"The Stranded": Highlighting the plight of expats unable to return to Thailand; #3 Charity workers and volunteers

[webfact]

"The Stranded": Highlighting the plight of expats unable to return to Thailand; #3 Charity workers/Volunteers/ Positive contributors to Thailand

 

File photo: REUTERS

 

Today Thaivisa continues our series of articles about people who are desperate to get back to their lives, loved ones and beneficial activities in Thailand but who are stranded abroad. 

 

Recently we published a story about one expat who went back to his birthplace earlier in the year then found himself unable to leave the UK. We asked for other people in similar situations to come forward and share their stories. 

 

We continue to be overwhelmed with replies from people who want to be heard.

 

Some are angry at the way they have been treated and question the attitude of the Thai authorities to people who have been helpful, positive and giving to their Thai hosts.

 

One such group are the large number of charitable volunteers who have striven to help Thailand in both official and semi-official capacities. Their help was courted and appreciated, now they feel unwanted, even discarded.

 

One is a coordinator of many charitable works who is lucky not to be stranded himself but whose wife was locked-out resulting in considerable expense. Another is a retired professor who gave not just his expertise but his salary to the less fortunate of the kingdom. 

 

He is now stranded in Switzerland when he ought to be continuing his good work in Thailand. He thinks Thailand has "lost it".

 

While highlighting the situations of these people and many others like them, we intend to take their stories forward to Thaivisa contacts in the upper echelons of the Thai government.

 

Sometimes trying to enact change with Thai officialdom can seem like bashing one's head against a brick wall for nothing. But in this writer's experience change can be forthcoming. It sometimes takes time and is tied up with Thais not losing face. 

 

When Thais are given space to reflect, and, frankly, when they can present changes as ideas emanating from themselves and not outsiders, then much needed improvements and alterations in policy can follow.

 

This strategy can work wonders!

 

Here is the story of Mr G:

 

"There are many volunteers working under charitable foundations who  have “at no cost” to Thailand served the community with projects and assistance in very many fields. 

 

"I was fortunate to have not been (travelling abroad) fundraising for the many projects to assist Thai families and communities, but my wife, a foreigner, was not so lucky.

 

"It took 7 months and $8,000 to get her home. (We have lived here full time for over 26 yrs). That is money we didn’t have! 

 

"We have, like many of the foundations, so many long term volunteers who are stranded overseas where they have no home, work, school or provision for their family. 

 

"Sadly most of their visas have already expired and they will, on top of the exorbitant cost of returning, need to start the whole visa and work permit process again.

"As it is, even long term foreign volunteers and charity workers have a challenging pathway to legitimacy, with massive reporting and limitations due to the suspicious nature of the immigration and labor departments and in many cities are being refused work permits unless they register and pay tax on income which they raise from donors to support themselves while helping Thai communities."

 

Mr G pulled few punches in his views about the authorities. He continued:

 

"It doesn’t need to be expressed that the general sentiment from these very committed volunteers is that Thailand wants the money we spend helping people but they don't seem to care about those who do good for their people! 

"The Thai government really needs to rethink their public image, their supposed honoring of people who help others and also need to work on ending their fear of all things foreign".

 

Website "volunteerworld.com" lists dozens of opportunities to help both needy people as well as animals in distress and environmental conservation projects. They say this is a way to enjoy the country and give back at the same time and offer ways to help in such diverse places as Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Koh Samui.

 

Many of these are now locked out of the programs the top ten of which listed on their site include working as volunteers at elephant sanctuaries, with animal rehabilitation, marine conservation, childcare, dog and cat rescue and the empowerment of women in society.

 

Other programs involve teaching in monasteries and schools, clearing up beach pollution and supporting the medical and nursing communities.

 

There are many sites like them and all are hamstrung in getting existing volunteers back on their books after foreign trips or adding such needed new blood to programs that, due to the dire economic situation, are in even greater need of outside help than they were before the devastating pandemic struck.

 

Finally a man who feels hard done by when he could still be contributing to Thailand is Professor H.

 

He said:

 

"I am stranded in Zurich. I am a professor at Chulalongkorn University. 

