In this article, Kristal shares her experience of volunteering at The Mercy Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, which has given her a deep connection with Thai culture and a chance to experience local festivals and traditions.

For the past year, I’ve been volunteering at the Mercy Centre. Every Tuesday morning, I walk in not knowing what to expect. It’s both daunting and exhilarating. The only certainty is seeing the smiling, laughing faces of three-year-olds. By the end of the day, I might have learned a few new Thai words, discovered something new about Thai culture, taught the children a new word, or had them asking for more.

The Mercy Centre is an NGO located in the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok. It’s deeply connected with the community and has been working to improve lives for almost 40 years. The centre provides a home for 200 orphaned or homeless children, legal aid for children in need, an HIV/AIDS healthcare program, 23 preschools, and a community centre.

I connected with the Mercy Centre through the Muskoka Foundation, a platform for people wanting to volunteer and use their skills meaningfully while traveling. Finding the right organization is one of the hardest parts of wanting to volunteer while you travel. Before I left New Zealand, I knew I’d be in Thailand for an extended period, and the thought of buying into a volunteer opportunity wasn’t appealing or feasible. By partnering with the Muskoka Foundation, I connected with a trusted organization and skipped some of the hard work.

At Mercy, I’ve been teaching preschool children English and assisting with funding research and proposals. My background in social work and working with people who have experienced abuse and trauma has been beneficial for my volunteer role. However, my knowledge of child development and the impact of poverty on children’s lives has expanded through my interactions with the children and staff at Mercy. In many ways, I feel the Mercy Centre has given me more than I can give back.

Before this trip to Thailand, I had traveled for about five months over a few years in Thailand. I felt I had some grasp of Thai culture, enough to know it was a country I loved and wanted to return to. The most rewarding experiences during those months of travel were the times I spent talking and interacting with the locals. Now I see what I was missing! Incorporating volunteering into my travels has provided me with many opportunities to experience Thai culture in-depth, learn some of the language, and have a richer experience.

While at the Mercy Centre, I’ve been able to celebrate festivals in a way no other traveler would. One day in late November, I arrived at the preschool to find most of the children dressed in traditional clothes, some with their hair and makeup done, laughter everywhere, and the chatter of excited children. It wasn’t just an average day – it was Loy Krathong Day! Loy Krathong is a traditional Buddhist festival thanking the water goddess for her blessings, and a key part is releasing small decorated floating offerings known as Krathongs. This festival has been one of my most memorable days in Thailand. It would have been hard to miss for the average traveler, with Krathongs on sale all over the city and crowded waterways. But for me, I experienced Loy Krathong on a deeper level, dancing and singing with the children, parading with them and their Krathongs, and watching as they gently released them into a paddling pool. Watching the children and teachers celebrate at school was like a window into Thai culture.

Volunteering while you travel can be hugely rewarding. I encourage you to find something that fits your skills. Contact the Muskoka Foundation to discuss your options. If you’re going to be in Bangkok, contact the Mercy Centre. They take on many volunteers every year and always need more help. You don’t have to volunteer long-term like I have; you can find shorter-term projects. Every day I volunteer, I learn more, connect more with the children and staff, and give more.