The Foundation for Education Development (FED) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Khao Lak, Thailand. The foundation works closely with Burmese migrant communities and is centred around the pillars of health, education, environment, and migrant development; these pillars interlock to provide holistic support to Burmese migrants in Thailand. My role with FED involves creating a comprehensive English curriculum and teaching it to students four days a week as a part of their summer program, helping the organization to obtain funding through grant applications, and contributing to other organizational needs.  

What went well? 

The first week of my LiA was spent doing remote work in Toronto. From home, I compiled information on teaching pedagogy from a variety of sources, created various daily class schedules, and brainstormed engaging and informative activities that students of a broad range of proficiency levels and ages would enjoy. I also participated in meetings with the organization’s facilitators and education coordinator, where I learned more about what initiatives I would be contributing to over the following weeks. In addition to preparing my course materials, I learned more about Thai culture and language and the rationale behind the organization’s mission.

What could have been done differently? 

Generally, I feel that I could have been in closer communication with the organization’s facilitators. I had little information about the students (e.g. ages, skill levels, etc.) and the existing nature and structure of the classes I was meant to teach. Additionally, there was an intern who had already been running the current program, but I was not given their information to get in contact with them. These factors made it more difficult to create a comprehensive curriculum, and I was anxious to see how my prepared materials would come together in practice. These factors were due to the fact that the organization staff were extremely busy and had many other things to worry about; I gauged that this was typical for the organization, as non-profits tend to be under-resourced, and consequently may appear to be slightly disorganized. 

What did I learn about myself when working with others? 

I learned about how important it is to maintain clear communication when working with others, as it sets the foundation for a productive use of time. This is particularly important in non-profit settings, when resources are scarce and thus, productivity must be maximized.  

What did I learn about leadership? 

I learned that leadership can take many forms, and may look different in different parts of the world. This is important as such cultural nuances must be accounted for; processes may look different and miscommunication may occur. It is important to seek out advice from others who have experienced similar adjustments, as they can point you in the right direction. 

What do I want to develop or focus on next? 

I am looking forward to travelling and taking on a more hands-on role within the FED. However, I am aware that my work may look very different in practice, and my existing curriculum will likely need to be adapted or altered drastically to account for the differences between my expectations and the reality. As I have never been to Thailand before, I am excited for the opportunity to expand my horizons. However, I anticipate that there will be a significant cultural adjustment period, and I am interested in seeing how this will impact my personal experience and my work with FED.