 

"I can no longer enter the country. As a 73-year old, I have been working for this institution, the leading university of Thailand, for 16 years in a row, for a symbolic compensation, which incidentally, I have donated to orphans in Thailand for years. 

 

"I am currently doing what I can to look after my two doctoral students online".

 

His final stark and poignant message to the authorities who have placed hoops to jump through and a whole range of difficulties to making it back to the country where he has done so much good is this:

 

"Thailand has lost its mind!"

 

RELATED:

"The Stranded": Highlighting the plight of expats unable to return to Thailand; #2 Retirees

 

"The Stranded": Thaivisa highlights the plight of expats unable to return to Thailand: #1: Teachers

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-19

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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[Somtamnication]

Time for expats living or are trying to return to understand that we are at the bottom of the totem pole. I wish it weren't so, but reality "trumps" everything else here. Good luck to us and you all.

[darksidedog]

As someone who spends a lot of time doing voluntary work, but who receives very little thanks from the Thai authorities I understand how these people feel. I nearly went home in March but thankfully decided at the last minute not to.

I don't think the Thais are being deliberately obstructive, it is more that they have so little realisation of what is going on that they can't coordinate themselves properly to sort the mess out.

Good luck to everyone who is stranded.

[Pravda]

When is sexpats turn?

[jackdd]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

income which they raise from donors to support themselves

They put money which was donated in their own pocket? That's not volunteering, but working, could also be embezzlement if the donors aren't informed about it.

[sanuk711]

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Sometimes trying to enact change with Thai officialdom can seem like bashing one's head against a brick wall for nothing. But in this writer's experience change can be forthcoming. It sometimes takes time and is tied up with Thais not losing face.

So its all down to Thailand losing face.......

why do you not do an article on what all the neighboring countries are doing so we can compare--Like Cambodia --you have to get the visa you have to get the same certificates also paying them $us2,000 to enter for the one test they do on you, you don't have to do the 14 days --but if any one person on that plane has a positive result then its a MONTH shut down for everyone 2 weeks in the hotel $us60 a day--2 weeks self isolate .

Also

All foreign travelers arriving in Cambodia will need to present proof of health insurance valued at a minimum of $50,000 and make a deposit of $us3,000 with a designated commercial bank, which will cover payments for any Covid-19-related services while they are in the country, according to a Health Ministry statement dated Thursday.

• Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes 
• Pay a deposit of $us2,000 upon arrival at airports for mandatory COVID-19 testing and potential treatment services   
•    
•    Watched BBC program last night "Divided Britain" where you have city's with rules -Closure of all bars etc----20 min away from City's with different rules. What a mess--with nearly 45,000 dead--I bet they wish that it all came down to having a government with a problem of loosing face. One thing that came across loudly in that debate figures was that the majority wanted it to be tougher. Like New Zealand --with some of the strictest rules--who have just reelected the sitting government on their policy.

This is a world wide Pandemic so there will be a minority of people who miss out--isn't it the same in any like wise situation.

Edited October 19, 2020 by sanuk711

[thaistocks]

Everything is a balance. Its always about trade offs. If you want 100% safe roads or 100% safe airplane trips etc...,its impossible. Thailand seem to have chosen on aiming at 100% no CV19 virus...at a tremendous cost in all kinds of different ways, many never reported on.  Many feel Thailand overdid it with its strictest/overzealous zero aim of CV19. They achieved it for now, but at a very great price just started!  As the economy took a tremendous hit while tourists dwindled down to 0 and decimated it to the core and more not least as these letters who.  Its always a balancing act "guns vs. butter", as they teach in basic econ. 101.  Its like the sad joke of two doctors coming out of the operating room, the patient's family anxiously asks how did it go?  The doctors respond, "well the operation was successful but the patient died".  Also Cambodia is hardly example-platory milestone.

[vandeventer]

Put a vote to the Thai people and stop scaring them with covid-19. Thailand needs their friends and family back as this is what makes this country strong.

