BVP’s Mission

BVP seeks to meet the training needs of Burmese civil society organizations operating along the Thailand-Burma border. BVP assesses the skill sets of volunteers interested in gaining exposure to Burmese issues and places them with organizations working for political and social development in Burma.  Our goal is to fill a critical void between organizations along the border and people who wish to contribute their knowledge and expertise to build a more just, democratic Burma.

BVP was founded in January 2001 and since then has had a tremendous impact on Burmese communities working in Thailand and on the lives of volunteers themselves. Since its inception, BVP has placed hundreds of participants with more than 100 partner organizations.  Students and organizations who have worked with BVP volunteers are at a significant advantage in applying for funding to do their work and applying for scholarships for further study.

Types of Organizations

BVP works with numerous groups along the Thailand-Burma border that request foreign volunteers to help build their capacity. BVP placements include working with ethnic and women’s groups, news and political organizations, adult learning centres and community based organizations (CBOs).

Students taught through BVP placements are at a post ten (secondary school) level or above. Students include political exiles, refugees and migrants who have been forced into Thailand due to poverty, lack of safety, instability and frustration at Burma’s current situation. At most organizations BVP volunteers work with local staff members as well as interns who have temporarily moved to Thailand to learn English and participate in capacity building programs.

Volunteer Activities

BVP volunteers work in numerous capacities at their placements.  Volunteers are primarily involved with teaching English language classes however some placements request that volunteers teach social sciences, history, computer skills, and human rights.  At various placements, BVP volunteers assist with grant writing, organizational development and report writing.  Volunteers’ tasks at their placement are determined by the needs of their organization and each volunteers’ skill sets. BVP prides itself on the fact that many former volunteers have leveraged their volunteer experience to gain full-time employment with international NGOs or local CBOs based in Thailand.