staying alert and taking various preventative measures. The majority of safety related issues could have been avoided. Below are some general things that could get you in to trouble.

Tourists are always targets for pickpockets and thieves. Please educate yourself about South East Asia and Thailand in particular, before you leave, so that you can be alert for all types of situations. General travel safety rules are below.

_ Avoid travelling alone, especially at night
_ Find out where the unsafe areas are and avoid them
_ When travelling keep all-important documents and valuables in a safe place, like an inner hidden pocket or money belt
_ Carry only as much cash as you think you will need for the day
_ Don’t wear expensive jewellery or watches
_ Be wary of people who seem too friendly too fast
_ Keep cameras out of sight. Always keep bags and purses in your sight.
_ Before swimming, ask how safe the area is

Money
At home we generally feel quite safe opening a wallet or purse, we probably do not have too many notes in there at any one time. However, when we are overseas and for various good reasons (exchange rates, access to cash etc) we sometimes are tempted to, or by necessity, have a considerable amount of local currency in our possession. This is almost certainly the opposite to the vast majority of the population of the country you are visiting, hence, if you are tempted to `Flash the Cash” whilst overseas, you could well be setting yourself up for unwanted attention.

Precautions to employ:
• A money belt is a useful piece of kit for your valuables, have only small denomination notes and small change in your pocket. Keep the money belt under your clothes, out of sight and only open it in a known safe location.
• When using an ATM, make sure it is in a well lit area and do not count your money until you are in a safe place. Also avoid withdrawing money at night.
• Do not think for one second that `it only happens to someone else.
• Be cautious of over friendly strangers wanting to assist you at ATM’s never tell them your pin number or allow them to see it.

Manner and Dress
Your behaviour and dress can and will attract a considerable amount of attention. Cultures in the less developed world will not understand many of the mannerisms that some travelers may portray. It is possible that they will see them as insulting or showing a lack of respect. Over confidence will be perceived as showing off and bragging, particularly where materialistic possessions are concerned.

Some tips:
• Try to be understated, keep your actions as low profile as you can.
• You are there to experience, understand and immerse yourself in the culture, not to compare / contrast and make derogatory comments.
• Try and adopt some local mannerisms and ‘blend in’, for example many cultures have their own style of greetings – learn them.
• Wear clothing that is appropriate and NOT in any way political or insulting. Your country’s flag on a T shirts etc should be left at home. Patriotism is admired, xenophobia is not. If you are unsure what is and is not appropriate, seek advice from your local coordinator.
• Travelling in a group can be perceived as intimidating and threatening. Think about your impact.

Mouth
As a traveler to another country you are already at a disadvantage.  When we want people to, we expect everyone to understand what we say, however, when we then decide to talk about locals in a derogatory way then we expect them not to. Many swear words are international and just as people take offence at home they will overseas. Considering you are very often in that country trying to set an example to young people it goes against the ethos to be using bad language.

Do’s and Don’ts
• Do keep your voice down
• Don’t swear
• Do pick up some greetings and please & thank you in the local language

Drugs
Never EVER buy, take or keep drugs on you while overseas. Not only will your placement be terminated immediately, local police will have no hesitation in arresting you and sending you to a local prison without trial. The conditions in foreign prisons are often very poor and you will usually not be entitled to the same rights you have back home. The penalties for possessing a small quantity of marijuana are extremely high and can be well over 10 years. There are also periodical drugs searches by local police. Always carry identification with you (i.e. a photocopy of your passport ID page).

Alcohol
Virtually all safety related incidents are in some way connected to the over consumption of alcohol. Travelers consuming excessive amounts of drink are often `targeted` in bars and mugged or worse on leaving. Any amount of alcohol will inhibit your judgment and give you a sense of invulnerability, it is this that will get you in to a potentially dangerous situation and one that, in normal circumstances, you would have avoided at all costs.
• Drink in moderation
• Keep watch over others
• If you feel uncomfortable in a particular bar…LEAVE
• When out at night, NEVER walk home, and avoid taking local buses. Wherever possible, use taxis in pairs.

ATM Theft

It is very likely that you will need to withdraw cash at some point during your travels. Please be cautious when withdrawing money from an ATM and ensure that you are vigilant of other people near the ATM, especially those that offer unsolicited assistance if your card is detained. It has been recognised that individuals are operating unlawful withdrawals by placing ‘traps’ in ATMs whereby personal bank cards are being detained, causing the victim to believe their card transaction has not been completed, and leaving their bank card in the ATM which is then later retrieved by the thief. If your card is confiscated or you are concerned that your card has been tampered with, please report immediately to the bank or cancel your card.

