During this humanitarian project in Cambodia, you will have the opportunity to assist specialists and local volunteers within a local NGO. In order to place volunteers on this project, the local associations carefully review applicants’ profiles to assign them to the most suitable mission. It is not the volunteers who choose the mission, but the associations that select candidates based on their skills and the needs on site. Several missions are therefore available depending on the volunteers’ profiles and the needs of the local associations.
In general, volunteers work within the associations, helping with fundraising, communication, administrative work, and in some cases, accompanying local volunteers in the field. The language barrier may limit the scope of tasks, but the associations will do their best to involve volunteers in the projects.
Your open-mindedness, flexibility, and versatility are highly valued in light of the variety of tasks and the frequent changes in the NGO’s needs.
– Center for people with disabilities
There are only about 200 centers for children and young people with disabilities in Cambodia. Our partner center welcomes children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities, as well as children living with HIV. They attend public school in the morning and return to the center in the afternoon.
This project is particularly interesting for physiotherapists and physiotherapy students who wish to engage in a humanitarian mission, as the children require intensive daily care. The center has a sensory room with light and soft music to calm and stimulate the children with disabilities.
The center can accommodate around 130 patients and receives very limited government funding. Children with disabilities are often abandoned because parents lack the means to care for them and specialized facilities are rare.
The center’s goal is to reintegrate patients into society. Some manage to learn small tasks such as basic cleaning in order to earn a modest income.
– Support for local businesses
The partner organization welcomes international volunteers with specific skills (press relations, social media, marketing, strategy, etc.) who want to help small projects develop in Cambodia.
This association was founded 3 years ago by two Australians. Their project supports women seeking to find their place in society by starting their own businesses, mainly in crafts, sales, and services (such as hairdressing). The demand is very local but is beginning to spread throughout the country.
The association is in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cambodian government in an effort to help improve the situation of women in Cambodia.
– Childcare center
The childcare center for disadvantaged children is located about 20 minutes away by tuk tuk from the volunteers’ house and is sponsored by a Catholic school. Children are picked up from their neighborhood around 6 a.m. They are given food, take a shower, spend the day doing activities, and are then taken back to their parents in the evening. The children are between 2 and 5 years old and need to be kept busy for several hours with games, painting, and early English learning.
– Teaching
This humanitarian project in Cambodia is only available for a minimum duration of 4 weeks.
In Cambodia, children attend school in half-day shifts because there are not enough schools available. Our partner school focuses on teaching English to children aged 6 to 12. The school welcomes children from all social backgrounds. Parents work all day and cannot afford daycare, so the school also provides meals for the most disadvantaged children.
Arrival every Sunday
Duration during the week | Budget total mission |
|---|---|
2 weeks | 1150 € |
3 weeks | 1400 € |
4 weeks | 1650 € |
5 weeks | 1850 € |
6 weeks | 2050 € |
7 weeks | 2250 € |
8 weeks | 2450 € |
9 weeks | 2700 € |
10 weeks | 2950 € |
11 weeks | 3200 € |
12 weeks | 3450 € |
As a volunteer, you can stay with one of our carefully screened local host families. In Cambodia, it is common for members of a large family to live under the same roof. Often, several Cambodians (of the same gender) share a room (and a bed) or sleep on the couch or in the family room. However, you will have your own room (most of the time) or share a room with another volunteer.
Typically Cambodian meals. Breakfast usually consists of bread, omelet, and coffee. Dinner includes a variety of dishes prepared by the local team, such as rice or noodles with vegetables or meat. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available upon request.
Volunteers can share a tuk tuk. Expect to spend around $2–3 per day for local transportation.
Donations are not mandatory since an envelope intended to support local communities is already included in the registration fees. If volunteers wish, they can bring additional donations. NGOs particularly need toys, children’s books, school supplies, and hygiene products (such as toothbrushes). Visits to local schools can be organized by the NGO to distribute donations.
– Minimum age: 18 years old.
– Intermediate to fluent level of English (able to understand instructions and communicate).
– A copy of your passport.
– A copy of your criminal record.