[spoon1967]

I arrived in Thailand on the 26th Feb, I spent the first week my son, visiting his school and family (I'm now divorced), my plan was to spend the second week in Pattaya with friends, pop back to see my son for 3 days (in Loei) and have the last couple of days in BKK, before returning to work in the GCC.

 

Up to the day I began my trip (25th Feb), things were looking like they could go bad, but I got to BKK no problem.  While in Pattaya (on the 12th March) my return flight was cancelled via BAH, I re-routed via KUL with Air Asia, and managed to get to work 10 hours before the borders closed in that country, cutting my trip short by a week, cost me an extra £500, which was worth it to save my job.

 

The point I'm making is that anyone with any logic thinking, not to disrespect anyone - especially volunteers, families etc, could of taken steps to return, or not leave Thailand around that time, barring those who had compassionate reasons of course. 

 

This is thread 3 on this subject, and it seems like most of the return issues could have been avoided by those people not leaving Thailand, or returning earlier, some took a chance and lost, yes it's frustrating but it's not Thailand's fault, yes it's annoying but there's a World Pandemic going on.

 

Don't think that I'm being unsympathetic, I usually visit my son every 2-3 months, I've not seen him (except video chat) now for 7 months, and it's killing me, yes I could travel, but I'm concerned that I may get stranded IN Thailand and lose my job, I'm just hoping things improve soon, for everyone's sake, including those Thai's who rely on tourists.

 

 

[SymS]

"I am a professor at Chulalongkorn University". Shouldn't he already be allowed to return since he must have a work permit, and this is a public university?

[Benmart]

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

As someone who spends a lot of time doing voluntary work, but who receives very little thanks from the Thai authorities I understand how these people feel. I nearly went home in March but thankfully decided at the last minute not to.

I don't think the Thais are being deliberately obstructive, it is more that they have so little realisation of what is going on that they can't coordinate themselves properly to sort the mess out.

Good luck to everyone who is stranded.

I don't believe any of this "deliberately obstructive". I tend to think it is a lack of knowledge, priority and ego on the part of those "unqualifed uniforms" calling the shots for the last 6 years.

[grantbkk]

I smell a Pulitzer with all of these human interest stories but could someone take the time to report some breaking news. 
Most of the alerts I receive from Thai Visa are from day old newspaper articles or from 24 hour earlier from online news sources. 
 

[gamini]

Australians and many others can't even return to their own country. I have far more sympathy for them than foreigners trying to return to Thailand

[maddermax]

The authorities are stupid. We retired expats are providing the bulk of funding for the country right now. 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

"The Thai government really needs to rethink their public image, their supposed honoring of people who help others and also need to work on ending their fear of all things foreign".

Thailands history and present mentality shows they care nothing for foreigners, only their money.

[madmen]

17 minutes ago, gamini said:

Australians and many others can't even return to their own country. I have far more sympathy for them than foreigners trying to return to Thailand

Why? Flights to oz after the lockdown have been plentiful  flights to Thailand have been zero for non married expats. Weird logic 

Edited October 19, 2020 by madmen

[connda]

I'd have more sympathy for these programs, but honestly?  When I see so called volunteer organizations charging "volunteers" significant sums of money on order to volunteer and freely give of their time and energy - I want to throw up.

So now a "volunteer", if allowed to return, will need to run the Thai regulatory gauntlet, pay for all the additional charges ranging from special insurance to special airline fares to special medical tests to special quarantine hotels, and then once they arrive shell out the equivalent of $200 to $1000 per week for the special opportunity to volunteer? 
Really?  What a racket.  How do I start my own?

[metisdead]

An off topic post about music lyrics has been removed. 

[Seeall]

22 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailands history and present mentality shows they care nothing for foreigners, only their money.

Are you talking about BG's ?

[sambum]

7 hours ago, jackdd said:

They put money which was donated in their own pocket? That's not volunteering, but working, could also be embezzlement if the donors aren't informed about it.

What also astounds me is the CEO "compensation" among charities in the United Kingdom alone - CEO's in the US of A get much, much more!

