Thailand Coastal Conservation Short Term Internship

Overview

You will be providing hands on assistance with the conservation efforts of Phang Nga’s coastal ecosystems as part of a team of GVI interns and researchers. The aim of this will be the development of your practical skills and environmental knowledge, which will strengthen your CV and university application, while providing a sustainable impact on the ground. The base lies in the beautiful coastal province of Phang Nga, surrounded by stunning scenery and amazing wildlife.



There are thee aspects to this comprehensive internship; community (primarily teaching), flora and fauna biodiversity and animal care. While on base you will gain insight into the issues facing conservation efforts in the region and the measures GVI and its partners are taking in response. You will also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Thai culture through various community initiatives.

The interns will be assigned leadership responsibilities and weekly assignments as part of their training. They will also be assigned a staff mentor who will monitor their training and progress throughout their stay.

After a successful internship, qualifying candidates may be given the opportunity to work for GVI or selected partner organisations in Thailand, or in other countries around the world where GVI operate. Over 50% of GVI staff are recruited from our alumni database. Qualification for positions is at the sole discretion of Global Vision International.

Please note our conservation efforts on this expedition are seasonal so projects will vary throughout the course of the year.

 

Highlights include

This internship will greatly strengthen your CV or university application if you choose to pursue a career in conservation.

If you want to continue to travel after the conclusion of your internship our hub provides the perfect starting point for a South East Asian Adventure! You can visit “James Bond island”, made famous by the 1974 film “The Man with the Golden Gun; go diving of the coast in some of the most stunning reefs in the world, explore Bangkok or help with environmental conservation and community development and teach local children about the beauty of the natural world and the importance of conserving it.

Program Details

Life on the Internship

Your day to day activities will be a range of conservation and community development, environmental awareness and field work. Your work will aide sustainable development in the region.

The specifics of your work will vary greatly, depending on the needs of our partners, the community and the ecosystem. These needs change seasonally. You can expect to get involved in anything from environmental research and tourist education and management (Nov – March), terrestrial work such as mangrove research & planting and biodiversity surveying in nearby National Parks (May – Oct), or turtle research and conservation, beach cleans and community education classes which take place throughout the year.

As your internship is shorter than usual you will be working on tasks that both develop you and meet the needs in the area while staying in time with your internship duration.

You will have an opportunity to explore the area during your off time and to travel further once your internship is done!

Field Conditions & Accommodation Upgrades

Our base in Phang Nga is small but comfortable with shared facilities, with enough space for people to relax together. If you would prefer to stay in private accommodation while on this project, this location does offer upgrades. Contact us for more information, or mention to your Country Expert who will be able to assist you.

Project Details

Our work in Phang Nga helps local conservation and research efforts as well as builds environmental awareness. Our goal is to sustain the long-term conservation of marine and terrestrial systems by using a three-tiered approach:

• Contribute to scientific understanding through research


• Educate and inform local people about conservation issues


• Building the capacity and desire of local people to operate sustainably.

How this project makes a difference:

Your presence as an intern will help to protect some of the world’s most beautiful forests and beaches. By adopting a holistic conservation approach, we are also educating the community on local environmental issues. This means dealing not only with research, but also the social and economic pressures that are leading to the destruction of Southern Thailand’s beautiful forests and beaches.

*During national holidays and festival periods participants will have the opportunity to get involved with community celebrations and activities.

Phang Nga's short, mid, and long-term objectives

All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualize their contribution to the UN SDGs.

Upon arrival to base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. You will learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.

Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

What's Included

What's Not Included

Exploration

While your time on this short term internship is limited, it will not be all work. You will have periods where you will be left to explore your surroundings and take in the amazing country that is Thailand. Below is some information on trips and travel options in Thailand.

Optional Side Trips

There are numerous islands, beaches, parks and caves to visit and many can be done in the space of a weekend. Be sure to ask our field staff about what they suggest you check out during your time off or after your internship.

The  Khao Sok National Park is definitely worth visiting. The stunning Cheow Larn Lake and 740km² of rainforest, are also must-sees. Thailand is home to elephants, leopards, tigers, deer, monkeys, lizards, birds, and the Rafflesia  – the largest flowers in the world, 90cm across with a unique aroma…of rotting flesh!

Day trips are most likely your best option during your limited time on this short internship. They are great for a quick sample of a park’s delights. Trek through the jungle, kayak around Cheow Larn lake visiting spectacular limestone caves, swim in idyllic waterfalls or just relax and see what you can spot!

The popular tourist spot, Khao Lak is a great place to find souvenirs and mingling with locals. There are plenty of places to shop, eat and get a great massage. If you get tired of spending money thee are amazing beaches right there.

The Similan and Surin Island groups, both under the protection of their Marine National Park status, are home to some of the best diving and snorkelling spots in the region. You can take a day trip, stay on a live aboard boat or even stay overnight on the islands themselves.

Phuket Island, about 90mins south of Khao Lak and renowned for its colourful night life is also a great stop-off for divers and snorkelers, but if you’re not the diving type you can explore Phang Nga Bay by speed-boat or sea kayak, stopping off at James Bond Island, made famous by the 1974 film ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’ before visiting the floating Sea Gypsy village. Phuket is also very popular with surfers, playing host to annual surfing competitions, though there is a great ‘secret spot’ near Khao Lak…if you’re interested GVI staff will show you the way!

Neighbouring Krabi Province is a treasure trove for intrepid travellers; from the crystal clear Emerald Pond to the epic 1,237-step climb up to the Buddha image and stunning views at the Tiger Temple Cave to the enchanted scenery and pools of Than Bok Khoranee National Park to the shopping and late night bars of Ao Nang to the chilled out beaches of Koh Lanta Island to the parties of Phi Phi, where ‘The Beach’ was filmed – the options are truly endless!

Further Travelling Opportunities

Thailand is a country with a whole range of fantastic places that you could visit. If you have the time and budget, you could consider going to see the following; the waterfalls of the picturesque Khao Yai National Park, the mountain town of Chiang Mai, the local tribes of Nam Province, the beaches of Ko Tao and Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park, the golden kingdom of Ayuthaya, the temples and nightlife of Bangkok and many more…