IGo Network of Volunteer Educators Serving Thailand
Teach. Care. Share. INVEST
Who we are. INVEST is an IGo ministry that reaches out to the Thai people through teaching English. We are based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and currently have two teams serving under the INVEST umbrella: English for Life (EFL) and the Wisdom Tree Home volunteer staff.
What we do—English for Life. EFL is focused on placing volunteer teachers in government primary schools in San Kamphaeng District in Chiang Mai. We also work with a Thai church in running a Saturday English club as part of their outreach in the area, and we are currently exploring other teaching opportunities in the community.
What we do—Wisdom Tree Home Staff. Wisdom Tree Home is a kindergarten/day care center founded and operated by Chiang Mai City Church as a part of their outreach to the community. INVEST provides volunteer teachers who are native English speakers to help with teaching English and providing childcare. INVEST also provides staff for the church’s after-school English program.
Mission and Goal. Our mission is to assist the Thai church in reaching their people for Christ by providing qualified English teachers in unreached communities. Our goal is to teach English well as an avenue for building relationships that enable us to share the Good News and love of Jesus Christ with the Thai people.
Teach. The English language is increasingly important for success in education and employment in Thailand. As native English speakers, our teachers can help to meet this need while opening doors for the gospel. By placing our volunteer teachers in schools and communities where the need is greatest, we give our students opportunities they would otherwise not be able to access. And by ensuring that our teachers receive the appropriate training and qualifications, we provide a high-quality service that is accessible to all.
Care. INVEST teachers work as part of a team, providing support, encouragement, and inspiration for each other. Our teachers are encouraged to maintain a strong support base back home and to develop connections with Thai believers in a local church. We encourage teachers to pursue language study in order to build deeper relationships with students, their families, and the community. With this support network in place, our teachers can focus on caring for their students holistically, helping to meet their emotional and spiritual needs, as well as academic. Students also receive the benefits of a global network of concerned individuals praying for them and cheering them on.
Share. As they teach and care for students, our teachers also seek to pass on the traditional values of their Anabaptist heritage, such as kindness, honesty, purity, self-discipline, and simplicity. As committed Christians, we believe that character qualities like these are best developed by knowing Jesus. We work alongside local believers in evangelizing, discipling new believers, and living out the teachings of Jesus in the Thai culture. Our teachers seek to share God’s love with students in all their interactions, and our hope is that our students and their families get the opportunity to experience the transforming power of God in their lives.
INVEST. We hope that investing in our students’ lives in these ways will help them develop strong English communication skills; improve their chances of success in their studies and careers in the future; help them to avoid the dangers of drugs, prostitution, and human trafficking; and train them to be upstanding and productive members of Thai society.
Opportunities. There is an ongoing demand for English teachers in Thailand. At INVEST, there are service opportunities available for singles, couples, or families at both short-term and long-term commitments. We are especially excited about the tremendous potential of partnering with local churches to provide volunteer teachers for schools in unreached communities. If you would be interested in helping with the work of INVEST, please contact us at investigoasia@gmail.com for more information.
