“It really puts things into perspective, though I guess that can sometimes be a bad thing, making you realise how mundane and pointless everyday life is."

Michiko Kijima-Tivers, 27, used to spend her evenings and weekends trudging through the thick foliage of Ruislip Woods as she took her two dogs for walks from her parents' home in Rayners Lane, Harrow.

Now she is running an animal sanctuary in the rural Thai town of Sangklaburi and is responsible not only for the 50 resident dogs, but also provides the only source of medical help for the town’s estimated 2,000 canine residents.

Owner and manager of the online business, Divine Shaman, Chiko never wanted to travel aimlessly. It always seemed rather pointless to her.

In March, she decided to combine volunteering with her love of animals and stumbled on the Baan Unrak Animal Sanctuary, situated near the Thai-Burmese border.

With her partner, Rebecca Ahmed, they embarked on the almost 6,000-mile journey to Thailand.

One flight, three bus changes and a precarious scooter ride later, they were at the lakeside town of Sangklaburi.

Chiko said: “We could see there was so much to improve and wanted to be a part of that. We didn't just want to volunteer somewhere we weren't really needed.”

Volunteering is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people.

Jerrine Barnett used to work as a volunteer and project manager, and is now a business development manager for Corporate Traveller.

She said that, while there are obstacles such as financial difficulties, cultural differences and health precautions to be considered, there is nothing that determination cannot resolve.

She said: “Combined with the recent economic problems back home, it's never been easier to volunteer overseas. I think employers also look favourably on those who actively pursue new skill sets through volunteering.”

One of the reasons why she thinks it has become so popular in recent years is because of the accessibility of information on the internet and how much easier it is for smaller organisations to promote themselves through the web.

Completely reliant on donations and volunteers, Baan Unrak deals with difficult challenges every day.

The intense environment in which it is embedded means there are always new trials.

With only one permanent member of staff, the sanctuary, established in 2006, is completely reliant on the dedication of volunteers and donations.

Some of the most frequent injuries they face are dog poisonings, machete attacks and road casualties.


With the nearest veterinary hospital a four-hour drive away, it offers a medical service for injured, abused and sick animals that would otherwise be almost inaccessible.

This did not faze the girls, who are no strangers to volunteering – they both used to help out at North London Action for the Homeless in their free time.

Gemma Ashford, founder of Baan Unrak, says the help of Chiko and Rebecca has been wonderful. They are perfect examples of people who want to do something worthwhile as well as travelling, she insists.

“I know that they are working very hard, they are responsible and, most of all, they love the animals as I do,” she added.

Gemma started the sanctuary when she was volunteering at the local orphanage and has seen many volunteers come and go over the years.

She said: “People are sometimes looking for a new direction in their lives or they are looking for a purpose – they want to feel like they are doing something important and making a difference.”

Chiko and Rebecca have now extended their stay until December and are even planning to adopt two dogs from the sanctuary.

Chiko says she has found the whole experience inspirational.

“It really makes me awestruck that the human mind can create experiences from nothing,”
she said.

What do her friends and family back home think of her adventures?

“They think I'm mad but would expect nothing else as they knew I would never grow up 'normal'. They have all been really supportive and have donated a lot to the project which I'm so grateful for.”

For more information about Baan Unrak Animal Sanctuary, visit: http://www.thaianimalsanctuary.com/