 

Charity	CEO salary (£)	CEO name
Cancer Research UK	240,000	Harpal Kumar
Macmillan Cancer Support	170,000	Ciarán Devane
NSPCC	162,000	Peter Wanless
Oxfam	124,000	Mark Goldring

Also, the amount that some celebrities get for their services:-

 

 

"During filming for the show Dispatches, I’m a Celeb contestant Caitlyn Jenner along with football manager Harry Redknapp were both offered and accepted large sums of money to back a dummy charity, called Cleaning Up Plastic Pollution in Africa (Cuppa).

Agents who book in the celebrities told the show that Harry Redknapp would cost £15,000 for him to do one post on Instagram and an extra £5,000 for a photoshoot."

 

Edited October 19, 2020 by sambum

[connda]

Just now, connda said:

I'd have more sympathy for these programs, but honestly?  When I see so called volunteer organizations charging "volunteers" significant sums of money on order to volunteer and freely give of their time and energy - I want to throw up.

So now a "volunteer", if allowed to return, will need to run the Thai regulatory gauntlet, pay for all the additional charges ranging from special insurance to special airline fares to special medical tests to special quarantine hotels, and then once they arrive shell out the equivalent of $200 to $1000 per week for the special opportunity to volunteer? 
Really?  What a racket.  How do I start my own?

I truly believe that people who volunteer have their hearts in the right place.  But when you economically feed so-called "volunteer" organizations by paying them a fee  in order to provide free services to the host country which doesn't give a rip about your services, or for that matter, doesn't care about you as a human being either.  Why?  Why do that? That's the definition of insanity in my book. 

I've volunteered on and off throughout my life. Never have I had to pay money to give of my time and expertise.  And never have I volunteered in a county like Thailand that has little but disrespect and loathing for foreign individuals who come to help the needy and down-trodden within their country and society.  Why is that?  My guess is that they don't care.  Culturally, the needy and down-trodden are viewed as having bad karma and thus are deserving of their unfortunate state.  If they have bad karma it's their own problem why should a Thai person intercede and help?  Why would anyone but a foreigner want to help them? Foreigners are crazy and a danger to Thailand's national security to boot, so they think.  So Thais neither appreciate the plight of the needy nor the compassionate, selfless volunteering of foreigners. 

If someone really wants to volunteer check out the likes of the Peace Corp or similar organization that don't hold their hands out expecting a sum of money so that you can provide them with your services to help a needy third party.

And my suggestion to those who wish to help others?  Find a country where your time and energy are appreciate by the government.  Thailand is not that country. 

[kingofthemountain]

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

Put a vote to the Thai people and stop scaring them with covid-19. Thailand needs their friends and family back as this is what makes this country strong.

You could be surprised

i am pretty sure most of the Thais people are not at the moment for an opening of the borders

[2530Ubon]

There are so many agents processing 'volunteer' visas - literally thousands of them with prices ranging from 25k-65k depending on length of time/agent chosen.

 

If they insisted that those who bought one of those visas contributed a little their time each week/month, there would be no need to bring outside help in.

 

The problem is when they insist on volunteering full time - there aren't many people who can do that. There are lot's of people who work remotely/online for foreign companies and would gladly give up a few hours to volunteer locally in exchange for a visa.

[kingofthemountain]

1 hour ago, maddermax said:

The authorities are stupid. We retired expats are providing the bulk of funding for the country right now. 

i am afraid you greatly overestimate the weight of the retired expats contribution to Thailand global gdp

[connda]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

There are many sites like them and all are hamstrung in getting existing volunteers back on their books after foreign trips or adding such needed new blood to programs that, due to the dire economic situation, are in even greater need of outside help than they were before the devastating pandemic struck.

Correct me if I'm wrong.  But these "paid to volunteer" programs are run by people who depend on the cash inflow from the volunteer fees in order to provide themselves with income?  Correct?  So yeah.  I can understand why they are freaking out.  Their cash cows can no longer enter the country and they themselves have no income in the foreseeable future unless they solicit donations the old fashion way.

As a qualified instructor of both English and computer technology I've offered by services for free to Thai schools before, the only stipulation being that the school provide a work permit.  I've never found a taker.  Not even any interest.  Which tells me a lot about the actual needs of Thailand as well as its culture.  And I sure as heck am not going to pay a middle-man "charity" to provide them with volunteer teacher services. 

