Friends for Asia is a long-running volunteer organisation connecting people from around the world with meaningful volunteer and internship projects in Thailand, with bases in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. After more than 17 years of operation and thousands of volunteers, their website and tech stack had become outdated and difficult to manage. Graphio completely redesigned and rebuilt the Volunteer Thailand website using Next.js with a Directus custom CMS, migrating 12+ years of content, refreshing the brand visually, and optimising the entire platform for international volunteers looking for trusted programs in Thailand.
12+ Years of Legacy Content
The original site was running on an old WordPress install with more than a decade of content, images, projects, and blog posts. We needed to:
Preserve key project pages (like Elephant Camp, Teaching English to Buddhist Monks, Children’s Shelter, and medical/engineering programs).
Avoid breaking existing SEO value built up over the years.
Clean up and restructure content for a clearer information architecture.
At the same time, many images were low resolution or inconsistent in style, which weakened the visual impact of their incredible on-the-ground work in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
Rebranding for Today’s Volunteers
The brand itself needed a refresh. Friends for Asia now runs:
350+ successful groups
3,500+ volunteers and interns
Programs in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, including specialist student group programs (like Doctor Follows Week and Engineering Immersion Week ).
The website needed to reflect this scale and credibility, while also:
Feeling warm and human (not like a generic agency site).
Clearly explaining the breadth of volunteer projects and internships.
Making it easy for users to explore by project type, location, and target audience.
Modern CMS & Automation
On the backend, the team needed to get away from clunky, plugin-heavy WordPress and into a system that:
Centralised all content in a modern, headless CMS.
Supported custom application and enquiry forms.
Automated repetitive tasks (e.g., logging form submissions to spreadsheets, sending notifications).
Graphio’s challenge was to deliver a future-proof, fast, SEO-friendly platform without overwhelming the client team.
A Modern, Manageable Platform
Friends for Asia now has:
A fast, modern website built with Next.js and powered by a Directus custom CMS instead of legacy WordPress.
A single, central place to manage all projects, student programs, fees, FAQs, and supporting content.
Clean, structured forms that automatically feed Google Sheets and email workflows, cutting down on manual admin work.
Stronger Brand & Storytelling
The new site presents the organisation as it really is today:
17+ years of experience, 3,500+ volunteers and interns, and 350+ successful groups are clearly communicated.
Updated visuals and optimised images better showcase life in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and project locations across Thailand.
Clear pathways for different audiences: long-term volunteers, gap year travellers, and international school student groups.
Improved Experience for Volunteers
For potential volunteers and students:
It’s easier to discover the right project, compare options, and understand what a placement actually looks like in practice.
Application and contact flows are smoother, with fewer clicks and clearer calls to action like “Apply Now” and “Projects in Chiang Mai/Bangkok.”
This project is a good example of how Graphio, a web and app development agency based in Chiang Mai, helps long-running organisations in Thailand modernise their digital platforms—moving from outdated CMS setups to custom, high-performance web apps that are built to last.