Some General Points
• If faced with the choice of giving up your possessions or confronting a hostile person, always give up your possessions – your life is worth far more than anything you own. Furthermore, anything you lose can be replaced. A new passport can be issued by an Embassy or High Commission, your airline company can issue new tickets and your insurance company will cover lost money and possessions.
• The road conditions and attitude to driving can be very different in other countries. Make a judgment call, if you feel unsafe – take yourself away from that situation (vehicle).
• Only ever use officially recognised taxis. At night always travel in pairs.
• Some foreign coastlines have extremely strong currents and rip-tides. Make sure you are careful and always listen to the locals on where you should avoid swimming.
• If you are approached on the street by an overly friendly stranger who wants to shake your hand, put his arm around you or ‘get physical’, be cautious! The best case scenario is that they are trying to get a cigarette or some change from you. The worst case scenario is that you are being distracted so an accomplice can snatch your valuables. Be aware, but don’t be paranoid.
• Never EVER be rude to a police officer or any other official. They will take great pleasure in arresting you to make an example of your disrespect.

Safety Measures
• Permanent in-country staff are resident in the same accommodation that you will be staying in. They are on call 24hrs a day in case of an emergency.
• All our travelers receive detailed pre-departure information explaining how to prepare for your trip. Read it well!
• Full contact details of in country staff are given to our travelers pre departure. Staff overseas can be contacted at any time in an emergency.
• Our travelers mostly live together in the same place as far as possible. This creates a fun, social atmosphere where everyone looks out for one another.
• On arrival, an induction is given to all our travelers. Our in-country staff have a very sound knowledge of the destination you will be visiting and will explain all the ‘dos and don’ts’ of the country. This includes important information about the people, the local customs and the cultural courtesies which all travelers should be aware of.
• We encourage all our volunteers to explore the country in which they are living, but our in-country staff give plenty of advice on the ‘must see’ places, as well as the safest and most rewarding ways to travel to them.

Kit List Guidance
What to bring – you may need some but not all of this, so give it some thought.

The following list is designed to help you select and prepare your personal equipment for your trip overseas. Essentially, the weather will be warm(ish) dependent on when you go, so you need to bring enough clothes that will allow you to have enough ‘during placement kit’ and ‘after placement kit’ (whether that’s informal beach gear, or clothes to go out in!).

We may also be providing you with some kit that is specific to your project, such as sports equipment and teaching materials. These will be given to you in country and are yours to use throughout your stay and will be left with the community at the end of your placement. You may also want to bring some additional equipment for your project but please note that you will have to take this out under your own luggage allowance.

Recommended Clothing

_ Fleece: For insulation – again it may get chilly especially at night.

_ Hat: An essential piece of kit for keeping the sun off your head to prevent sunstroke. We would advise that a wide brimmed hat be worn rather than a baseball cap, which will not protect the back of your neck.

_ Jumper: Although it will be warm for the majority of the time overseas, it will sometimes get cold, particularly at night, so make sure you bring a couple of warm jumpers (wool / fleece).

_ Shirts: Always useful to bring a couple of shirts that can be used for smart wear. It is highly recommended that you bring a bunch of your own sports shirts and training tops to wear during the programme.

_ Shorts: A selection is recommended, as it is likely that you will be wearing these the most.

_ Socks: Again, enough to see you through the week is recommended. You may also want to bring socks for any sport activities you may be involved with, e.g. football socks.

_ Swimwear: There are plenty of places to go swimming, either in pools or the sea, so a swimming costume is very important. You may also want to try your hand at surfing.

_ Trousers: We suggest bringing lightweight cotton trousers, as it may get quite hot and they are also good for wearing after dark to keep those bugs away! Also bring one reasonably smart pair for wearing at night.

_ T-Shirts: Bring a selection that you can use while on your placement.

_ Underwear: Cotton underwear is more hygienic than synthetic. Enough to see you through the week is advised.

_ Specialist Clothing / Kit: Sports kit, whistle and hockey stick (for hockey coaches), sports boots  / cleats

Shoes

_ Casual Shoes: Bring a comfortable pair of shoes that you can wear for going out and, ideally, for any indoor sports activities that may require ‘clean’ shoes. Closed toed shoes are required if working in the schools or orphanages.

