Monthly

Achievement
As a main goal for GVI Chiang Mai is to empower the community to take over and run their own
sustainable volunteer project, it is important that they have a good level of English. This will allow
members of the community to communicate effectively with volunteers/tourists. Empowering the
community in this way will only increase the effectiveness of their future management of the
project. This can also increase the desirability, of the project, to potential tourists; by improving the
overall experience.
GVI staff and volunteers constantly teach at the local school, as well as run informal lessons in many
homestays around the village; with a view to provide, at least, a basic knowledge of English to the
majority of the community. Nicki Ellar, our community coordinator, has brought an increased
enthusiasm into the teaching side of the project. With some extra organisation we now have an
extra class added to our teaching schedule; a kindergarten class to go along with grades 1-6 that we
already teach English to at the school.
Being able to start English lessons with children at a younger age will aid them in the future,
hopefully allowing them to be leaders in their community, with the sustainable tourism business
increasing in their local area. It also allows the volunteers to get some great social time with the
cutest kids in the village.

1. Nicki poses with some of the kids at the local school.

Our continual work within the community has already shown results, with many of our mahouts
already being able to interact, in English, with the volunteers while hiking with the elephants. Many
other villagers also enjoy testing out their English skills over dinner, or while walking around the
village. This ongoing work has also lead to more communication with the resident teaching staff at
the school. We have obtained a detailed schedule regarding teaching days at the school, including all

the national and school holidays; allowing us to plan ahead and use our time better by not making
unnecessary trips to the school. Volunteers, and staff, that often teach at the school have also
recently attended a lunch meeting with the local school teachers; improving the important
relationships we have with the local teachers. This lunch meeting will hopefully become a regular
occurrence and help with organising activities, and lessons, at the school.

1. Volunteers help to teach some of the younger children, at the nursery, English using games

We are always looking to increase our work within the community, teaching being one of our
priorities. With the consistent efforts, and enthusiasm, of staff and volunteers, we have no doubt
that we will attain our aim of providing this village with the skills it needs to succeed in the future.