As we state throughout this web site, we are altogether independent and hence have no external funding. Our purpose is to enable people to have this kind of experience without paying a fortune.

Roots-leaves volunteer Laos is conceived as something between traveling and volunteer work, leaving a lot of time for activities and traveling while the volunteer comes in contact with and contributes to society by working.

Volunteering with Roots-Leaves Volunteer Laos provides a means of offering beneficiaries a level of education that is unavailable to most people within the country. Those who volunteer realize that it’s not just about giving money when it comes to donating. Giving of your time and skills enables others to benefit in ways that will make an impact in their everyday lives and give them benefits that will empower them well into the future. Volunteering with us not only allows you to make a difference in the life of others, it also offers personal growth, understanding, and fulfillment. This fantastic opportunity allows volunteers to get to know Laos and its friendly people, and integrate into a culture that is still relatively untouched by modern Western society, while bettering the lives of others. One of the most important ways of sustainable development is through providing and improving education for local people.

We are a local agency and our headquarters are based in Luangprabang where our project located it and thus do not have western "overhead costs". We are cheaper than most agencies, but in every way that we can think of, we believe that we have very good local arrangements in place and offer a very personal approach and experience and with us there are no Registration Fees.

If you want to live under any other conditions than the ones we provide as standard, it can always be arranged and we can agree on the costs.

Volunteers are not tourists. Volunteers expect to serve, tourists expect to be served. As a volunteer your role is to fit in your project and not the other way around. Think what you can do for your hosting community, not what it can do for you. We expect you to contribute wherever the need arises, even if it means being involved in an area you were not expecting to work in.

You must be open, flexible and proactive. That is the challenge, but also the beauty of becoming a Roots-Leaves volunteer Laos Volunteer – you will be out of your comfort zone, but don’t be surprised if in making an impact you yourself have the experience of a lifetime.

Volunteers will get a standard 30-day tourist visa for your time traveling in Laos. You need a passport valid for at least six months from the date you enter Laos and you must bring 2 passport-size photos. You will need to pay a fee (in cash) for your Visa on arrival of USD 40 and Please make sure to have $40 exact change in fresh, clean and crisp bills with no tears or rips for the Visa fee. It is always a good idea to have back up bills just in case.

Your tourist visa can be extended for 30 days, two times, to the maximum stay of 90 days without leaving the country

Please note that Laos does not issue 2 months tourist visas or multi-entry tourist visas

It depends on the availability of positions and the participation requirements of the project you wish to join. Additionally, remember that it takes time to settle in, get up the learning curve and find your role within a project. As such, unless there are extraordinary circumstances, we expect you to stay in your original project for at least two weeks before requesting a switch.

Yes. While the projects have the resources you need to perform your volunteer work, we encourage you to bring materials that will help you further.
Helpful items include:
• Construction and infrastructure program: As mentioned in the packing list above, make sure to bring work gloves and appropriate clothing to work in. We also strongly suggest safety glasses.
• Education program & Child care program: Children’s books and workbooks, colored crayons, drawing paper, pens and markers, group games like Bingo and Connect 4, paint supplies, paper, pens.

In most cases this is not a problem. Simply let us know and we will arrange it.

Our office is in Luangprabang, It is easier to contact with volunteers and contactable twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week as our hotline.

Clothes, shoes

You must dress properly and according to Laos tradition and standards. This means that women should keep their shoulders covered in classroom situations and not wear shorts (if your shorts cover your knees, this is acceptable). You should be proper and clean.

Women: Lao skirts or long skirts should be worn while at the  school. A t-shirt or plain blouse is fine. 

Men: Long pants only, no shorts. Collared shirts are preferred, not required.

General:

Don't bring too much. There is plenty of nice, cheap clothing to buy here and you will want empty space in you bags for the many beautiful things that you are likely to purchase here! During the rainy season (from May until September) you might want to bring a raincoat. Don't bring any heavy clothing, as you will only be wearing the lightest things you have.

Medicine
If you rely on any medication, you should, of course, bring it. Also, it is advisable to see your doctor and request a prescription for antibiotics in case you get ill during your stay. Thai doctors and hospitals are generally fairly good, but it is convenient to have your own medication.

Bed linen, towels etc.

We will provide you with sheets and covers. You only need a pair. If you want to go trekking on your own you should bring your own sleeping bag. You don't need to buy a mosquito net. We will provide you with one on your bed.