THAILAND PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SURIN ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE TWT510. Change History

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1 THAILAND PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SURIN ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE TWT510 Change History Issue Date of Issue Initials No. of Pages Pages Changed and Reasons for Change KH 13 Changes to accommodation CW 13 Amended project description KH 13 Amended project staff, dress code and entered details on internet facilities CP 13 Please read entire document Updated project staff

2 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 2 of 13 Table of Contents BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT S INCLUDED ON YOUR PROJECT... 2 ON ARRIVAL... 3 YOUR PROJECT: BACKGROUND... 3 CARE AND TREATMENT OF THE ELEPHANTS... 4 PROJECT STAFF:... 6 TRAVELLING TO & FROM YOUR PROJECT... 6 DRESS CODE ON YOUR PROJECT... 6 YOUR WORK... 7 SAMPLE ITINERARY... 8 YOUR ACCOMMODATION... 9 EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST LANGUAGE DONATIONS PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS VOLUNTEER FEEDBACK WELCOME TO YOUR TRAVELLERS PROGRAMME! I hope you re looking forward to it you re embarking on a wonderful experience that you ll remember for the rest of your life. Your Travellers In-Country Representative is looking forward to welcoming you and so are the people on your project. We all wish you a comfortable and safe journey. BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT S INCLUDED ON YOUR PROJECT What s Included: Airport Pickup & Transfer. Please speak to your Project Coordinator for more information on where and when to arrive. Accommodation: Food: Project Transportation: Local transportation is used for travel to-and-from your project. Training: Orientation & induction. Additional informational material (as appropriate). Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, local in-country team and 24hr emergency support. What's Not Included: Flights Travel Insurance Visas Police Check Return Transfer Back To The Airport

3 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 3 of 13 ON ARRIVAL When you arrive you will be welcomed at the airport by Glenn Angus, your Travellers Bangkok Representative. On the rare occasion Glenn is unable to meet you, one of his assistants who will. They will then take you to your hotel in Bangkok, normally the Nasa Vegas Hotel in Bangkok where you will spend one night. Please note that arrival into Bangkok must be on a Sunday and before 6pm. Early the following morning Glenn will collect you and take you to the (Mo Chit, Northern) bus station where you will normally be met by a member of staff from the Surin project. You ll travel to Buri Ram where you will be met by the pick up from the Elephant project in which you will drive the rest of the way to Surin. The journey from Bangkok to Surin normally takes roughly 7 hours. It is highly recommended using the toilet before starting the journey; most buses do have a toilet on them but always best to be safe! Important information: Traffic in Bangkok can be extremely bad which is why Glenn will normally use public transport between the airport, hotel and bus station to make sure you are not delayed on your journey. Please be prepared for a lot of moving around in a hot, crowded environment. It is recommended travelling with luggage that is practical for this like a backpack. For more information please see the Google map below or if you have any questions please don t hesitate getting in touch with us. Link to Online Google Map During the first few days of your stay you will be given a general induction, so that you can learn about the local area and useful information such as how to get around etc. You will also receive an induction at your project; this will generally take place within a day or two after your arrival. Your induction will give you a chance to meet the people at the project, familiarise yourself with the journey to-andfrom the project, get a feel for the project and see the type of work you may undertake. Please note that it s not uncommon for the general induction and the project induction to be combined into one and for the two inductions to be given at the same time. If after receiving your induction you are still a little bit unsure about certain aspects of your project, please don t hesitate to ask your Travellers In-Country Representative and/or your Project Supervisor. YOUR PROJECT: BACKGROUND There are over 200 elephants registered in Surin province, and the vast majority of them are trapped in the unfortunate trade of street begging. This is a terrible life for elephants that require literally hundreds of kilos of fresh vegetables and clean water daily. Street begging reduces an elephant s life expectancy by at least 50%. Despite differences in opinion on other matters, all elephant conservation organizations agree that street begging is wrong. The Surin government approached The Surin Project (which is the NGO we and our volunteers work with) to help develop sustainable elephant-based tourism in Surin and to build a safe environment for elephants. With their support, The Surin Project s goal is to establish sustainable managed elephant tourism as an alternative to both street begging, and to other forms of tourism, such as circuses and elephant rides.

