Volunteer Essentials
Acomodation and meals
Accommodation is provided in family homes. Volunteers become part of the community, sharing meals, stories, and traditions.
Three meals a day are provided, cooked with local ingredients. Volunteers often share meals with their host family.
What we look for in volunteers
A spirit of openness, respect, and curiosity.
Willingness to adapt to simple living conditions.
Motivation to contribute skills and learn from the community.
Basic English communication (no need for teaching certificate, but enthusiasm is essential).
What you gain
Hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and community development.
A deeper understanding of Lahu culture and way of life. Friendships and memories that last a lifetime.
The knowledge that your contribution supports a community building a sustainable future.
Program cost
The program cost includes a organisation fee and is the program cost Organisation fee:
150 euros (paid to book your placement)
Program cost: 2 weeks- 410 euros/ 1 person. This contribution includes:
• Accommodation with a host family
• Three daily meals
• Program coordination and support
• Contribution to community development projects
Family discounts are available — contact us for more information.
SUPPORT US
Support CAFE LAHU
Your support helps the Lahu community preserve its culture, protect the environment, and build a better future.
Every contribution brings us closer to a sustainable future.
Aw pon ui ja - Thank you!!!
Donate
DONATE and support CAFE LAHU’s programs.
• Regenerative agriculture
• Education and Ecological awareness
• Water infrastructure
• Indigenous culture
• Women’s leadership
As a donor, you will receive:
A personalized thank-you from the Community and updates on the project’s progress.
Aw pon ui ja - Thank you!!!
Corporate collaborations
Join us to drive social and environmental change.
We offer partnerships through project funding, corporate volunteering, ethical coffee, and long-term sponsorships — with regular impact reports and recognition.
Every partnership brings us closer to a sustainable future.
Aw pon ui ja - Thank you!!!
Empower her Lahu community through organic coffee, culture, and sustainable tourism
Volunteering
Join us on the ground to share your skills and learn from the Lahu community and become part of a unique journey of cultural exchange and sustainable development.
CAFE LAHU welcomes volunteers from all over the world who want to contribute their time and expertise in:
• Sustainable agriculture and coffee processing
• Environmental education in local schools
• English language teaching
• Community tourism development
• Cultural documentation and promotion
Volunteers live side by side with Lahu families, discovering new ways of life while making a tangible difference for the community’s future.
Sustainable agriculture and coffee processing
Work directly with the CAFE LAHU family and local farmers to strengthen sustainable farming practices.
• Rice farming: land preparation, planting, care, and harvesting.
• Coffee & fruit trees: from seed cultivation and nursery management to harvesting and processing.
• Agroforestry: replacing monocultures with shade-grown coffee and diverse fruit trees to ensure long-term resilience.
Volunteers are encouraged to both learn and share their own experiences. Activities depend on the season.
Environmental education in local schools
Help inspire the next generation to protect their environment. Volunteers can:
• Design engaging lessons and activities for children on environmental challenges, solutions, and everyday eco-friendly practices.
• Lead activities such as tree planting, waste separation and recycling, or creative art projects with an environmental message.
• Bring creativity and playfulness — storytelling, games, and songs can be just as powerful as lectures!
Volunteer teachers can provide knowledge and create environmental activities for children in schools or communities, such as providing information on environmental problems, impacts, solutions, and practices to be environmentally friendly.
Instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in children from an early age is crucial, as they will grow up to be socially responsible individuals.
English language teaching
Make a lasting impact by supporting local teachers in rural schools:
• Assist Thai teachers in teaching English speaking, listening, and writing.
• Provide students with exposure to natural conversation with fluent speakers.
• Organize fun activities — role plays, songs, storytelling — to make learning engaging.
The aim of this volunteering is to help teach English to students in local primary school. Thai teachers appreciate the help of native English speakers or those fluent in the language to assist in teaching their students how to speak English. Learning English provides Thai students with greater opportunities for future employment.
Many local schools are remote, and children rarely meet foreigners. For many, you may be the first! This makes your presence invaluable not just for language skills but also for cultural exchange and confidence building.
Community tourism development
Support the growth of eco-friendly tourism that preserves Lahu culture and creates income for families:
• Help families develop homestay services and guest experiences.
• Share skills in hospitality, communication, or sustainable business practices.
• Participate in activities such as guided hikes, cooking traditional food, or weaving workshops.
By staying with host families, volunteers generate income for the community and strengthen the village’s capacity for responsible tourism
Cultural documentation and promotion
Help tell the story of the Lahu people to the world:
• Create photo essays, short videos, or social media content for awareness and fundraising.
• Document traditional ceremonies, music, crafts, or everyday life.
• Collaborate with elders to preserve oral histories and cultural knowledge.
The aim of this volunteering is to create documentary capsules, and short pieces for social media and fundraising dossiers.
There are many opportunities throughout the year — New Year’s festivities, ceremonies, weaving, cooking, and more. Your work can become a bridge, sharing authentic stories and cultural richness with a global audience..
SomLahu Association
is a Spanish non-profit association (Reg. No. 78009) supporting the Lahu community and other minorities in northern Thailand through sustainable development projects, community leadership, cultural preservation and positive environmental impact.
Lahu Association
(สมาคมชาติพันธุ์ลาหู่) is a Thai non-profit association (Reg. No. 7/2568). The association registered by a group of community in Keangluang village, in Chiang Rai Province, promoting sustainable agriculture, cultural preservation, and community-led tourism.