_ Sandals: A pair of good-quality sandals, with ankle straps, very common amongst travellers in warm climates because of the good ventilation they provide.

_ Shoes/Boots: Bring a pair of shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty because you will often be working and playing sports outside. Furthermore, it is likely that you will experience the odd downpour of rain, which can often turn parks and pitches into temporary mud baths! Footwear such as Astroturf boots, blades or soft studs is recommended if planning to do sports. If you plan on doing any walking/hiking during your placement or while travelling independently, we suggest that you take a good quality pair of walking boots. Whether you choose leather or fabric walking boots they should have a rigid sole with a good tread and good ankle support. Boots should be purchased in advance of your placement to make sure they are comfortable and worn in.

_ Trainers / Running Shoes: For everyday running around

Wet Weather Gear

_ Waterproof Jacket: Lightweight, waterproof and breathable – always useful

Equipment and Toiletries

_ Camera or your smartphone to capture those memories.
_ Personal Medical Kit: People tend to underestimate that carrying a good medical kit when travelling is very important. Remember your prescription medicines if you’re taking any. Your medical kit should at least include assorted plasters, paracetamol, Ibuprofen, antiseptic wipes and rehydration sachets. A lot of pharmacy products are readily available in-country but it is wise to arrive with some supplies. If you plan to travel independently after your project your medical kit should be more extensive.
_ Mosquito and Insect Repellent: You should take prevention measures against mosquito bites. Therefore, we advise you to take strong repellent (we would suggest getting a product with a high DEET content i.e. 50% DEET).
_ Sleeping Bag: You may consider taking a sleeping bag for travel pre / post activity with us.
_ Sun Cream and After Sun: It is essential to bring a high factor (30+) sun cream, lip sun block and after sun due to the strong rays and long hours spent outside.
_ Sunglasses: Good quality sunglasses are an important piece of equipment because you will spend a lot of your time outside. Check that they are polarising and provide an effective filter against UV radiation. A neck-leash is also handy to stop them from falling off
_ Torch/Flashlight: Not essential but could be useful.  A head torch, plus a small backup hand torch, gives great versatility. If for example you experience a power cut, or are out camping, you will have to undertake a lot of two-handed tasks in night time darkness, such as getting ready for bed, going to the toilet, etc. A head torch is also great for reading.
_ Towel: Essential, (travel towels are often useful as they are compact and dry very quickly)
_ Wash Kit: Bring the usual items: toothbrush, toothpaste, sufficient soap (you can purchase highly concentrated travel soaps that wash your hair, body, food and clothes), moisturizer, deodorant, shampoo, razor, shaving gel/foam, wet wipes, anti bacterial hand gel, etc.
_ Watch: There is no need to bring an expensive watch, but having both an alarm and stopwatch can prove very useful.
_ Water bottles: You should be carrying at least two litres of water with you at all times; bottled water is available in country but not all the time. Having your own supply is important while on your placement or when travelling. Whether you carry a platypus (hydration system with drinking tube) or a US Army style bottle it doesn’t matter as long as you carry enough water.
_ Whistle (for sport placements only): You may want to bring a whistle to use while on your placement. This is especially helpful when organising your team or refereeing matches.

Luggage

_ Luggage: Due to the style of placement that you are doing it is not necessary for you to spend extra money on purchasing a particular type of main bag; you are free to use a hold-all or rucksack as you choose. If you are travelling on after your project, or plan to travel in the future, you should consider more carefully the type of bag you choose. If your plan is to go backpacking then a travel sac is probably the most suitable bag that you can take (this is like a normal rucksack but zips around the edge allowing you easier access to your belongings).

