Volunteers for Sarnelli House
Sarnelli House is made up of 6 homes for children in three different hamlets in the Nongkhai province of Northeast Thailand.
- Our Lady of Refuge Home for Girls
- St Patrick’s Home for Boys
- Sarnelli House
- House of Hope
- Nazareth House
- The Jan and Oscar House
Volunteers are accepted for work at Sarnelli House only. Since the children infected with HIV/AIDS are now taking the Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) drugs, they are healthy enough to go to school.
IT IS FOR THIS REASON WE ACCEPT VOLUNTEERS DURING SCHOOL VACATION PERIODS ONLY.
March 15 – May 1
October 1 – October 21
Once school opens, volunteers are not needed.
If you are interested in being a volunteer during these times please send the following:
Essential Requirements:
- Up to date Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- 2 letters of recommendation from organizations, schools, or churches.
- Police Check
Responsibilities of Sarnelli House:
Charlene House is a 6 room facility for volunteers. It has 2 beds /room and share bathroom. One room is wheelchair accessible.
Lunch and dinner are provided by Charlene House, and breakfast food is available. However Sunday is the cook’s day off, but the kitchen is well stocked with food.
We are unable to accommodate volunteers who have special diets such as strict vegetarians or peanut allergies, etc. Our cook does not have the time or resources to accommodate these special needs
- Transport to and from airport
- Lots of fun, laughter and love from the children
Charlene House is a 6 room facility for volunteers. It has 2 beds /room and share bathroom. One room is wheelchair accessible.
Responsibilities of the Volunteer:
- Travel to and from Thailand
Organize and pay for travel to Udon Thani (closest airport to Sarnelli House. It is a 40 minute flight from Bangkok Don Meung Airport). There is an overnight train from Bangkok to Nongkhai as well
Our van will pick you up and drop you off at the airport or train station.
If you are staying in Thailand for less than 30 days you do not need to apply for a visa. You can leave and re-enter the country to get another 30 days over and over again over a period of 6 months. Most countries are included in this deal. Check the website if you are unsure.
If you intend to stay for longer than 30 days, you need to apply for a Tourist Visa. This allows you to stay in the country for 60 days.
You can also apply for a Visa-on-arrival which gives you 15 days in the country.
The Thai government wants all visitors to possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person.
Visit http://www.mfa.go.th The Kingdom of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ensure that you have adequate travel or health insurance; if you should require hospitalization it would be necessary to transfer you to Bangkok.
Nature of Work:
Playing with the children and keeping them company is one of the main roles of the volunteers at Sarnelli House. Other ways of assisting the staff include
- Help the staff to dish out the children’s food in the dining room for evening meals
- Help the staff fold the washed clothes – after lunch
- Help the children with their English homework
- Run English classes on the weekend or every day in the school holidays – there are resources- ask Kate.
- Play and football, soccor, badminton, drums, guitar, ride the bikes with the children.
- On weekends the children sometimes go on outings. Ask ahead if anything is planned. If they go to Tesco Lotus each adult is assigned several kids. Each child has a spending limit. Help then to choose something appropriate and within their budget
- Sometimes the kids get a few baht to spend. They might ask you to walk to the local shop with them. Its just a few minutes from Sarnelli House.
- Teach the teenage girls at Nazareth House or Vienkhuk how to cook eg pancakes, brownies
- Try to give attention to as many kids as possible rather than getting to know only a handful. If you and a child get attached to each other it’s a difficult process of separation when you leave for you and the child.
- Respect routines and the Thai staff. The staff have been with the children for a long time and know them well. Be supportive. Learn some Thai.
There are also orphans at St Patrick’s Home for Boys, The House of Hope (children under 5 years) and Our Lady of Refuge Home for Girls at Vienghuk. They don’t get as many visitors as Sarnelli Kids so they would appreciate a visit. You can cycle to these houses.
Please contact Kate Introna for further information:
Email: Kate Introna
Visitors to Sarnelli House
Visitors staying at Charlene House
Charlene House has been blessed by faithful donors, like Father Dan, Mike Mouton and Reggie Bollich of Lafayette. But the price of electricity food and fuel makes it imperative that we post a daily US$20 charge for anyone staying at Charlene House.
This money will help defray the expenses of electricity, TV (UBC/CABLE TV is 1,600 baht a month), fuel, beverages and food. The charge covers breakfast, plus two cooked Thai meals a day, and the use of laundry machines, TV, and helps with the upkeep of the gardens. We are hard put to keep our 130 children adequately fed, and Charlene House bills were being paid by SARNELLI HOUSE funds that supplies all the children’s needs. We reluctantly decided to take this path. Thank you for your understanding.
Information for Visitors Visiting Any of the Sarnelli House Projects
- No visitors should enter the showering/bathing areas of any children on any of the sites
- No visitors should enter the sleeping areas of any children at any of the sites
- Sarnelli House is a No Smoking Area
- Visiting Hours : 9.30 -11.30am and 2.30 – 4.30pm
- Photos are to be taken with permission only
- Visitors staying on at Charlene House need to provide their passport for a copy of the ID page and visa to be taken.
