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Visitors – Volunteers and Friends
In Bangkok and Chiang Dao, Makhampom’s doors are always open to visitors, whether local or travelers. It is impossible to predict who is around, but all are welcome. The Makhampom House headquarters works on office hours with nights often used for rehearsals. The Studio is usually just open for events, particularly on weekends with performance seasons. And Chiang Dao is a living community, so there is always a team there. But we are also a very mobile organization, so send as a message if you are planning to visit so the right people are there to host.
Volunteers
Makhampom is built upon generations of volunteers, with all of the directors having joined as volunteers, from 10 to 25 years ago. Amongst the 120 volunteers of Makhampom’s history are about 15 international volunteers, who have lived with us, worked with us, and occasionally suffered with us over the years. However, we have discovered that hosting international volunteers is not as simple as it would seem so while we value volunteers working with us, we are careful with making sure it will work for all involved.
Language is the major issue, as it is very difficult to work with Makhampom without Thai language. Skills and experience is the other point, as Makhampom is very strong in some areas but weak in others. And attitude is the other big issue, as volunteering needs a bucketful of patience, flexibility, self-sufficiency, adaptability, and humility to make it worthwhile. Having said all of that, if you are interested in volunteering with Makhampom, please send us an email and we can start chatting.
Here are some basic guidelines for volunteering with Makhampom:
• For students, trainees, young people, we invite you to first participate in the Study Tour as this is both
an opportunity to gain an understanding of Makhampom’s work as well as an immersion into the group’s
context, a chance to know each other and a way to show your commitment to Makhampom. This has been
an avenue for future volunteering roles.
• For experienced trainers, performers, visual artists, community workers, educators interested in
volunteering for short periods (up to a month), programs are developed based on what works best for all.
We welcome different areas of skill development, training, or hands-on projects that strengthen our staff,
volunteers, and communities. This is best suited to our Chiang Dao base, and would require a budget for
living expenses and for Makhampom hosting.
• For long-term internships, residencies, volunteer placements (1 month – 2 years), sponsored positions
(ie. Asialink, CUSO) can be sought based on key areas of development for Makhampom. These positions
need intensive training in Thai language to be effective. Potential areas include: training of theatre
producer/arts administrator, circus training, fundraising, English website administration, and alternative
energy/organic farmer.
Friends of Makhampom
As a participant of a Study Tour, Theatre Lab, performance tour, and collaborative project, you become trapped in the Makhampom web. So if you are ever in Thailand, a visit to the Makhampom House or a catch up at the Living Theatre in Chiang Dao is a must. In 2010, there will be a major reunion as part of our 30th Year anniversary, so stay tuned. And we are starting a quarterly e-Newsletter to keep you up to date with the madness of Makhampom.
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