Agriculture and Social Enterprise

Arrive into Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Head out of Chiang Mai and journey into the jungles of Northern Thailand. Ascending into the mountains, watch the shops and streetlights be replaced by water buffalo and village huts as the sun cuts bright rays through the forest canopy. Arrive in Mae Suai district and get an introduction to our partner organization, Hill Tribe Organics. Learn from their staff about how they developed their business surrounding organic, cage-free eggs and why they chose to create a social enterprise helping to empower local village farms.

Get an in-depth look into Hill Tribe Organics’ farming processes, learning how they farm eggs while incorporating northern Thai techniques and sustainable and ethical practices. Participate in cultural exchange activities with the local farmers, including learning local handicrafts, music and dance styles, or cooking lessons.

After a day of learning, you’ll get a chance to contribute and give back. Potential service projects include planting trees, building or repairing fences, and other infrastructure projects deemed necessary by the village and Hill Tribe Organics staff. At the end of your second day, we will wrap up with a Thai farewell and blessing ceremony. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.

Spend today exploring the lush hillsides of the Wawee region. Trek through tiered tea and coffee plantations and sample tea and coffee fresh from the source! After lunch, make the winding journey through hills and valleys back to Chiang Mai. Enjoy a savory Thai feast and a visit to Chiang Mai’s famous Night Bazaar, the perfect place to find last-minute souvenirs. Enjoy a fruit shake and wander through the many stalls of traditional Thai goods before returning to the hotel.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.