From Classroom to Confidence: Jamie’s Year Volunteering in Thailand

When Jamie travelled to Thailand with Project Trust in 2024, he didn’t just set out to teach English, he set out to learn. A year on, he reflects on how his experience has shaped him, what he learned from his students and community, and how it’s influenced what comes next.

Living and working in a small Thai village opened Jamie’s eyes to new perspectives and ways of life.

“I’ve met people with completely different world views,” he explains. “Having conversations that challenge how I think about things has been so valuable. Coming to a different country and being thrown into an unfamiliar environment really made me learn to adapt, respect, and embrace new ways of doing things.”

For Jamie, the most meaningful part of his year was the connection he built with his students.

“Seeing the progress the kids are making is incredibly inspiring,” he says. “Watching their English improve and knowing I have played a part in that gave me such encouragement. Building those connections has been really special.”

Communication was a challenge at first, but one that taught him some of the most lasting lessons. “Very few people in my village spoke English,” Jamie recalls. “So I had to find other ways to express myself paying attention to my tone, emotion, even using technology to get my point across. My confidence grew so much. Being the only white person living in the village was a big thing to overcome.”

Alongside practical teaching skills, Jamie says the cultural lessons he learned will stay with him for life.

“Thai people are very dedicated, they work hard and take real pride in what they do. Everyone has their responsibilities, and they do them with such commitment. It’s something I really admire and hope to bring into my own work in the future.”

From Thailand to Technology

After returning from Thailand, Jamie decided to take a new direction.

“I chose to go into an apprenticeship in IT rather than university because that style of learning suited me more,” he explains. “I was a bit worried about finding a placement as I didn’t do the best in my A Levels, but that fear disappeared quickly as I had several interviews within a few weeks of coming home.”

In one of those interviews, Jamie discovered an unexpected connection.

“The Chief Security Officer of the company I was interviewing for had also done a gap year in Thailand when she was younger,” he says. “That gave me a real boost of confidence in the interview and a few hours later I got the call saying I’d got the job. It was such a relief.

Jamie’s new apprenticeship has already given him the chance to put his volunteering skills to use.

“My year out definitely helped my confidence levels and my readiness to speak to people I wasn’t familiar with, ” he says. “It also did wonders for my communication skills – learning how to articulate my ideas clearly was essential in Thailand, and that’s carried through to my job now.”

Looking back, Jamie believes his Project Trust experience was a key factor in securing his apprenticeship.

“In my case, my gap year might have been the difference between getting the job and still looking,” he reflects. “My boss had done something similar to Project Trust so knew the kind of person you have to be to complete one. Even just having it on my CV helped get my foot in the door.”

    • Jamie’s story shows how a Project Trust placement goes far beyond a year overseas — it builds resilience, adaptability, and the confidence to take on new challenges. From the classroom in Thailand to the start of a new career in IT, his experience is a reminder that the lessons learned through volunteering can open doors for years to come.

    Learn more about Volunteering in Thailand here.

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