Volunteer projects in Cambodia

This project is based in Siem Reap, the gateway to the temples of Angkor. Whilst the city is booming on the back of tourism, it is hard to escape the poverty that many Cambodians still face and the struggle they have to survive.

We support a number of projects in and around Siem Reap. All share the same ethos which is to create a better future for Cambodian society through education and practical development support.

We run three types of volunteering projects in Cambodia.

Working at a childcare centre in rural Cambodia: You will be living, providing care and an education to these great children. This remote facility is a haven of refuge for 34 children, 21 of which are resident. We urgently need volunteers to help us give these kids the basics in life that they so desperately need and to share with them life's experiences. Let's help give them a brighter future together.

You'll be helping to impart life skills, working on the small farm, implementing nutrition programmes, teaching, reading, playing and being a friend to these great kids. The ethos of the project is to help the children and the poor in the community to help themselves, which is why we are so happy and excited to be working together with our local partners on this worthy project.

You may also want to support a community initiative in providing English classes every afternoon to those interested in learning the language from the area. With the promise of employment in local hotels for the best students, we welcome those volunteers who have the necessary skills to teach English to a high standard to the community. Please note this is a late afternoon, early evening role so it involves travelling back to town after dark.

We are also working with a small rural project where you will live and work within the community whilst looking after two orphaned children — this project is only available for stays of at least two months.

Teaching English: Teach English at one of our project partners schools in Siem Reap. These schools serve the poorest in society, children who can’t attend the state school system full time. You’ll spend your time working with some great children imparting your knowledge and helping them in a small way to secure a safe livelihood.

Teaching English will be the focus of your work, as this has been identified as one of the core ways for the children to secure a positive future of employment, free from exploitation. However it is equally important to teach the children how to be creative, and to listen to them. For example, the best way to help young children who don't speak much English is to stimulate their mind, read them books, give them colouring in pictures, sing songs, make games and have fun.

You don't need any formal teaching qualification. What you do need is a real desire to make a lasting difference to children's lives.

Conservation or community development: Get dirty at one of our reforestation or community development projects where you’ll spend your time working with our partners on a range of vital work, from building homes and sanitation facilities in rural Cambodia, working on 3 4 1 our partners reforestation project to developing organic farming methods, what ever the work you’ll be guaranteed to be making a huge difference to children and the communities in Cambodia.

You'll find yourself contributing to vital long term development, which help families, orphans and disadvantaged children. You could be building a house for a land mine victim, helping the environment, getting involved in bringing water to local communities or helping out at one of our organic farming projects.

You may also be working with our local partner in a community mentoring role, offering advice and mentoring the community on issues such as basic health care, sex education, environmental issues, reading and domestic violence counseling. We see this as a mentoring and facilitating placement, so you need to be a good listener. Whatever you do you'll be making a direct impact on a country's present environment and future development, while experiencing the local culture from within.

Accommodation: You will either be staying at a hostel or in the community in which you are working — we have chosen this with you in mind. Remember you will be living in less economically developed countries so please don't expect the same standards as home. No two days are the same, there is so much you could be doing, you’ll be teaching and learning together with children and the community and one day you could be out farming or planting trees and the next visiting the local land mine museum with the children in your charge. What ever you do you are safe in the knowledge that you are creating lasting change.