- Emergency contact details are to be provided also
Considerations
You should dress for a tropical climate: cotton, silk or linen clothes are most comfortable. Exposing too much of your skin will not only earn you sunburn, but is also frowned at by the locals and is not culturally appropriate. No matter how hot it is, gentlemen should wear knee length to long pants, for ladies, pants are also o.k., or you can wear a skirt or a dress that covers the knees. Sleeveless shirts or singlet tops should be avoided. Beach wear is only acceptable on the beach!
The tap water in Thailand is not for drinking. Bottled water is supplied at Charlene House, and Sarnelli House has a water purifying system and all the water in the water dispensers is safe to drink.
Try and familiarize yourself with some basic greetings in Thai before you arrive. It will be much appreciated by staff and children.
There is internet access in the office, but this is used by staff. There are internet cafes in Nongkhai. There is no phone land line at Sarnelli House.
The King and Queen of Thailand are much loved and respected by all Thais, and you see their portraits in every Thai home. No disrespect or dishonor should be given them and will not be tolerated at Sarnelli House
If you are looking for something to bring over for the children here are some ideas:
- Teaching English resources
- Basic ABC books for toddlers learning English
- Colouring books and pencils/crayons
- DVDs in Thai for the kids to watch - great for the rainy season
- You can buy toys and clothes for children in Nongkhai at a cheaper cost than at home.
Security and Child Protection Policy and Guidelines
Please downloand and read
Sarnelli HouseSecurity & Child Protection Policy and Guidelines
download (pdf format)
In accordance with our Child Protection and Security Policy, if volunteers or visitors are behaving in such a way as contravenes this policy they will be removed from Sarnelli House and may be subject to criminal prosecution.
Direction to Sarnelli House from Nongkhai
(approximately 20 kms from Nongkhai)
From Nongkhai follow the signs to the highway to Udon Thani. This is straight 2 laned highway. After about 15 km you will pass the town of Nong Song Hong on your right on the other side of the divided highway. Follow the signs that say Thabo and make a Right U turn to Thabo. When you are facing towards Nongkhai turn Left at Nong Song Hong (road number 211) and follow the road heading towards Thabo, Sri Chiang Mai. After about 7 km you will see a small service station on the right side, and then a sign for Sarnelli House, turn right here, and follow the unpaved road for about 2 kilometers, then turn Right at another sign for Sarnelli House.
If you have any further questions, please contact us. Thank you for your interest!
Steve and ChatChai 
John with Alex and the House of Hope kids (and Annie in the background)
Angelique and Ben
Petra and Barbara donating pram for Baby Awn
Reggie Bollich with Kung and Wan Pen
Everett and Nick with their new friends Bart, Peter and Son Lam
Dottie Bollich with Nook who works at Sarnelli House and 
(Pictured: Michelle with Tan Matthew and Tone)
Nam Phon and Taw from Vienghuk with Jen and Chloe
Debbie Willis arrived for her first visit of 2011 and was
warmly welcomed by the kids. They look forward to her 6 monthly visits with
great excitement and love. 
Darlene Hanke arrived
for a month on her second visit to Sarnelli House. She was enthusiastic and
generous with her help and she was also able to spend special time with Eeu who
she sponsors.
Lisa Surti came for her
fist visit to Sarnelli while travelling around Thailand and the children were
sad to see her go.
Rosie Henshall and Rachael
Waller helped out in the holidays and experienced Songkran with the kids in
between adventures to India and beyond. 
Jim Snell came for his
annual visit and enjoyed his first Songkran with the kids.
Marloes Brons returned to
Sarnelli House for the fourth time and she was warmly remembered, she spread herself
around to all the kids and they were sad to see her go and look forward to her
next visit. 
Naomi Weir spent time
between teaching English in Thailand through Project Trust to visit and play
with the children.
Anna Guzowski visited
for the first time and also experienced her first Songkran with the kids.
Viveka Martin who is
working for the French charity Mekong De Enfants in Thailand helped out again with
all the activities at Sarnelli House. She returns to France this year and will
be missed.
Laurence and Allesandro
Pian from the Jan and Oscar Foundation had an all too short visit on their way
to view more projects supported by their foundation, they do wonderful work for
the children of Thailand. 
Mike and Janet O’Connor and Dianne and Brian O’Connor cousins of Fr Shea from Wisconsin with 2 friends Mike Lavey and Curly spent 3 weeks at Sarnelli House spending some fun and happy times with Fr Shea, the staff and kids. St Patrick’s Day was very memorable with green beer and the traditional American / Irish corned beef and cabbage for dinner for all. The children at Sarnelli House now have new bedsheets and pillow cases on their beds, a new washing machine and new floating toys and rings for the pool. Thanks everyone for your generosity.
Mike Shea
Ruarc, Jack and Bunny
Francesca and Ruarc Edwards came from Ireland to volunteer and contributed with great enthusiasm to the English lessons and many other activities. We wish them well until next time we see them.
Brian
Andy Eadsforth, Linsey Pluckrose and first timer to Sarnelli House Brian O’Riordan enjoyed their usual exhausting 2 weeks of games, bike riding, trips to Tesco and swimming. The kids are waiting for their return already.
Ken and Pat
Ken and Pat Grant visited for the second time in 18 years on their way to Europe. They have been loyal supporters of Fr Shea and Sarnelli House for many years and it was great they were able to visit on their busy schedule. 
Chris Leonard came for a flying visit before heading off to Germany but managed to squeeze in a great lunch for the kids and the usual fun and excitement that his new inspired games created. 