Code of Conduct
We of course want you to have a fun and life changing experience overseas, but it is important to remember that you are an ambassador for us. It is therefore essential that you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner for the entire time you are abroad.
We would like to remind you of our Code of Conduct as outlined below:
a) You will at all times respect local attitudes, cultures and beliefs. Specifically, You will not make comments of a derisory, sexist, or racist nature to anyone during Your stay. And You will dress, speak and behave appropriately at all times.
(b) You will not act in any way that is considered to be an anti-social manner by the Lead Coordinator or local inhabitants at any time during Your stay. You will adhere to this specifically while under the influence of alcohol.
(c) You will arrive at Your Placement on time each day and, in the event that You are delayed or cannot attend Your Placement altogether, You will notify the Lead Coordinator as far in advance as is reasonably possible. Alternatively, You may notify another individual, such as the In-Country Staff member associated with your Placement, provided that this individual has been expressly nominated in advance by the  Coordinator
(d) You will not take any time out from Your Placement in order to undertake personal in-country travel or to spend time with friends or family unless You have obtained the express permission from the Lead Coordinator.
(e) You will not spend the night away from Your accommodation unless You have obtained the express permission from the Lead Coordinator.
(f) You will not allow any person to enter or spend the night at Your accommodation unless You have obtained the express permission from the Lead Coordinator.
(g) You will leave Your accommodation on the Placement End Date stated unless You have obtained the express permission from the Lead Coordinator. This includes local home-stays that You may have stayed with during Your Placement which We sourced and introduced to You. You will not leave Your Placement earlier than the intended end date without consulting the Lead Coordinator.
(h) You will ensure that any equipment used by You, whether personal belongings or otherwise, are cleared away and kept tidy and orderly at all times, in both personal and communal living areas of the accommodation. You will treat Your Accommodation with respect. Failure to do so may result in You being asked to leave Your Placement.
(i) You agree to drink alcohol only in moderation throughout Your entire time abroad. The Lead Coordinator will explain the drinking rules that apply to Your Placement when You arrive in-country.

(j) You will not buy, handle or consume any illegal substance during Your stay. You understand that We have a zero-tolerance policy on this matter and anyone who is caught in possession of illegal substances or is suspected of using or handling them will be asked to leave their Placement and Accommodation immediately
(k) You acknowledge that We explicitly advise against You developing sexual relations with any persons in the country where You are staying and You do so at Your own risk. Specifically, You accept and understand that there may be different attitudes to sexual relations in the countries that You visit, and that this could result in danger to Yourself. You also accept that health facilities may be of a lower standard in Your Placement country and that HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases may also be common. You acknowledge that You are aware of the risks of unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases involved in unprotected sexual relations. You also acknowledge that You are aware that drugs are sometimes used in cases of rape/non-consensual sex and this may be a risk while socialising during Your Placement.
(l) You will follow the advice of the Lead Coordinator at all times. Failure to do so may put You or others in danger and may lead to You being asked to leave Your Placement and Accommodation immediately
(m) You are responsible for Your health and wellbeing. You agree to deal with any medical ailment immediately and seek medical attention and the advice of Your medical assistance company, should You require it. You accept that health facilities in Your placement country may be of a lower standard than You are used to.
(n) You will ensure that return flight date falls before the expiration of any in country visa requirement. You understand that You need to obtain Your visa (if required).

Additional for the Volunteer Coaching Programme
(i) * Furthermore on the VOLUNTEER programme, unless otherwise permitted by the Lead Coordinator, You will not consume  alcohol in excess from Sunday up until Friday evening. This rule may be relaxed on Friday evening and Saturday provided You have obtained the express permission from the Lead Coordinator. You understand that We have a zero-tolerance policy on this matter and anyone who is caught over consuming alcohol or is suspected of consuming alcohol outside the times permitted by the Lead Coordinator may be asked to leave their Placement and Accommodation immediately.
(o) If You are undertaking a volunteer Placement under the VOLUNTEER programme, You agree to attend the minimum hours of Your Placement provided by and agreed by Us. The agreed hours will be a minimum of four (4) hours per weekday (Monday – Friday) unless otherwise expressly stated in literature given to you or by the Lead Coordinator. You understand that You have made a commitment to Your placement and will perform to the best of Your ability.

Termination of Placement
If your trip is terminated as a result of non compliance with the code of conduct or terms and conditions, you will be asked to leave immediately and asked to refund any costs incurred as a result of the non compliance.

Discrimination on any grounds
We do not stand for any form or discrimination against any individual. If you see, hear or are a victim of discrimination, please inform the Lead Coordinator immediately.

Drugs
There is an absolute ZERO tolerance on drugs. Anyone who is caught in possession of illegal substances or is suspected of using or handling them will be asked to leave their Trip immediately

Programme Facilities and Services

Telephone

If you are from the Netherlands your mobile phone might not work at all in Argentina, as the frequency is different. If you want your phone to work in Buenos Aires please check first with your local telephone provider service but calls are likely to be very expensive. . You can then buy a local sim card to put in it. However Whatsapp is working fine and is free!

The international dialing code for Thailand is +66.

Laundry

There are washing facilities available at the accommodation.

