Volunteer in Cambodia
Cambodia Overview
Spaces extremely limited - now booking summer 2014
Call us today to reserve your space
Volunteer in Cambodia at projects where children are lacking one to one care, attention, stimulating educational activities and playwork and sport in a variety of projects in the local area. Volunteering Abroad in Cambodia provides an unrivalled opportunity to get to the heart of South East Asia before the tourists move in as in neighbouring Thailand. No experience is required in Cambodia, just an enthusiasm to get stuck in and help wherever you are needed. And they love English and English speaking visitors, so even if you have never taught before and only arrived yesterday you may be enthusiastically introduced to a class of smiling faces so make sure you have a little song or something on hand!
Volunteer work in Cambodia offers a variety of experiences in a convenient location, half way between the capital of Phnom Penh and the stunning Cambodian coastline. After arrival, an experienced English speaking coordinator will help organise placements which offer you an opportunity to learn about Cambodian life and put something back whether English teaching, outdoor games and sport or other areas of need. There is also an orphanage a short drive away which volunteers can occasionally make visits to, ask the coordinator on arrival for this and other opportunities. Friends and small groups of 2-3 arriving together are usually placed together and wherever possible volunteers arriving alone are paired up with an existing volunteer.
Cambodia is an exciting opportunity to discover a new culture, still a relatively untouched country with a thirst for inspiration, energy and ideas from visitors. Here you can take part in a life changing experience with children that will hard to forget. The hugs the children give you will show that!
Here you will find extra information about Cambodia. Call Reservations on 01603 627 007 and book a placement in Cambodia.
Images from Cambodia
Country: Cambodia
Book your placement with £125. Then pay £150 one off fee and stay free for up to 3 months.
Your memories
We have been sent some of the most lovely photos from volunteers at play and at work, they are truly inspirational.
Photo Album by Fiona Bryson
Photo Album by Natalie Duong
Photo Album by Tom Audley
Trip info for Cambodia
Country: Cambodia
Book your placement with £125. Then pay £150 one off fee and stay free for up to 3 months.
Change lives and volunteer in Cambodia2012 - 2013
Volunteer in Cambodia
Volunteer in the heart of South East Asia and discover an exciting new culture in a country still relatively unexplored by tourists. This volunteer project offers you a variety of placements and experiences in a range of locations between the capital Phnom Penh and the stunning Gulf of Thailand coastline.
One of the main focuses of volunteering in Cambodia will be on English teaching. The English language is very much in demand in the country; it is a highly regarded skill and a definite necessity for gaining jobs in towns and cities. However, in Cambodia not everybody has the opportunity to gain an education and English language schools can be expensive and inaccessible to most families. This lack of education often traps many people in Cambodia into lives of poverty and deprivation, with very little prospects for the future.
Through the volunteer work that you will be doing on the project, you will be providing local children with better hopes for their future, allowing them greater hopes of securing a job and maybe even a high school or college scholarship.
English Teaching
There are currently around 100 children who are now learning English, thanks to volunteers helping on the project. The children are all aged between 3-16 years-old. Many come are from poor rural families who could not otherwise afford to send their children to English classes.
No special educational background or work experience is needed in order to work successfully on this project. The children benefit greatly simply by the presence of native English speakers. Furthermore, all knowledge and experience that volunteers bring with them is highly valuable.
No formal teaching is required, anything will be appreciated even if you teach just a few words, sing songs or follow a text book. Some volunteers may like to make their own lesson plans.
Skills and Experience, no specific experience is required. For the Cambodia project all you need to do when working with children is bring enthusiasm and plenty of energy. Helping the children in Cambodia can be very rewarding and you will soon find yourself expressing news skills that you didn’t even know you had. This project is so diverse that you have a great chance to learn and take part in many different activities and ways of life.
What's included
Accommodation: Basic accommodation is organised by the coordinator and is usually shared.
Support: An English speaking coordinator is provided and will be available for you to contact throughout the duration of your visit.
Airport pick-up in Phnom Penh is organised for you (see above: Project at a Glance in 'Airport Pick up Service') and transfer time is approximately 1 hour.
There are no organized free-time activities for volunteers at this placement, although providing no activities are scheduled for the children, weekends can usually be taken to visit the stunning southern coast and explore the local villages independently or with other volunteers. It is expected that volunteers will organise their free time independently amongst the volunteer group.
We consider this project ideal if you...
- Want to try out teaching English.
- Want to learn about Cambodian culture and customs as an insider-not as a tourist.
- Want to use your volunteering as preparation for travel around the region.
- You are looking for a more challenging placement where you will need to rely on and test your own interpersonal skills and 'out of the box' thinking amongst local people.
What's not included
Flights
Insurance
Return Airport transfer
Local Transport around Cambodia
Meals
Visa
Support
An English speaking coordinator will be provided and available for you contact at any time throughout your stay. They will be your first point of contact should you have any questions or queries during your trip.