4 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 4 of 13 Our Surin Project currently can look after up to 13 of the 200+ Elephants that are in the greater Surin Elephant Study Centre Park. Our Surin Project is growing more and more and hopes to steadily increase the number of elephants they can adopt in order to improve their standard of living and quality of life. At the moment there are currently 8 elephants on the programme. The more elephants our Surin Project can take in, the fewer elephants will be under the control of the greater Surin Park. The Surin Project wants to have families of elephants freely roaming in their natural habitat whilst their mahouts are provided with a steady income. This income will hopefully replace some of the money that the mahouts made street begging, thereby encouraging them to stay at the park. The impact that this project will have for elephant conservation is huge. The Surin government has already set aside over 2000 acres of land, enough to maintain a breeding population of 200 elephants, which is approximately 10% of the existing population of Asian elephants in captivity in Thailand. There is also now an elephant centre, complete with offices, education centre, elephant shelters, mahout houses, shops, and a circus area (The Surin Project is trying find an alternative option to this through the volunteer projects that is hopefully more enjoyable for visitors, more financially appealing to mahouts, and is in the long-term best interests to the elephants). The Surin Project was established in 2009; The Save Elephant Foundation that the Surin Project runs under was started over 10 years ago and runs several projects in different areas of Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar. There is effectively only 2 of these projects that can provide a guaranteed safe place for the elephants, the Surin Project is unfortunately not yet one of them as they do not own the elephants. The project does not buy the elephants as the Mahout would then just go out and purchase another elephant thus allowing the problem to continue. This can be frustrating but it is only by showing a different demand in the long term that any real change can come about. It is not just about showing the local communities it is about educating the tourists that come in that support the types of tourism that allow bad welfare to continue. It s a bit of a vicious circle that feeds off each other. Only when tourists demand to see elephants in a sanctuary type situation more than wanting to watch them do tricks or to ride on an elephant will the elephant owners start making the changes towards better welfare. It s all about money at the end of the day and they are only supplying the demand to make money to feed their elephants, families and themselves. Save Elephant Foundation is a Thai focused organisation, striving to work without politics and in co-operation with local and international elephant and government organizations to protect elephants and their environment. The foundation funds a safe home for rescued elephants; it provides support, advice, office based resources and funding to the projects under the foundation s umbrella. Through education, public awareness and preserving elephant habitat, it is Save Elephant Foundation and The Surin Projects mission to save the Asian elephant from extinction and give captive elephants a life worth living, free from abuse. This Surin Elephant Project is a huge opportunity to change the fate of elephants in Thailand. With the help of volunteers, The Surin Project are building bridges with mahouts who use elephants for street begging and circus shows, with plans to provide an alternative for their elephants that is more natural, less stressful, and is sustainable. With provincial and local level support, we can build a new home and bring hope for a future to these elephants. Quick information: The Surin Project: There are between 8-10 Elephants on the project Most are female The Surin Elephant Study Centre: Almost 200 elephants in the centre 90% are "unemployed" Severe food and water shortages CARE AND TREATMENT OF THE ELEPHANTS The mahouts still retain the use of the Ankus which consists of a metal hook attached to a pole. The mahouts use the Ankus to assist them in shepherding the elephants. The Ankus is a traditional tool that dates back to before the 3rd century BC. The Ankus is still widely used in Thailand and in other countries across Asia and unfortunately can still be seen in the greater Surin Elephant Study Centre Park. However, some conservationists and animal lovers (including

