Welcome to Sunshine Orchard

Welcome to Sunshine Orchard. Please read the following information carefully, as it contains important details that will help you prepare for your time with us.

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About Sunshine Orchard

Sunshine Orchard is a Christian learning center located on the border of Myanmar and Thailand. Established in 2009 in response to a time of crisis, the school has grown significantly over the years. The center is run by the Adams family in partnership with dedicated local staff.

Foreign volunteers generally serve without pay, raising their own support and serving God sacrificially with joyful and willing hearts.

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Our Values

“Making God first” is the guiding principle of Sunshine Orchard. We ask all volunteers to care for the school, its people, and its environment with this mindset, remembering that everything belongs to God. Your attitude, actions, and example will have a meaningful influence on the children and young people here.

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Volunteers

We truly love having volunteers and value the time and heart they invest here. Sunshine Orchard is not a tourist destination, but an active learning center located in a rural area near a region that has experienced conflict.

Please contact us before coming so we can plan well together.

Volunteers are encouraged to be self-motivated and able to manage most of their personal needs. At the same time, we are committed to caring for our volunteers and will gladly support you wherever possible.

Our mission is to provide a practical, well-rounded education that equips young people to become responsible members of society and, prayerfully, workers for God. Volunteers serve as examples to our students, and we value servant leadership—humility, kindness, and a willingness to help wherever needed.

If you come to teach or assist with specific projects, we ask that you also help with daily practical tasks as time and strength allow. Many areas benefit from extra hands, including childcare, cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, carrying water, gardening, landscaping, construction, tutoring, teaching, and medical support. Working alongside the students is a true blessing.

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A Special Call for Teachers

One of Sunshine Orchard’s greatest needs is teachers. Our students are eager to learn, but the number of classes we can offer depends on the teachers available. Teachers here do far more than teach academic subjects—they mentor, encourage, and help shape character and faith.

If you feel called to teach, your presence can make a lasting difference in a child’s life. Long-term teachers are especially valuable, and we strongly encourage those who are able to commit to a full school year, as stability and consistency are deeply beneficial for our students.

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Daily Life, Food, and Culture

Life at Sunshine Orchard is simple, and we invite volunteers to live as we do. Meals are vegetarian, with rice served at every meal. On rare occasions, the school may serve fish or chicken, but a vegetarian option is always available.

Bread, fruit, and treats are considered special items and are not regularly provided. Volunteers are welcome to purchase these for themselves if desired.

We serve traditional Karen food, which is simpler than what many people associate with Thai cuisine. Meals usually consist of vegetable stews made from seasonal produce such as pumpkin, bamboo shoots, greens, long beans, eggplant, and cucumber, seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, ginger, garlic, onions, chili, and herbs.

The communities we serve experience significant poverty. Many families rely primarily on rice with simple additions. Because of this, nutritional deficiencies are common, and we appreciate volunteers approaching this context with understanding, gratitude, and flexibility.

We kindly ask volunteers to come with joyful and content hearts, ready to accept life as it is here. A positive, adaptable attitude brings great encouragement to both students and staff.

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Weather and Environment

Sunshine Orchard has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. The rainy season brings frequent showers and lush greenery, while the cool season offers more comfortable temperatures, especially in the mornings and evenings.

Because of the rain, fast-drying clothing is very helpful, and laundry may take longer to dry. Power outages may occasionally occur during storms. A light jacket or fleece is recommended for cooler nights during the cool season.

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Health, Safety, and Medical Care

Common illnesses in the region include respiratory infections, dengue fever, and minor wounds or infections. While mosquitoes are not abundant at Sunshine Orchard, bringing mosquito repellent and any personal medications you rely on is recommended.

We have a well-stocked medicine cabinet, and nearby clinics and hospitals are accessible. Most medications can be purchased locally at a reasonable cost.

As this is a rural area, certain wildlife such as snakes, insects, and small creatures are part of the natural environment. Encounters are uncommon, and anti-venom for snake bites is readily available at nearby medical facilities. Staff are experienced and will guide volunteers in safe practices.

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Clothing Guidelines

Please pack modest, practical clothing suitable for a rural setting:

• Flip-flops or sandals are most commonly worn

• Lightweight, fast-drying clothing is ideal

• Bring a fleece jacket for cooler evenings

• Skirts should cover the knees

• Tops should be modest (no low-cut styles)

• For swimming, lightweight shorts and T-shirts are appropriate

• Sarongs are commonly used for daily bathing

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Internet Access

Prepaid SIM cards are available locally. An AIS SIM card provides the most reliable service in this area.

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Visas

Volunteers should enter Thailand on a tourist visa. Please do not list “work” as your purpose of travel, as volunteers are not paid.

For longer stays, we will provide an invitation letter to assist with obtaining a three-month Non-Immigrant O visa. Teachers and long-term volunteers are encouraged to commit to a full school year and will be assisted with visa and work permit arrangements. Please bring copies of educational certificates and diplomas.

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Accommodation

Living conditions are simple and basic:

• Most housing does not include indoor bathrooms

• Toilets are Asian squat style

• Toilet paper is not provided

• Beds are typically on the floor with sleeping mats, blankets, and mosquito nets provided

• Power outages may occur depending on weather

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Shops and Nearby Towns

A small local shop with basic supplies is within walking distance.

• Mae Salit (5 minutes): basic shops

• Tha Song Yang (40 minutes): larger town

• Mae Sot (2 hours): nearest city

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How to Get Here

You may travel from Bangkok by overnight bus or fly to Mae Sot. From Mae Sot, local transport is available for the journey north to Sunshine Orchard.

We can arrange pickup and kindly ask for help covering fuel costs when this is possible, not required though.