International Humanity Foundation

Co-Director

Hi I'm Sarah, I'm from Switzerland and I'm a financial advisor.
I have been in Chiang Rai, IHF center for more than 1 month.
I really would like to explain to everyone how special this opportunity is.
You will meet 5 smart, clever, funny, happy, intelligent and self-employed persons.
They don't need us,.. in this reality sometimes we need them and they can do whatever.
They would like to receive attention, affection, and time to show us all what they are able to do but at the same time remember, they are not able to ask for important things.
They feel that they already receive a lot and are always thankful for all that they can have at the center.
They are young men and women, they are proud and know that in order to secure a future they must and will continue to fight against many prejudices and against the ignorance of others, and with those who have achieved things more easily due to their advantages and financial stabilities. That's why they don't like to say thank you too much.
But if you thank them for all the amazing and wonderful things that they are able to do and to teach you, then they will be very grateful. They are very respectful and they have so much to give and share. You will be surprised to see how much they can give when they don't have much, they will share that little bit that they have with you. One face, one smile, one word here is able to open and melt the heart of anyone.
Whoever is going to have a voluntary experience should remember that this is their home, we are guests, we need to adapt ourselves for them. Only in this way that the young ones are able to open up to you, and allow you to participate in their lives and share with you the good and bad moments. Yes, sometimes there are some misunderstandings and some problems, but this happens in all the best families too. What these young ones need is someone that is able to demonstrate that they can take care of them, like a big, strange but lovely family.

Deanna, IHF Chiang Rai, Thailand.

At the start of the year I finished my university degree and thought it would be the perfect time to travel and do some volunteering work. I found an ad posting on my university website and was immediately drawn to doing the Work-Study Program in Chiang Rai. I liked the idea of not only volunteering in the centre but also getting hands-on experience working for an NGO and seeing how an organisation run by volunteers worked. The thing that attracted me to volunteering at Chiang Rai was the young ones who live here are from a Lahu Hilltribe village, an extremely marginalised group that I wanted to learn more about and understand the challenges they face.

I had done a small amount of volunteering work in Australia but had never undertook something like this. I always had an interest in international development and thought, if I don’t do this now then I will never do it! So I applied, was accepted and before I knew it I was on a plane to Thailand. I am now nearly two weeks into my volunteering and cannot believe how quickly the time has gone. Before I arrived I didn't know what to expect, luckily, everyone here has been welcoming & extremely kind. I am living with 5 incredible teenagers who are intelligent, funny, at times cheeky, but also caring. They look out for each other and I often find them looking out for me. We have had a lot of fun together, especially teaching guitar and playing music around the house. Music can work in such a special a way, as it has demonstrated to me that it can help to overcome language and communication barriers. My time so far has not been without its challenges, and getting to know each other has, of coarse, taken time, but that is all part of the experience.

I feel so lucky to have this opportunity and will miss everyone dearly when I have to go. I feel extremely fortunate to have meet these incredible young people.

Deanna, IHF Chiang Rai, Thailand.

At the start of the year I finished my university degree and thought it would be the perfect time to travel and do some volunteering work. I found an ad posting on my university website and was immediately drawn to doing the Work-Study Program in Chiang Rai. I liked the idea of not only volunteering in the centre but also getting hands-on experience working for an NGO and seeing how an organisation run by volunteers worked. The thing that attracted me to volunteering at Chiang Rai was the young ones who live here are from a Lahu Hilltribe village, an extremely marginalised group that I wanted to learn more about and understand the challenges they face.

I had done a small amount of volunteering work in Australia but had never undertook something like this. I always had an interest in international development and thought, if I don’t do this now then I will never do it! So I applied, was accepted and before I knew it I was on a plane to Thailand. I am now nearly two weeks into my volunteering and cannot believe how quickly the time has gone. Before I arrived I didn't know what to expect, luckily, everyone here has been welcoming & extremely kind. I am living with 5 incredible teenagers who are intelligent, funny, at times cheeky, but also caring. They look out for each other and I often find them looking out for me. We have had a lot of fun together, especially teaching guitar and playing music around the house. Music can work in such a special a way, as it has demonstrated to me that it can help to overcome language and communication barriers. My time so far has not been without its challenges, and getting to know each other has, of coarse, taken time, but that is all part of the experience.