5 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 5 of 13 the NGO who run our Surin Project) do consider the use of the Ankus to be cruel and to be an out-dated method of animal control that is no longer in-keeping with today s approach to animal management and welfare. Heavy logging and increasing development have left Surin with few forested areas and decreasing work opportunities for mahouts and their elephants and a rapid loss of cultural heritage. With nearly 90% unemployment and severe food and water shortages many of our volunteers have found the environment challenging, and at times overwhelming. In addition, you may find that some of the elephants in the greater Surin Park are restrained by the use of chains for most of the day and night. These are generally tied around the elephant s foot, both feet and sometimes also the neck. The elephants are wild animals and there is just not the space to have them roam free. Sometimes the elephants will be restrained using chains on all four legs because they are in heat, during which time they are highly unpredictable and can become very aggressive. Whilst an elephant is in heat it can be a danger to both itself and to other elephants and so it is important to separate the elephant from the herd. However, the elephants that form part of our Surin Project have much more freedom because of the help of our volunteers and the financial assistance they get from Travellers has enabled them to build a large enclosure. The elephants that form part of the Surin Project, with the help of the volunteers, get off their chains for 3 to 4 hours a day. Due to safety reasons, the project do keep the elephants chained on 1 leg. In the past the project used to let them free, but then they broke down the fence and ran away into the village before. The project hopes that the more popular they become, and the more volunteers they attract, they will be able to get the elephants off the chains for longer. The only way to allow them off the chains is to have the mahouts there with the elephant and the only way they will do that is if they are getting paid for doing so. This is a sad situation but it is also the reality of the situation. By volunteers being here they are showing the mahouts they want to see this and in time we hope to build bigger enclosures for the elephants to roam free in but this will come in time. It must be stressed that the elephants are extremely important in Thailand and does not wish to see any animal hurt or mistreated in anyway. Elephants are revered in Thailand & Asian culture and are held in great esteem and are integral in many religions and beliefs. The Surin Project is a new and innovative project focussed on finding solutions to the challenges faced by mahouts and their elephants in the Surin province. It is committed to improving the living conditions of Asian elephants and providing sustainable economic revenue for their mahouts in the local community. The Surin Project is also committed to raising awareness regarding the plight of the Asian elephant and inspiring people worldwide to work together towards finding solutions to these problems. Educating volunteers and mahouts alike will result in a better understanding of the situation and provide them with the tools to make the necessary changes. Should you have any queries about the information contained in this section we would ask you to please speak to your Project Coordinator who will be more than happy to advise you. Project background and how you are helping to make a difference! This project was started to help alleviate the poor conditions and the lack of care that the elephants received. It also aims to help the mahouts and their communities. The Project is still fairly young and has been making great progress. At the moment, the programme has between 8 & 10 elephants, but they are hoping to soon increase this number to 12 again. This Project is actually based in the park itself and you will see for yourself how much better the elephants are looked after by the Surin Project because it is organised and well-structured, with invaluable help from volunteers, whereas those elephants who have not been taken onto a project like this receive minimal care. This is the reason why the Government approached the Project and sought help in structuring a sustainable elephant assistance effort. Together with your help, the Project makes a huge difference to the lives of the elephants. This is just one of the reasons why Travellers Worldwide feels so passionately about this Project - without our volunteers, and the funds that the Projects receives from us, the Project would simply not be able to afford to care for the elephants. The result would be that the elephants would remain under the Park s care, which in most cases means that the elephants would be chained up all day and night. This is a horrible fate for such an intelligent and gentle animal!

