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Overview of the Project
Cambodia is a country of considerable contradictions. On one hand it is one of the most exciting countries in Asia . On the other hand Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, affected by extreme poverty, civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime, political corruption and weak democracy, poor educational standards, and the prevalence of HIV/Aids and other serious health issues. 36% of the Cambodian population lives below the poverty line.
During the last 10 years, c omitted Cambodians have set up many Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to aid the reconstruction of the country, especially the communities in 23 Cambodian provinces. The organizations focus is concentrated on issues like community organization, income generation, micro-credit programs, land reform, agriculture, animal raising and gender development.
The CBOs themselves usually have limited (if any) financial resources. They often struggle to run their programs and to raise funds from international donors. Many staff members are volunteers receiving no salary. Often the organizations lack skills and resources to become powerful players at the local level. They urgently need support, for example, in fundraising and proposal writing, organizational development, administration and community development.
Role of the a Volunteer
For all organizations in the provinces, it is a great honour to host a foreign volunteer. The volunteer is warmly welcomed and will be included in all daily activities of the organization and the staff.
The idea is to bring foreign volunteer to Cambodia and exchange cultural and work experience and to contribute new impulses and fresh ideas that may be useful in Cambodian and the volunteers' home society. All volunteer placements are individually developed and the volunteer's activities will be arranged in advance. The responsibility of the volunteer depends on his/her skills and interests. For example:
• A law student supports a community by sharing information on their land rights.
• A volunteer with skills in development work supports an organization to write reports and proposals for fundraising.
• Another volunteer supports in organizing income generating programs for the poor and also brings out a saving program for the community.
• A country planning student supports a CBO to establish land and fishery communities in Pursat province, etc.
To be involved in these projects, a minimum stay of 4 weeks is required. At the beginning, the volunteer will get an overview of the organizations and its activities and thus get necessary information to start his/her activities.
Skills/Qualifications Requirements
To work in our volunteer Cambodia program, the volunteers should be genuinely interested in and committed to the Cambodian country and culture. Basic skills in the field he/she wants to be placed are highly appreciated. A special qualification is not necessary. The volunteer should be at least 20 years old.
Room/Food/Supervision
Cambodia Volunteers will live with a host family. The families are very friendly and hospitable and look forward to learning more about the volunteer's culture and country. They offer clean but simple accommodation, with a separate room, shared bathroom with cold water, and a fan. While they have breakfast in small restaurants or at work, they serve Cambodian food for lunch and dinner. In the case that the volunteer has special eating requirements (e.g. as a vegetarian or vegan), we would recommend staying in a guest house, as meat is the basis of most Cambodian food.
Our cooperation partner will welcome the volunteer at the airport and introduce him/her to the host family and the host organization. A welcome dinner will help the volunteer to get his/her bearings and to meet other volunteers. During the whole stay the volunteer has a contact person and an emergency number that is available 24 hours per day. Furthermore the contact person visits the volunteer every two weeks as part of the program.
Location Descriptions
The organizations are located in Phnom Penh and different provinces of the country.
Phnom Penh is a charming, rapidly developing city situated at the confluence of three great rivers: The Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac. The town offers many tourist attractions such as the Royal Palace , Wat Phnom, National Museum , and Toul Sleng Genocide Museum , and is a perfect starting point for daily or weekend trips to the provinces and the coast. Phnom Penh has a wide range of restaurants (all nationalities), markets, internet cafés and a wealth of interesting places away from the tourist track.
In the provinces, the volunteer will usually stay in the provincial capital, which is usually quiet, and medium sized cities with basic facilities such as traditional Cambodian restaurants, markets and laundries. Unfortunately, communication (internet, international phone call) is limited and very expensive in the provinces. It is the pleasure of local people to show the volunteers around and to give him/her an idea of country life in Cambodia . At long weekends, the volunteers have the opportunity to discover the country. The volunteer should take some time to visit the main attractions of Cambodia , particularly the majestic temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province and the beautiful coconut beaches of Sihanoukville. For this trip, a minimum of 3 or 4 days should be planned (and it is possible to take the Friday off!).
A typical day as a Volunteer in Community Development Project
It is hard to describe a typical day as workshops, training classes, meetings and office days alternate. The volunteer will participate in all activities of the organization.
7.00 am: Wake up at the house of the host family and breakfast in a small restaurant
7.30 am: Transfer to the organization by motorbike taxi
8.00 am: The volunteer joins the organization for a training class or a meeting with the community
12.00 pm – 14.00 pm: Lunch break
14.00 pm – 17.00 pm: The volunteer works in the office doing researches, proposal writing or other paper works
17.00 pm: Transfer back on a motorbike taxi to the host family. Dinner
Remarks: This itinerary gives a generic picture of daily life but it varies from project to project, season, and climate. This itinerary has been prepared to give a general idea to our volunteers on what to expect in an community development project
Ongoing Volunteer Programs in Cambodia
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Community Development