Give Instead of Go
SEVA (service)
Elephant Rescue
The Elephant Nature Park is a sanctuary built on compassion. Many of the elephants who arrive there have survived decades of hardship—forced labor in the logging industry, street begging, or the tourism trade that demands performances and rides.
At the park, they are finally met with gentleness. They are given the freedom to roam, form bonds, and heal at their own pace. The team provides medical care, nutritious food, wide open spaces, and most importantly, a life without fear. Every elephant is treated as an individual with a story, a personality, and a right to live peacefully.
Our Thailand SEVA trips are woven into this mission. When we bring guests to the Elephant Nature Park each year, we are not just visiting—we are supporting a circle of care. Our presence helps fund rescue efforts, daily care, food, medical treatment, and habitat restoration.
By witnessing the elephants’ stories firsthand, travelers also become advocates, carrying the message of ethical treatment long after they return home. Each traveler becomes part of the sanctuary’s extended family, helping sustain a place where healing is possible.
For those who cannot travel, the impact is still within reach. Donations directly uplift this work, ensuring that more elephants can be rescued and rehabilitated. Whether joining us in Thailand or supporting from home, every act of giving strengthens the sanctuary’s ability to protect these magnificent beings. Together, we help create a future where elephants live with dignity, safety, and freedom.
Wang Nuea Disability Center
In the small northern Thai city of Wang Nuea, the local disability center plays a vital role in daily community life. It is a place of dignity, belonging, and opportunity—supporting people with disabilities and their families through meaningful activities, skill-building, social connection, and community engagement. For many, this center is not just a resource, but a lifeline—offering purpose, inclusion, and a sense of being seen and valued.
Noi has been a longtime friend and supporter of this community, building relationships rooted in trust, respect, and shared care. Through our Thailand SEVA Trip, we have been honored to support the Wang Nuea Disability Center year after year—returning not as visitors, but as friends.
Each time we arrive, the community welcomes us wholeheartedly, quite literally rolling out the welcome with music, shared meals, laughter, and celebration. It’s a joyful exchange—our group brings presence and support, and in return we are met with warmth, pride, and genuine connection. These moments remind us that service is not about “helping,” but about showing up, being together, and honoring the strength of a community that cares deeply for one another.
Supporting the Wang Nuea Disability Center is a cornerstone of our SEVA program—and one of the experiences that stays with people long after the journey ends.
Girls Orphanage
The girls’ orphanage we support in Thailand is a home built on dignity, safety, and possibility. Nineteen girls live there—each with her own story, and each deserving a life filled with care and opportunity.
The orphanage provides far more than shelter; it offers stability, belonging, and the reassurance that someone is looking out for them. They receive nutritious meals, clean clothing, and a supportive community that encourages them to dream beyond the circumstances they were born into.
Education is at the heart of the mission. Every girl attends school, and those who show interest in higher learning are supported all the way through college or vocational programs. This commitment to long-term education is transformative. It breaks cycles of poverty, opens doors to careers, and helps each girl discover her strengths and future path. What begins as basic care becomes a foundation for independence, confidence, and hope.
Our Thailand SEVA trips help sustain this home year after year. By bringing travelers to meet the girls, hear their stories, and witness the joy that fills the orphanage, we create a bridge of support and awareness.
Trip contributions help fund daily living needs, school supplies, uniforms, and tuition for higher education. And for those who cannot travel, donations directly empower these young women to continue their studies and thrive. Together—through presence or through giving—we help ensure that every girl grows up knowing she is valued and supported.
The Healing Family Foundation
In the heart of Chiang Mai, the Healing Family Foundation (often known locally as Baan Sanook — “House of Joy”) is a place where people with intellectual and physical disabilities are seen, valued, and encouraged to express their strengths and creativity. Founded in 2005 by a group of parents who wanted a space where their loved ones could thrive, the foundation has become a warm, community-centered workshop where individuals work with hand-adapted looms to create beautifully unique woven textiles and other handcrafted goods.
The foundation’s focus is simple but powerful: provide connection, opportunity, and dignity through meaningful activity and shared community life. Members are welcomed to learn, socialize, and contribute, and their handcrafted products reflect both skill and self-expression. The atmosphere is one of joy, laughter, and mutual support — truly living up to its name.
Noi and Karl have been close friends of the Healing Family Foundation for years, and each season of our SEVA trips includes support for their work. When our group visits, we are welcomed with open arms — greeted by the artists, invited into their space, and reminded again of the value of connection over spectacle. Our ongoing partnership reflects deep mutual respect, not only through charitable support but through genuine friendship and shared experience. Many people in this community depend on the foundation’s programs and relationships for social engagement, creative expression, and economic opportunity, making its work a vibrant part of Chiang Mai’s local landscape.
Our Village School
Our village school in Thailand is a vibrant center of culture, learning, and community pride.
At the heart of the school is its traditional music program—a place where children connect with their heritage through rhythm, melody, and story.
Before our partnership, the program struggled with worn instruments, limited resources, and no dedicated teacher to guide the students. Yet the passion and potential were always there, waiting for a chance to flourish.
Through our SEVA trips and the generosity of our community, the music program has been transformed. We’ve been able to fund brand-new traditional instruments, provide beautiful uniforms for performances, and support the hiring of a full-time music teacher—someone who can nurture the students’ skills, confidence, and cultural pride every single day.
With proper mentorship and equipment, these young musicians now have a powerful way to express themselves and preserve traditions that have shaped their community for generations.
Every visit we make strengthens this connection. Our travelers witness firsthand the joy on the children’s faces as they perform, practice, and proudly share their culture. Trip contributions and donations help sustain the program year after year, ensuring it continues to grow and flourish. For those who cannot travel, giving from home still makes a direct and lasting impact—supporting education, preserving tradition, and helping the next generation step forward with pride and possibility.
Rice Project, and Free Health Care
Just outside Chiang Rai stands Wat Huay Pla Kang, known widely for its giant Guanyin statue - the Goddess of Compassion. Beyond its visual presence, the temple is also a place of practical support for the local community. For many neighbors and families in the surrounding area, the temple’s programs help meet everyday needs in tangible ways.
One of the meaningful community efforts connected with the temple is the tradition of providing rice and basic food support for children, elderly neighbors, and others facing hardship. Visitors to the temple are often invited to contribute rice at the entrance, which is then shared with those who depend on these offerings for sustenance and dignity.
In addition to food support, a hospital associated with Wat Huay Pla Kang now offers free healthcare services to people who might otherwise have limited access to medical care. Since its opening, this facility has provided essential treatment to disadvantaged residents, making healthcare more accessible and easing the burden for individuals and families in need.
We are honored that our SEVA trip has included support for this work each year, and that the community welcomes us warmly when we come. The connection feels like a true shared exchange — not only do we contribute in ways that matter to the people there, but we also learn from their resilience, generosity, and the way community care is lived in daily life.