6 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 6 of 13 Also, Travellers, through its charitable arm, The Bridge The Gap Foundation, makes a further on-going, monthly donation to the project to enable them to expand the good work they re doing with the elephants. These donations are in addition to the money Travellers gives to Surin for each volunteer we send to them. During the floods, these additional donations that Travellers makes really helped them a lot and it has also had a great impact in supporting the project as well as contributing to, for example, the new large enclosures which enable the elephants to have more, chain-free, freedom. It is only as a result of you doing your placement through Travellers that we can make such a lifechanging difference to the projects we work with. To read more about where your money goes and how you are making a difference, please see page 15 of the Travellers Programme Guide. PROJECT STAFF: O-cha has been with the Surin project since July 2011 and works as Volunteer Coordinator. Previously he was a tourist guide for 10 years and took guests to visit the national park for trekking so he is very knowledgeable about his country and happy to answer your questions. You will also meet Boom and Pui who are also Thai members of staff. They are a lot of fun and a great source for learning about all things Thai. The GWI People: The Gwi people are traditionally known for working with elephants. Centuries ago, they were employed by the kings of Siam to capture and train elephants, care for them, and keep them in the royal stables. This relationship between humans and elephants stretches back for generations, and thus the Gwi people share a lot of traditional knowledge relating to elephant care, herbal medicines, etc. This unique ethnic culture has evolved from the retraction of the mighty Khmer Empire, one thousand years ago, famous for creating the temple complex of Angkor Wat. Although there are now Khmer speaking people also living in Surin province, the Gwi speak a distinctly different dialect. In many Gwi communities the ancient practices of spirit worship and Animism can still be found, and there is an entire series of rituals reserved for elephant related activities. During our volunteer stay with the Gwi, we will take steps to honour these beliefs, and show respect to their revered elders, the elephant Shamen. TRAVELLING TO & FROM YOUR PROJECT On your arrival at Bangkok International Airport, you will have an overnight stay at Bangkok (unless otherwise advised). Our Travellers representative in Bangkok will collect you from the airport and take you to the hotel. They will have a sign with the Travellers Worldwide logo or your name on it. Around 6.15am on Monday morning you will be picked up from the hotel and taken to Bangkok's Northern Bus Station (Mo Chit Bus Station) w h e r e you will normally be met by a member of staff from Surin. You will travel by coach to Buriram, where the pick up from the elephant project will meet you and you will travel the rest of the way to the project site by mini van. From Bangkok it is roughly a 7 hour journey to the project site, so you will normally arrive at around mid afternoon, in time for the orientation and the welcome ceremony. DRESS CODE ON YOUR PROJECT Polite dress in Thailand is very different from Western nations and it is quite easy to cause the locals offence. During your stay, please do not wear string tops, short shorts or any other revealing clothing. Shorts are acceptable when swimming but not considered polite in most other circumstances. This is particularly so when visiting village and mahout homes. Rules regarding dress code will be strictly enforced. While visiting the temple and in the presence of monks, it is

7 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 7 of 13 unacceptable to expose shoulders and thighs. Please be sure to pack trousers (pants) and long-sleeved shirts. Consult the staff if you have any questions. Please also make sure you take some old clothes and adequate foot wear with you we would suggest old trainers (sneakers) or closed shoes that you don t mind getting covered in elephant dung. Something old that you don t care about! You can bring wellington boots or hiking boots, but make sure they have non slip grips on the soles as it can be very slippery! You also may get too hot in wellingtons or boots, so trainers are ideal. You must wear long trousers whilst on your project. When in the water with the elephants the project staff may advise you to go in barefoot. If you feel you would not want to do this bring shoes or sandals that will easily slip off. The river bed is muddy and sometimes you need to move quickly away from excitable elephants and shoes can sometimes restrict this movement. YOUR WORK Your role and the types of work/activities you are given may vary and may depend on certain factors such as what s required at the time etc. For Example One of the main objectives of the Surin project is to help the local community to develop and become financially sustainable. The hope is to reduce the need for the mahouts to go back to Bangkok or other large cities and beg on the streets with their elephants. By volunteering in Surin we are providing crucial economic revenue to the mahouts, allowing them to feed their elephants. Your normal daily routine can vary day to day and you need to be flexible however normally your day will start with walking to the work site. During your work, elephants will be allowed to freely interact socially and you'll participate in basic elephant care. You'll feed the elephants and generally have lots of hands-on work with them. Elephants love people and they love social interaction. They can be very playful! You will normally help to take the elephants out on walks with the mahouts about twice a day across the local rice fields and forests. The elephants love the water so you will normally take them down to the local reservoir for clean up. This is not only great fun, the elephants love it too! You'll be helping to build a new environment for the elephants. There is a lot of diverse work involved in this, including helping to restore the natural habitat that has been destroyed by overlogging, you'll help by planting grass and other vegetation that helps to feed the elephants. You'll be asked to take on some community development work, not only to help strengthen ties within the local community but also to learn from them in the process. Other duties could involve helping to cut the grass and preparing other elephant foods, as well as actually feeding the elephants. During the project you will have plenty of opportunities to learn about the elephants and the local communities and how they are trying to become ever more stainable with local resources, like making paper out of elephant dung! N.B. The amount of work available for volunteers varies, so there may be some periods when you ll be working less than at others.