Electricity

If you are from the Netherlands you need to have different plugs. In Thailand the power plugs and sockets are of type A, B, C, F and O. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. So the best thing is if you have a multi-plug with you.

Smoking and Drinking

Smoking and drinking is tolerated in Thailand, although smoking has been banned in public areas such as cinemas, bars and airports. You will find that you will be able to get imported beer cheaply in most establishments and there are many tasty local beers too.

However, please respect other volunteers/interns. Drinking is only permissible in moderation and must not impact on your work during the week. While we want you to have fun in your free time, antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated on the project.

Currency & Spending Money
The official currency of Thailand is the Bath.

You will need some spending money for local transport costs, lunch and any independent travel you want to do. You will also want a bit of money for local food, basic items such as souvenirs, postcards, stamps and toiletries, as well as for internet cafes. Read the information below to help you prepare your finances for travelling and the ways you should deal with money matters abroad.

We would recommend that you allow for €70 – €110 per week spending money for your time at the project. You can change your money into Peso’s before you depart and we recommend you bring the equivalent of approx €40 into Argentina.

Cash

You should take some cash out with you. This ensures that you have some local currency immediately when you arrive in country in case of any emergencies. It’s always better to carry small denominations of cash on you for public transport, taxis, food and water. It is also advisable to carry a fake second wallet and keep your real monies and cards in a money belt or a well hidden wallet. In the event that you are forced to give up your wallet, you can simply hand over your fake wallet without losing lots of money and important bank cards.

ATMs and Bank Cards

There are ATMs in Buenos Aires and main cities, however do not count on this when you go travelling to smaller towns. You should not have a problem withdrawing money with a plastic card (but do check with your bank first). Visa is accepted, but you may have problems with other cards such as American Express – again it’s best to check this.

As for using credit cards, they are accepted in more and more places, but cash remains king (again the locals especially favour low denomination bills and you may find it difficult to change bills of $20 and certainly for $50). Remember if you do use your Credit Card from ATMs, you may be charged a Credit Card charge, as well as incurring interest immediately on your withdrawal. Debit cards are not widely accepted, but you may be able to withdraw cash from the ATM with them. Check with your bank before you leave that you are able to use your card when overseas. Also check what the bank charges would be.

Remember to be ‘on your guard’ when withdrawing cash and look around for any unsavoury characters watching you. Never use ATMs at night time, unless the area is well lit, or you can enter a secured area.

If you want to locate visa ATMs overseas, use the following website: http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp

Make sure you remember your pin numbers and always carry your bank card’s international ‘lost or stolen’ phone numbers with you. It would be a good idea to discuss card security when overseas with your bank prior to departure.

Money Exchange

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and at casas de cambio (exchange houses), the latter being generally the best option. It may be difficult to exchange money in the Oriente (Amazon). The rate of commission varies between 1 to 4%, so it is worth shopping around.

Beware!

You may find other places that are willing to change both your cash and travellers cheques. These may include shops, taxi drivers and ‘street corner’ money changers. You may also discover a thriving ‘black market’ that trades in foreign currencies. However, please note that you should stay away from any unofficial exchange bureaus, especially the ‘street corner’ exchanges. Not only are they likely to be illegal, you are also subject to being ripped off. Stick to the banks and you avoid any risk.

Free Time

You are always free on the weekends. As an intern or volunteer you can do whatever you want. But some tips:

Activities & Events
Tuesday Evening
Visit the night market in Tha Kham. Taste all types of Thai food, stock up on inexpensive clothing or just soak in the atmosphere of this small town!

Wednesday Afternoon
This is free time for most participants and we offer a trip into Singburi. You can choose to use the swimming pool, go for a Thai massage or take advantage of a trip to a shopping centre.

Wednesday Evening
You will have the option to attend a Thai BBQ at a local restaurant. This is a fantastic opportunity to socialise with all the other participants, eat great food and enjoy some music.

Thursday Evening
There is a trip to a shopping mall (including a large Tesco Lotus), where you can buy any essentials, snacks, western food (pizza shops, KFC, ice cream parlour, coffee shops etc)

Sights & Surroundings
Locally, Singburi itself has plenty to offer in terms of sites and attractions, ranging from its many Buddhist temples. There is also a swimming pool, two shopping centres and many markets.

You can also choose to travel to Bangkok during weekends. It takes 2.5 – 3 hours either by mini-van or bus from Singburi . We provide detailed information about this each week.