Anyway, they should make sure those with families as well as retirees with assets enter the country before so-called volunteers are allowed back in imho.

[Kenchamp]

They are trying to keep the virus out so i totally understand why they won't allow foreign nationals in unless they have a Thai spouse or child.

Yes there will be cases of hardship and of people who maybe could be let in but i don't want the floogates open and the virus spreading here like it is in europe or america.

 

Wait for a vaccine and then let them in.

[kingofthemountain]

1 hour ago, connda said:

I'd have more sympathy for these programs, but honestly?  When I see so called volunteer organizations charging "volunteers" significant sums of money on order to volunteer and freely give of their time and energy - I want to throw up.

So now a "volunteer", if allowed to return, will need to run the Thai regulatory gauntlet, pay for all the additional charges ranging from special insurance to special airline fares to special medical tests to special quarantine hotels, and then once they arrive shell out the equivalent of $200 to $1000 per week for the special opportunity to volunteer? 
Really?  What a racket.  How do I start my own?

The first question to ask is does Thailand need foreign volunteers?

 

i mean there is some problems to solve here in Thailand, but what are exactly

the problems that the Thai authorities or Thai private organisations can not handle

with Thai people?

 

If you look at the problem on this side, for the Thai authorities having to count on foreign volunteer from abroad

in Thailand to take care of Thai problems for the benefit of the Thai people is a huge lost of face for Thailand, Thai people

and particularly the Thai authorities

 

[kingofthemountain]

38 minutes ago, connda said:

I truly believe that people who volunteer have their hearts in the right place.  But when you economically feed so-called "volunteer" organizations by paying them a fee  in order to provide free services to the host country which doesn't give a rip about your services, or for that matter, doesn't care about you as a human being either.  Why?  Why do that? That's the definition of insanity in my book. 

I've volunteered on and off throughout my life. Never have I had to pay money to give of my time and expertise.  And never have I volunteered in a county like Thailand that has little but disrespect and loathing for foreign individuals who come to help the needy and down-trodden within their country and society.  Why is that?  My guess is that they don't care.  Culturally, the needy and down-trodden are viewed as having bad karma and thus are deserving of their unfortunate state.  If they have bad karma it's their own problem why should a Thai person intercede and help?  Why would anyone but a foreigner want to help them? Foreigners are crazy and a danger to Thailand's national security to boot, so they think.  So Thais neither appreciate the plight of the needy nor the compassionate, selfless volunteering of foreigners. 

If someone really wants to volunteer check out the likes of the Peace Corp or similar organization that don't hold their hands out expecting a sum of money so that you can provide them with your services to help a needy third party.

And my suggestion to those who wish to help others?  Find a country where your time and energy are appreciate by the government.  Thailand is not that country. 

It seems voluntering was a way to get a visa for a lot of them who didn't fill the requirments (Age. finances...)

for a visa in relation with their real situation in the country.

 

[connda]

6 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

i am afraid you greatly overestimate the weight of the retired expats contribution to Thailand global gdp

We keep hearing that.  So point us to the statistics showing how little we contribute.

My guess is that the expat community as a whole who still reside in the country provide more in support of the Thai GDP than the hair-brained STV scheme is going to bring in over and equal amount of time.  Most of us are bringing upwards of 500T to 1M THB into the country in the form of foreign currency per year.  Given the entire community that isn't chump change. 

[fangless]

30 minutes ago, connda said:

As a qualified instructor of both English and computer technology I've offered by services for free to Thai schools before, the only stipulation being that the school provide a work permit.  I've never found a taker.  Not even any interest.

I sympathise with you but I think the problem there is that the WP system requires the sponsor to pay for the WP and then pay the employee (volunteer) a fixed salary per month depending on nationality and you pay the related Tax, Catch 22!
How the so called “Volunteer Visa works I have no idea apart from it seems to be a way of paying a lot for a visa/extension to do nothing when you do not meet the criteria for other visa(s)/extensions!

Edited October 19, 2020 by fangless