8 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 8 of 13 SAMPLE ITINERARY Below you will find a typical working week at the Surin Elephant project, but please note that it is subject to change, depending on the demands of the project. Programme Itinerary MONDAY Depart to Buriram province (from Bangkok bus station) Arrive to Buriram town and transfer direct to Surin project Check-in to home stay Welcome ceremony by mahout provide / orientation for Surin project. TUESDAY Breakfast Morning work ( clean shelters, cut sugarcane, clean enclosure ) Feeding cucumbers to elephants, visit poo paper factory, elephant graveyard then elephant walk in the jungle Tour around center Lunch Ice breaking games with mahout Enclosure time with elephant chain off and free inside enclosure Clean shelters. WEDNESDAY Breakfast Morning work (clean shelters, cut sugarcane, clean enclosure ) Elephant walk to river about 2 kms Feeding and bathe elephant in the river Return to the village Lunch Project work or visiting school Elephant walk Clean shelters Visit local market. THURSDAY Breakfast Morning work ( clean shelters, cut sugarcane, clean enclosure ) elephant walk Project work Lunch Enclosure time clean shelters. FRIDAY Breakfast Morning work ( clean shelters, cut sugarcane, clean enclosure ) Elephant walk to river Feeding and bathe elephant in the river Return to the village Lunch Project work or visiting school Elephant walk Clean shelters. SATURDAY Breakfast Morning work ( clean shelters, cut sugar cane, clean enclosure ) elephant walk Mahout Olympic games Lunch elephant long walk in the jungle Clean shelters Sunday

9 Free time Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 9 of 13 Please note that this programme itinerary is subject to change, depending on the demands of the project. Generally, although the hours are flexible and do change slightly with the season you can expect to be working for about 3 hours in the morning, at some point between 8.00 a.m. to 12pm. In the afternoons you ll usually be bathing the elephants in the river or doing more project work. You ll be at the site from Tuesday to Saturday, leaving the other days free for you to explore the area! The project is continually initiating new projects that volunteers can participate in within the area in order to increase the amount of work available for you and as these become available, we will keep you updated. Travellers and the Surin Project welcome any suggestions that might improve the life of the elephants. Please feel free to make suggestions or requests to any staff member. YOUR ACCOMMODATION Accommodation is currently with friendly local families in a nearby village due to renovation work taking place at the project centre. All the hosts are very friendly and staying with a family will enable you to experience the culture n tradition of a typical Thai family Volunteers are usually housed in pairs (subject to availability) and you will have a shared bathroom. All the houses are different so you may have a Western or Asian style toilet. Showers are generally Thai style bucket showers, so there s no hot water. Couples can share a room on request again this is subject to availability. Each room is equipped with mosquito nets, bedding and a fan. The accommodation is basic by most western standards but does have electricity (but be warned Thailand is prone to power cuts so bring a torch!), however, you need to have an open-minded and adapt as much as possible to Thai village life. It s recommended to bring plenty of books, games and similar to keep you entertained during the evenings. However, please remember to be mindful and respect the Thai culture. Ensure you keep the level of noise in the house in mind although the local wild life especially the elephants can be noisy during the night. Do be prepared for the sometimes slow pace of the evenings. Most of the work you will be doing is manual, so if you have been keeping up, you ll probably be very tired in the evenings and quite happy to just take a book to bed! At the time of writing the project has and no issues with valuable items going missing from the rooms. You are provided with a padlock and key to lock your door with and you are responsible for your own items. Travellers can not take any