Reflections from the field: programmers Juliana and Gregorio on the partnerships behind our Thailand programs.
No matter how many programming trips we’ve done, we are always struck by how excited our local partners are to welcome us, meet us, and show us around. While it’s exciting to visit the places, enjoy the hikes, and savor the meals our students will experience, what we value most is spending time with the people they will meet.
These are the individuals and communities who set aside part of each year to care for our groups, teach them, and share their culture with warmth and generosity. Each of our partners around the world has a story and a unique relationship from working with Putney and our students over the years—many of them for a decade or more.
Recently, Juliana and Gregorio, two of our program directors, traveled to Thailand to meet with our friends and partners there. Throughout the visit, our partners shared how much they appreciated the time we took to meet them in person, how deeply they value our students and leaders, and how much they look forward to welcoming Putney groups each summer.
Meet Our Local Partners in Thailand
Mai (Chiang Mai)
Mai is our primary contact in Chiang Mai and an absolute rock star of logistics. She helps organize activities, breakfast, airport pick-ups, and much more. After every group, Mai collects photos and creates framed collages that line her hotel halls—visual records of Putney experiences from the past ten years. She is hardworking, endlessly generous with her time, and always greets you with a wide smile.
P’Tik (Chiang Rai)
P’Tik is the English coordinator at one of Chiang Rai’s most prestigious schools. Each year, she organizes a school exchange day, pairing Putney students with local students for shared activities, lunch, and games. After nearly ten years, she still believes these cross-cultural connections and opportunities to practice English are priceless. A respected and passionate educator, she proudly showed us her school and introduced us to her students.
P’Nok
P’Nok is a powerful force of nature with a deep belief in the healing and creative power of plants. She teaches our groups about natural dyes, local herbs, remedies, and cloth printing using natural elements. She welcomes us into her open-plan home—built from refurbished local wood—and even cooks pizza in her elephant-shaped mud oven. Living outside Chiang Rai in an organic farming community, she is full of energy, ideas, and enthusiasm for sharing her knowledge, including her passion for local fish.
Kru Kung
Our groups have stayed at Kru Kung’s family-run guesthouse for years. Her husband works the counter, her son runs the café out front, and the entire family is kind and generous with their time. They prioritize our groups, support our leaders, and ensure our students feel at home during the final portion of the program.
P’Udom
P’Udom is the transportation expert for this program. Meticulous and detail-oriented, he ensures our groups are exceptionally well cared for. Though he does not speak English—and while our Lao helps somewhat—we held one of our most productive meetings using Google Translate. Together, we reviewed itineraries, dates, and potential new activities, repeatedly reading messages expressing how much he loves showing Putney students his region. It was one of the sweetest meetings we’ve ever had.
MRVR: Education & Opportunity in Action
Maekok River Village Resort’s (MRVR) work is incredibly impactful, and seeing it firsthand is always deeply inspiring. In this remote region of Thailand, home to many ethnic groups and cultures, MRVR provides educational opportunities that many children would not otherwise have: building schools, training educators, and securing resources for long-term impact.
Sang, one of MRVR’s managers, spent the day driving us around and sharing the organization’s work. Over coffee, he told us his own story: after losing his parents at a young age, MRVR made it possible for him to remain in his community, access education, attend university, and eventually return to work with the organization. He is getting engaged next month and said, “I almost can’t believe I have everything I’ve ever dreamed of.” He often shares his story with our students as a powerful example of the value of education and opportunity.
Thomas House & Kru Joy
Thomas House, built and funded by MRVR, is a school for students with special needs led by Kru Joy. Alongside her team, she educates, entertains, and feeds these students each day, helping some transition into local schools. Our groups learn from Kru Joy and her team through shared activities, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of inclusive, community-based education.
Why These Relationships Matter
These are just a few of the people who welcome and care for our service groups in Thailand. Each offers a unique perspective on Thai culture and shares experiences our students would not otherwise have. Through their stories and passions, they hope to leave a lasting mark.
Again and again, we are reminded why we love this work: the people, the special connections with local communities, and the long-term relationships built through mutual respect and kindness. We are deeply grateful for these partners who care as much as we do, year after year.
After spending meaningful time on the ground—strengthening relationships and seeing the impact of Putney’s partnerships—we return with renewed confidence. The heart of the program really lies in its people, the individuals and communities who make these experiences possible for our students.
Click here to learn more about our Service program in Thailand.
