The GSC Buddhist Immersion Program allows volunteers to experience temple life and the rich cultural traditions embedded in Thai society while contributing through teaching English in Thailand to novice monks in a temple school. Volunteers observe the daily routine of the temple while joining in on meditations, chantings, or ritual celebrations.
Teach English Abroad in Thailand
Volunteers in the Buddhist Immersion Program have the unique opportunity to fully involve themselves with temple life while serving the local community. Buddhist temples in Thailand have traditionally served as places of wor
ship and education. Therefore, opportunities exist for participants to teach basic and conversational English to young novice monks in a temple school. The novices who study at the temples GSC works with often come from low-income families and go to the temple schools to study standard subjects like Thai, math, sciences and English. Thailand volunteers provide a valuable service to students in need. Teaching English is essential for the success of these young monks who often receive all their educational services through the temples. Typically they spend a year or two as monks and then return to their towns or villages as secular citizens. In addition to giving back to their local hosts, volunteers in the Buddhist Immersion program have the opportunity to converse with monks and gain valuable insight into Buddhist culture. Participants in this English teaching program have the option of living with a local Thai host family near the temple or at accommodation on the temple grounds.
Learn Meditation Technique in a Thai Wat
For longer term Buddhist Immersion volunteers, GSC partners with a temple that houses close to 300 
monks and novices. Placement at this temple gives volunteers a unique opportunity to fully involve themselves in the day to day rituals of a Buddhist temple. Thailand volunteers wake up with the monks at approximately 4:30 am and have the opportunity to observe or participate in the morning chantings and meditation. During the day, volunteers will be led in 2 to 3 meditation sessions by a bilingual monk before the evening meditation. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to teach English to the monks. Accommodations at the temple are very basic with participants sleeping on mats and blankets with a mosquito net. Additionally, in the tradition of Buddhist temples, only two meals per day are served.