responsibility for the safety of your valuables Please note although we do supply bed linen, towels are not provided - you can either bring your own or buy some from local shops. A tip about washing your clothes; elephants are mucky animals and the dirt gets everywhere - your white washing is most at risk you have been warned! N.B. Please note that although Travellers always aims to provide the very best for you including all the aforementioned facilities, because of the nature of Thailand, with its excessive humidity, appliances often break down. Travellers always endeavour to fix appliances as soon as possible, but please allow added time for the Thai business culture. You can access the internet from the shop just a 5 minute walk away. YOUR FOOD Three meals per day will be provided normally local Thai dishes and vegetarian or any special diets can be accommodated for. Drinking water is provided, and soft drinks and snacks are available for purchase at shops in the

10 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 10 of 13 village. Any special dietary needs should be made clear to project staff as early as possible. YOUR LOCATION Our Elephant Placement is based in the Surin Province; approximately 7 hours drive North-East of Bangkok. The project is also situated near the town of Buriram which is located approximately 5 hours to the North-East of Bangkok. It is well connected by both trains and very comfortable buses leaving from several of Bangkok's bus stations. Surin is a big province on Mun River Basin in Lower Northeast of Thailand. It is well known, locally and international, for its elephants. The project itself is positioned in Baan Tha Klang Village. There is very little available locally in the evenings, but with beautiful sunsets it s a haven for those that just want to sit back and unwind. EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST The list of items given below is a general list of items and is provided as a guide only. If you are in anyway unsure what you should or shouldn t be taking with you please speak to your Project Coordinator. Remember - be sure to speak to them before going off and spending lots of money on potentially needless equipment. Please remember to also read the Packing List as detailed within your Travellers Country Fact File. Required / Highly Recommended Mobile / Cell Phone this is a requirement Clothing & Footwear - Suitable for your programme light weight quick drying clothes are best Clothing & Footwear - For the evening (, including flip flops for the shower) Jacket / Raincoat Daypack (Small Rucksack Basic first aid kit Hand sanitizer Sun Hat Gardening gloves Sun Cream (at least factor 30+) Insect repellent Powerful Torch Camera, Binoculars (optional) Alarm Clock Adapter Plugs Batteries Toiletries Towels (bath/beach/hand) Optional IPod / MP3 player Games, books, a pack of cards etc. Items Better Left At Home Any unnecessary high value items such as expensive Jewellery & watches. If you have a new & expensive smart phone then you should consider taking an older phone out with you instead. Remember to check that it works before you set off! GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PROGRAMME The way of life is very different to that of the UK. It is important to be patient whilst on your programme. Having a positive can do attitude will go a long way. Positivity, perseverance and being pro-active are also key if you want your programme to be a success. Don t be afraid to ask if there is something specific that you d like to get involved in. If you have any doubts at all, please speak to your Project Coordinator, they will be more than happy to assist you in making sure that your project is right for you and that its one that you ll get the most out of! LANGUAGE Whilst most projects have already had experience with receiving foreign English speaking volunteers, you may find that many people have a limited knowledge of English. If you are lucky enough to have some knowledge of the local language you will find it very beneficial on your project - but don't be put off if languages aren't your thing! Try to learn at least a few basic phrases before starting your programme it s amazing how much a difference it can make even when it s only please, thank you etc.

