Thailand Volunteer Profile
Nina Cass
Nina Cass is a 21 year old Australian and volunteered on the IVHQ Thailand community development program for 6 weeks. Prior to volunteering with IVHQ in Thailand, Nina had volunteered in the Papa New Guinea and said she really enjoyed volunteering as a unique travel experience. Nina arrived in Bangkok and then onto Chiang Rai with no problems at all, she was picked up from the airport and taken to the volunteer accommodation. Nina had only been on location for 2 weeks when we spoke with her and she had settled into her new surroundings well, saying “it feels like I have been here for months”. The other volunteers were welcoming and helpful when she arrived and quickly felt like part of the family. Nina suggests volunteers need to be self motivated, have initiative and bring a positive attitude when volunteering. Nina said it was important to her to receive answers to her questions in a timely manner to help her organise her trip “the support from IVHQ was fantastic and I have recommended IVHQ to my friends back home interested in volunteer experiences”. Volunteering requires patience as everything takes time and you need to be able to go with the flow of local life. Nina loves her teaching placement and enjoys making connections with the locals by chatting in English with them. “This is an amazing adventure and I enjoy learning more about myself through this experience. It certainly makes me appreciate what I have back home!” Nina would recommend volunteering for a good length of time so you can really integrate into the local ethos and culture of the community.