What to take
Once you have applied and registered with Original Volunteers, you will receive an Information Pack via email that will have further details on the project in Cambodia; in this email there will be a list of items to take and items that are best not to take.
How to apply
It is quick an easy to book with Original Volunteers. You can book online or call us on now on 01603 627 007 and book over the phone.
See related video ‘How to book’.
It costs £125 to book. Once book you can go to as many placements as you want within a year without having to pay the booking fee of £125 again.
The booking fee instantly books and reserves your place for any month you choose .We are very flexible. Just let us know if your plans change and spaces permitting we will put you on another list.
Not on your own
Although some volunteers travel with friends, the bigger majority travel alone. It is possible to get in contact with other volunteers before your travel, and a lot of people tend to do this via the OV Buddy List. They make friends before they leave and then meet them when arriving in India or some even plan to travel together and set this up themselves.
Once in Cambodia you will never be alone as you are put into groups and so always have people to support and help you; along with the support team and co-ordinators who are always nearby.
Accommodation
The project is located in the Tramkak District, Takeo Province in Cambodia. Basic accommodation on this project is included and provided for all participating volunteers. This will be in the form of a volunteer house at the project centre and will be shared with other volunteers. Accommodation is self-catered and volunteers will have the use of a communal kitchen, with a fridge, and bathroom facilities, including a sit-on toilet. All meals can be provided for $35 US Dollars a week which most volunteers take advantage off due to the project's location. Bars, restaurant, cafes and mini marts can be found in the town of Ang Tasom. The centre has electricity connected with a TV and a satellite USB stick for Internet usage.
In peak months volunteers may be placed in alternative accommodation close to the centre.
Things that you will need to organise yourself
Flights to Cambodia
Travel Insurance
Any resources you wish to bring
Visa if staying longer than 30 days
Fast facts - Project information
Project Duration: Min 1 week - Max 12 weeks
Volunteer options: English teaching, playwork.
Accommodation: Shared volunteer accommodation
Food: Self-catering or take advantage of all meals for approx $35 US Dollars a week payable after arrival, the usual preference due to the remoteness of location
Working Hours: Usually full time, 5 days a week. Some weekends depending on area of work chosen.
Volunteers usually stay: 2 -3 weeks, longer stays possible
Project operates: All year
When to apply: Early booking recommended
Requirements: Minimum age 18
Cambodia at a glance
Language: A Khmer phrasebook and dictionary will be a good idea whilst on your placement. Holiday/festival periods during 2012: October 10 - 21, Nov 26 - 30. The school will be closed at this time and volunteers usually get involved with the festivals or take time off to explore the region. Climate: Cambodia has a tropical to sub tropical climate with high temperatures. The south can be warm to hot all year round.
Time difference from UK: GMT +7 hrs
Places of Interest
The village where you will be based is very rural but there is a bus that goes to the nearest town that runs every morning and afternoon to stock up on comforts. It is best to travel at a weekend as it gets dark quickly and buses do not always run to schedule. There is also an Internet cafe at the town.
Bottled water, soft drinks, dry snack foods, beer and sweets can all be purchased locally in the village. Getting to the coast from the village is easy as there are plenty of buses, vans and taxis available daily, which are inexpensive.
Cambodia’s charismatic capital, Phnom Penh, will never be too far away and is definitely worth a day or weekend visit during your free time. Explore the many markets, stalls and boutiques, delve into the nation’s ancient past at the National Museum or visit the captivating temples and Royal Palace. The city also has a legendary nightlife with many lively cocktail bars.
Angkor Wat
The country’s prime attraction for visitors - Ascend to the realm of the gods at the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, a spectacular fusion of symbolism, symmetry and spirituality. It is well known as one of the most beautiful and fascinating places on the planet, built by the Khmer kings in a process spanning almost four centuries. Try and visit at sunrise for the breathtaking views and to see the site in it’s most beautiful state. Expect to pay between $6-$12 (US Dollars) for the five hour bus journey from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the location of Angkor Wat. Siem Reap is a town perfect for backpackers so expect to find plenty of places to stay and eat out, along with lots of fellow travellers.
Sihanoukville
Approximately a three hour bus journey from Phnom Penh is the stunning seaside town of Sihanoukville, perfect for a weekend break or for a short stay once you have finished volunteering. Surround yourself with white-sand beaches and undeveloped tropical islands, great for a relaxing after a weeks work and well equipped for a backpackers needs.
Choeung EK
Rising above the 129 mass graves in the Killing Fields is a blinding white stupa, which serves as a memorial to the approximately 17,000 men, women and children who were executed there by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Best visited after Tuol Sleng to get a full understanding of the scope of the Khmer Rouge madness.