11 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 11 of 13 If you haven t had much success in learning phrases before you go you still shouldn t worry it s often much easier when you are there. You ll soon find that you ve picked up the odd word and phrase and once you know one or two the rest tends to follow. Try to supplement any knowledge you do have with using other forms of communicating - sometimes you may need to think on your feet from and utilise all your initiative to get your point across. You will soon start to find that you re able to muddle through very successfully. DONATIONS Where possible please avoid giving donations direct to individuals. This might seem a strange thing for us to say that but we have found that giving donations can sometimes have unintended consequences, such as creating dependency and/or even causing frictions and disputes etc. If you would like to give a donation it is generally better to give the donation to the project, a group or organisation, the community etc rather than direct to an individual. This will also help to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from your gift. Please speak to your Project Coordinator for more information. Some volunteers have contacted their airline, and after explaining the purpose of their trip, they ve been given additional baggage allowance by the airline to allow them to take over equipment. If you are thinking of taking over some items with you why not give your airline a call and see what they can do for you. Please don t give cash donations where ever possible. If you would like to give a donation to a good cause then it is much better if you can purchase something that they will find useful. If you are considering giving money to a good cause please speak to us first, and if you would like us to, we will be happy to oversee the donation for you to ensure that the money is used as it was intended. Please speak to your Project Coordinator for more information. PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS On application for this programme we will ask you to provide us with a copy of your CV/Resume. Within your CV/Resume you should list and give details of any qualifications and/or experience relevant to your programme. In addition to your CV/Resume, we may also ask you to provide a Letter of Motivation giving explanation as to your reasons for wanting to take part in the programme and what you hope to get out of the experience. The information you will provide to us will go to form the basis on which the project will make their decision as whether or not to accept you. You will therefore need to provide these items to us in good time. You will only receive confirmation of being accepted on to your programme once we have received confirmation from the project that they are willing to take you. QUALIFICATIONS If you are one of the lucky ones and you already have a qualification, or if you have some prior experience, then it will help and you will certainly be able to put it to good use on your placement. If you have a qualification relevant to your programme please take a copy of your certification with you as proof. If you don t have any qualifications or previous experience then don t worry! If you don t have any qualifications or previous experience then don t worry! The whole idea of Travellers is to provide help and assistance wherever possible. HELP & GUIDANCE If you have any problems or, if you need any help or guidance, please don t hesitate to speak to your Supervisor and/or a member of staff at your project. We have had many volunteers over the years and the vast majority have a wonderful experience on their programme we have no doubt that you will also thoroughly enjoy your time on your project and in the country. You can also contact your Travellers In-Country Representative. Contact details are provided in your Country Fact File. Emergency contact details are also provided on the back of your Volunteer ID card. Alternatively please don t hesitate to contact your Project Coordinator in the UK. GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS The following rules and regulations should be read in conjunction with the terms and conditions of your programme. Code of Conduct It is very important that your behaviour and conduct is in keeping with that which is considered to be acceptable. The following list is not exhaustive but is given as a guideline to how you are expected to behave and conduct yourself whilst on your programme.

12 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 12 of 13 You Should: Behave appropriately, with co-operation and with consideration for one another. Treat everyone equally and with respect regardless of differing culture, ability, race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or social class. Remain mindful of cultural differences. Act in a manner which does not bring the project and / or Travellers into disrepute. Abide by the rules and regulations of the project. Take responsibility for your own safety and to look after yourself and your belongings, and to never put yourself at risk. Act in accordance with the law of the land. You Must Not: Damage or deliberately misuse any equipment / resources provided to you. This includes using equipment / resources responsibly i.e. avoiding wastage (e.g. turning off lights and water). Be under the influence of drugs or banned substances whilst on your programme. You must not be under the influence of alcohol whilst participating at your project this includes being hung-over from the night before! Attendance & Punctuality These are serious programmes, it takes a lot of different people giving their time and energy to arrange each programme, so please don t think that you can treat them casually You will be expected to stick to the schedule that s been arranged for you. You should make every effort to turn up in good time and to attend as scheduled. Naturally this does not apply if you re ill. See the section below on Sickness for more details. Taking Time Off If you would like to take a day off from your project You must first speak to your project and make a request for time off. When requesting time off make your request as early as possible, giving the project plenty of advance notice. This is very important as the project will need to time to reorganize the work, rearrange your schedule, and they may also need to arrange for someone to stand in for you whilst you are off. If your request is turned down you should accept the decision gracefully. The project won t turn down your request without good reason. If your request is turned down you should not continue to pursue the matter. If your request for leave is accepted you should inform your Travellers In-Country Representative. Please Note: You can only take time off from your project when you have received confirmation that your request has been accepted. Taking unauthorized time off and / or failing to turn up when scheduled, may lead to your programme being terminated without appeal and without recompense. Sickness If you are sick and unable to attend your programme Please inform your project as soon as possible. This is very important as the project will need to time to reorganize the work / activity, and they may also need to arrange for someone to stand in for you whilst you are off. And if they can t make alternative arrangements they may be forced to cancel the work / activity in which case they may need to let people know in advance.

