Teacher Training in Thailand

More than 100 local programme managers, supported by twice as many assistants, accompany our sponsored children every day. These managers are supported by 12 overseas volunteers and a country management team made up of Thai and overseas nationals.

For young people receiving financial support for school, summer camps and recreational activities are organised. Throughout the year, the children are monitored and listened to, first by their families (when these are still intact, which is not always the case) but also by the programme manager and the volunteer, who come to meet the young people as often as possible, sometimes every month.

Our volunteers and educators are in contact with the children and young people every day.

Overseas volunteers support programme managers in their work and sometimes teach English classes in the schools they visit. English, in addition to being part of school education, is a valuable tool for communicating with people from other countries and opening up to the world.

Whether through organised and supervised activities or simply through their daily presence, programme managers, volunteers and employees adopt an educational approach with young people, offering guidance, support and long-term assistance.

Donate here

As mentioned above, our local managers have jobs outside of their voluntary work with Children of the Mekong. Similarly, overseas volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds.

It is true that for some of our managers, such as teachers or religious leaders, education is a natural part of their profession. For others, such as dentists or accountants, this is not the case. The same is true for our volunteers: it is highly likely that none of them had ever been in contact with families in difficulty before committing to a year in Thailand. Not all of them are experienced English teachers either.

And yet, for one year for the volunteers, and for the entire duration of their commitment for the local leaders, everyone finds themselves serving the poorest in the name of education.

This disparity in training and experience is not a problem; on the contrary, it is a strength, bringing a multitude of different perspectives and opinions to the table.

However, we want to offer every child and young person the same quality of support. This is what motivates us to organise these training sessions for our educators.

• Comprehensive support: the project goes beyond academic support to promote children’s personal, social and human development.

• Sustainable educational support: educators and local adults provide long-term support to young people until they enter the workforce.

• Multiplier effect through training: training educators has a lasting and multiplied impact on hundreds of children.

• Transforming life trajectories: the project builds confidence, perseverance and social integration among the young people it supports.

For our local programme managers

For our local programme managers, zone meetings are key opportunities for training, support and growth. Once a year, they gather by region for meetings organised by our volunteers in March or April, lasting one or two days and bringing together 10 to 20 local managers and their assistants. These meetings are both training sessions led by specialised educators and valuable opportunities for discussion, reflection and listening. Managers can express their difficulties, share their experiences, receive practical support and leave better equipped to support the children. In 2026, 10 regional meetings are planned.

Ad hoc training courses at the request of managers

Starting in June 2026, Children of the Mekong will recruit a Thai social worker to join its team. Their duties will include organising ad hoc training tailored to the needs expressed by local managers, answering their specific educational questions and strengthening their interpersonal and communication skills. These training sessions are eagerly awaited in the field. Salaries and training will be covered by this project.

For our French volunteers

Each year, volunteers commit to a year-long programme, often without any prior experience in the social or educational field. Several support sessions are organised to assist them in their mission: in October, a week-long training course in Bangkok for the new intake, and in February, three days of review and mid-mission refresher training.

These sessions are essential for volunteers to understand their mission, reflect on their educational approach, share their experiences, and leave feeling motivated and ready for the rest of their assignment.

Providing the means to teach English accurately

Many volunteers teach English without being trained teachers. In 2026, we are implementing a tailor-made teaching programme: ready-to-use lessons, training and follow-up for volunteers, and a system for sustainable transmission over time.

This project was designed by a former volunteer, an English teacher, who wanted to put his experience to good use for future generations.

An investment made this year, for the benefit of all those to come.

Continuous training throughout the year

Volunteers receive regular support, either via video conference or in person, from a French specialised educator. Topics covered include educational approaches, key stages of child development, self-esteem, addiction, guidance and the meaning of life.

These sessions also provide an opportunity for volunteers to ask questions, share their concerns and discuss their experiences in the field. They also receive support in preparing for zone meetings.

Enabling volunteers to learn Thai more easily and quickly

Most of the people our volunteers meet, particularly the children they sponsor and their families, speak little or no English. The language barrier can therefore limit the quality of the support provided.

We organise Thai language courses throughout the year to facilitate better cultural integration and more direct relationships with the young people we support.

Learning Thai builds confidence, improves understanding of family situations and increases the effectiveness of our work in the field.

Our local managers and their assistants, representing more than 200 people, are all volunteers for Children of the Mekong and are at the service of and attentive to the sponsored children and their families. Our volunteers and workers in the field: 19 people!

And indirectly, all the sponsored children, young people and families we support in Thailand!

Support educators in Thailand here

Donate today