I feel so lucky to have this opportunity and will miss everyone dearly when I have to go. I feel extremely fortunate to have meet these incredible young people.

I had volunteered a little before, but never for an actual NGO. When looking for possibilities in Asia, I found IHF and was inspired by the work it does for children and the local communities. I needed NGO work experience for my future and IHF seemed like a good choice, so I applied and was placed at Medan. I work on my international online tasks in the morning and early afternoon, then in the evenings, I help teach English to some of the classes. The center here offers additional education to supplement the lacking school system. On Fridays, I lead the Special Activities class that allows the children to experience things outside of standard curriculums, such as arts and crafts or cultural exchange programs. The center also visits TEP students who don’t attend the evening classes, but who have sponsors to help them with daily living and their school costs. The children are full of energy and always smiling and the volunteers enjoy being with them. In my short time here as a Work-Study Volunteer, I’ve learnt a lot about how an NGO works with it’s staff and community and skills that will be useful in my future.

I am Ilya Katrinnada from Singapore and I am a student at Yale-NUS College. Over the summer, I interned at the IHF Banda Aceh center in Indonesia as a work-study volunteer. Since I was in elementary school, I have been wanting to work at an international NGO that deals with poverty, and being there meant that my childhood dream had come true. I decided to apply for an Indonesian center because I can communicate in the local language, and also because I wanted a place to comfortably experience my first Ramadan (the Islamic month during which Muslims fast from dawn till dusk) outside of my home country. And also because Indonesia, for various reasons, has a special place in my heart. From teaching introductory sentences to kids as young as seven years of age and facilitating intellectual discussions amongst high school students, to receiving an Acehnese birthday bash involving flour, bird eggs and water from the drain, and smiling at passers-by while riding through the countryside en route to watching the sunset at the beach, my days were nothing short of amazing. My experience had taught me so much. Firstly, I learnt the intricacies of running an international NGO. My online tasks exposed me to what occurs behind the scenes. On the other hand, my at-center tasks showed me the importance of being spontaneous and flexible. Secondly, I learnt how to better engage with children, that is through the kind of fun and games they are familiar with. Thirdly, I learnt the value of community. There was a strong sense of community in Aceh, and this was portrayed every day when kids and volunteers from various ages and backgrounds walked through IHF’s gates. We taught each other and learnt from one another. We always had a good time together, and the more people there were, the merrier it was. To me, IHF was more than just a center – it was indeed a family. And the moment you decide to join us, you will immediately be welcomed with open arms.

I am a rising senior at a college in New York, United States, who is nearly finishing her volunteering time for the International Humanity Foundation in Bali, Indonesia.
At school, I am studying politics, with an international focus so traveling experiences are a huge supplement to my education. I decided to volunteer for IHF to learn more about the running of NGOs, live in a different part of the world, and contribute my time to the betterment of others.
IHF is an international NGO that has education centers (Indonesia) and children homes (Thailand, Kenya) where people can volunteer and donate money towards improving the lives of young ones in need. The IHF Bali location hosts activities and supplemental English, math and computer classes for locals in the neighboring areas. As a volunteer, I am awarded the opportunity to help teach these classes and host activities to have fun with the kids.
It has been an enjoyable experience to interact with so many sweet kids. Everyone in the community is so friendly, as it is impossible to walk past someone without expecting a greeting. I have learned that, despite cultural difference, the Indonesian children are very much similar to ones back in my country. Indonesian kids love to dance, sing, play around, and learn from volunteers, such as myself, and others of IHF. Overall, I feel that I have learned a lot from the experience and appreciate the chance to have lived in such a nice community in Bali.