13 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 13 of 13 Please also inform your Travellers In-Country Representative as soon as possible. This is important as they may need to liaise with your project. And of course, they will unable to help in anyway if they don t know that you are ill. As soon as you can, let your project know when you think you will be well-enough to come back this is important as it may take some time for all the necessary arrangements to be made ready for you to return to your project. Please note that if you persistently don t turn up due to illness, you may be asked to see and doctor and / or be required to produce a doctor s certificate confirming. VOLUNTEER FEEDBACK Please remember to keep in touch throughout your programme to let us know how you re getting on. NAME: Charlotte Phillips AGE: 23 PLACEMENT/COUNTRY: Care for elephants, Surin, Thailand 1) What experience do you feel you are gaining? I'm gaining hands on experience that I have never had before of looking after the elephants and their well being, also learning on a daily basis about these wonderful animals 2) What is the best thing about your placement so far? So many to choose from! Feeding baby Teng Mo, bathing the elephants in the river, feeding them! 3) Would you recommend this placement to anyone else? Yes! 4) What type of person do you think this placement would suit? An active and energetic person who's not afraid to get their hands dirty 5) What, if any, improvements could be made to the placement? None 6) Was there anything that you weren t told before your departure that you think future volunteers should know? Bring work gloves, also a curfew for noise is around 9pm so bring quiet things to do in the evenings 7) Can you describe a typical day? (e.g Start time, morning duties, lunch hours, afternoon duties, any other duties. ) 7am breakfast, 8am clean up enclosures 10am cut sugarcane, 11am walk the elephants, 12-2pm lunch, 2pm cut more cane or grass 3pm elephants go to enclosure, pm free time up until dinner FEEDBACK & KEEPING IN TOUCH Please remember to keep in touch throughout your programme to let us know how you re getting on. Where we ve asked you for your feedback, please do take some time out to let us know your thoughts whether it s simply an asking how you are getting on or if it involves filling out one of our feedback forms. When providing your feedback please your feedback to your Project Coordinator. You can also your feedback to us at: info@travellersworldwide.com When you ve been on your programme for approximately 2-3 weeks, we would really like to hear from you describing for us what a typical day in the life is like for you whilst on your programme. These reports are invaluable to us in that they enable us to continually expand and improve our projects, as well as being a source of additional information which can be very helpful to future volunteers. WHY YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US Feedback is extremely important to us as it is fundamental in helping us to develop our projects for both the short-term and long-term. Whether you have just arrived at your placement or are on your way to the airport to catch your flight home, if you have any piece of information no matter how small and insignificant it is please get in contact with us whether it s by phone, or post. It really does help!

14 Thailand Project Description Elephant Experience in Surin Page 14 of 13 We really do appreciate hearing from you so thank you very much! PHOTOS & VIDEOS If you take any photos and/or videos, and if you are able to them to us, we d love to see them. We d also be delighted to enter one or two into one of our competitions. The competitions are run throughout the year with regular draws taking place so there s a good chance of winning! Copyright TRAVELQUEST LIMITED. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be used, translated into another language, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of TRAVELQUEST LIMITED. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this document, TRAVELQUEST LIMITED assumes no responsibility for omissions and errors. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. TRAVELQUEST LIMITED reserves the right to revise any information contained in this document without prior notice. Questions or comment regarding this document or the project to which it relates should be directed to: Travellers Worldwide 2A Caravelle House, 17/19 Goring Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN12 4AP, England Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) info@travellersworldwide.com Web: