LAOS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM-UPDATES AND APPLICATION
May 27, 2009
Program suspended Jan. 25, 2010
INDIGO THREADS
Thank
you for your interest in our small ‘hands on’ Organization. Indigo Threads is dedicated to the development and
support of educational opportunities for desperately poor children in southern Laos
rural villages.
Our successful week-long pilot Volunteer Program, April
21-28, 2009, included 3 diverse, interesting women from the United States,
Australia and Laos, all with a heart filled desire to give back to the
most vulnerable in Laos—the children.
As the Director, I find it vitally important for foreigners
visiting Laos to be able to experience ‘hands on’ ‘authentic’ Laotian rural
life, schools and village, one on one interaction with students, educators, village leaders, villagers and Government Education Departments. In doing so, my intent is to provide a
better understand of the encompassing meaning of poverty, it’s short and long
term effects, poverty reduction/rural development and how little it takes
‘to make a difference’ where it is sincerely needed.
Indigo Threads Volunteer Program is available during
specific times of the year. The
up-coming 2009 dates selected are as follows: September 9-17, September
29-October 8 and December
Please, note changes to the original Volunteer Program website’s
‘blog’ posting LAO VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, March 17, 2009.
---The 10-day Volunteer Program (10-nights accommodation)
has changed from a 7-day Program. The
Programs are scheduled over weekends giving ample time, on your own, to
discover southern Laos sightseeing attractions. Sightseeing, other interests and transportation can be provided
at your expense.
---The suggested donation to Indigo Threads Non-Profit
(501-3-C) Humanitarian Organization is $500.00 per person payable in advance or
on arrival. Pay Pal is available on our
website for your convenience.
---Meal allocation will include 2 group dinners as guests of
Indigo Threads at a local floating Mekong River restaurant. Otherwise, you are responsible for your own
meals. There are no cooking facilities
at Villa Indigo. A small microwave and
3 refrigerators are available. Drinking
water is provided at all times.
---Your guests are not permitted to take part in any of
Indigo Threads Programs, transportation, share your room or over stayed visits.
There are no exceptions.
---If your plans are to share a bedroom with a significant
other, please take note, both people must make application. Currently, only one bedroom would
accommodate 2 people sharing one bed.
---Cigarette smoking is allowed in the common area of the
house and outside. Considerate good
manners are expected. If you are a drug
user, do not bother to apply. Indigo
Threads will not jeopardize our excellent humanitarian position in Laos because
of your illegal decisions.
----Indigo Threads designates appropriate conservative dress
requirements---no BLUE jeans (at rural villages, schools, Government meetings),
no shorts, no halter-tops, no excessive cleavage, no bare stomach or buttock
area, no excessive jewelry (best left home), no excessive make-up and no
excessive perfume.
---Before you apply to Indigo Threads Volunteer Program,
please, visit our website, www.indigothreads.org reviewing our
Programs, read current and dated ‘blogs’ and view the many photos describing
our Program.
---Email me regarding specific interests, special
considerations or any other questions you may have, in helping you to have a
memorable rewarding experience with our Organization at
---Although we welcome your sincere desire to assistance our
Organization, Indigo Threads Volunteer Committee has the right to accept or
decline your application at their discretion.
---Indigo Threads Director has the right to remove a
participant from Villa Indigo and the Volunteer Program for inexcusable
offensive behavior. Donation will not
be returned.
Our
application is comparatively short.
Please, answer the questions with descriptive direct answers.
APPLICATION FORM
Name:___________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Country:_________________________________________________
Phone Number:___________________________________________
Email Address:____________________________________________
2nd Email
Address:_________________________________________
Primary Profession:________________________________________
Secondary Profession:_____________________________________
Age and Gender:__________________________________________
Marital Status:____________________________________________
Health Issues:_____________________________________________
Emergency Contact Information:
Name:___________________________________________________
Relationship:_____________________________________________
Phone Number:___________________________________________
Email Address:____________________________________________
Will you be traveling with travel Insurance?
If yes, Company and policy number?
(If unknown at this time, bring policy)
What date are you considering joining Indigo Thread Volunteer
Program?
Will you be traveling with a friend? A group of friends? Alone?
What attracted you to Indigo Threads Volunteer Programs?
Have you previously volunteered with any other International
Humanitarian Organizations?
Who? When? Where? Duties?
Have you previously visited a developing Country? Three most recent? Length of stay?
If Laos is one of the Countries
visited, do have friends or relatives in Laos?
Where?
What are your vocational strengths?
What are your personal reactions when you see/experience
extreme poverty?
What expectation do you have of Indigo Threads Volunteer
Program?
What personal rewards do you anticipate after completing our
Program?
How well do you think you can cope with the not so
convenient inconveniences Lao does not have available? Examples: Lack of toilets facilities in
rural area; uneven walking surfaces; motor vehicle and dirt pollution;
language barriers; unfamiliar, rudimentary transportation vehicles; food
sanitation; culture shock; currency exchange calculations; others. (Please, give this question some thought.)
How would you handle this situation as a volunteer working
with Indigo Threads Volunteer Program?
While visiting a primary school, one student is bulling other
student’s. (Yes, bullies are an
international problem.)
Thank you for the time you have taken to complete our Volunteer Program application, allowing us to get to know you better. We are looking forward to providing you with a special life changing experience with Indigo Threads Laos Education Support and Village Development US Non-Profit (501-3-C)
Humanitarian Organization.
Sabaidee,
Mary D. Meyer
Indigo Threads/President-Executive Director
mdmeyer@indigothreads.org
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