Cambodia Volunteer Programs from $17/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

Volunteering with IVHQ in Phnom Penh, Cambodia was a life changing experience for sure!
Considering it was my first time in Asia, the first evening was a little overwhelming. The humidity, the Tuk-Tuk’s, barking dogs, bad roads was all something I was not used to before. Right away the local coordinator took care of me and explained a lot of important things right on the ride to my accommodation. After the first night Cambodia soon began to feel like a second home though. The accommodation was good for third world standards and the local hosts very friendly. The second day all the volunteers had a meeting with information and a Khmer crash course, local food was provided. We then went on to explore the city and get to know each other. The orientation day ended with a nice dinner. After that we didn’t have too much to do with the local IVHQ staff. They were always there if we needed support though.
The food at the placement was good but gets a little old after a few weeks.
After the first day we were working at our placements, I was working with a local NGO which met all my expectations. I felt like I was helping them (I taught english and helped with reports) and I felt appreciated. There was not always enough work which is to be expected though, even the staff was not working all the time. You should not expect western business discipline.
All in all I learned a lot, about third world countries and the problems in Phnom Penh. I had a really good time in Phnom Penh and felt like I could contribute something.
I can recommend IVHQ.

Volunteering with IVHQ in Cambodia and Zambia were the two best experiences of my life. As a solo traveling female I always take my safety extremely serious, and is the main reason I continue to volunteer with Ivhq. They always alleviate any nerves I have about the area I will be in, the airport pickup, as well as safe living accommodation with 24 hour security. I have done two programs with them and the communication between coordinators and myself is always outstanding. I am paired with a specific coordinator depending on my location, and they specialize in the knowledge to answer any crazy specific questions you might have before leaving, or even when you’re there. I never feel alone even though it’s what I’m actually doing. Volunteering in Cambodia, I worked with the special needs program. I could really see my benefit to being there, as they were low on staff with lots of work to be done. In Zambia, I was placed at a primary school, where I taught English and Math. I felt as though my efforts were very valued by my placements and I can’t wait to go back to both. Being a volunteer vs a tourist is so enlightening and really makes you dive right into the culture, while building actual relationships with the community instead of just sight seeing. I feel as though IVHQ is the best agency due to how much effort they put into the local placements they choose to work with and the local staff they employ. Everyone is great and I will continue to use IVHQ as an agency for more countries I choose to visit, as well as for when I return back to my previous placements.

I had the best time volunteering with IVHQ in Cambodia. I feel pretty lucky to have been placed in Siem Reap because I couldn't imagine a better place to stay for an extended period of time in Cambodia. The school I was placed at to teach English was absolutely amazing. Everyone was so welcoming and I felt as though my assistance to the teachers was actually helping the kids learn a bit better. All the other volunteers were great and we were able to travel and go sightseeing on the weekends. Overall I couldn't have asked for a better, more memorable trip.

Amazing experience! Taught english in Phnom Penh for 2 months at Happy School and had the most amazing and life changing experience. The volunteer house was so cool, had a rooftop. Served yum food every day, amazing staff at the house who helped with everything - including visas to other countries. IVHQ and CVF are both awesome organisations and I will be volunteering again with IVHQ because of how reliable, affordable and easy the whole experience was with them - staff always reply to emails and you don't feel hesitant to approach your program manager and ask questions about your trip etc. Highly recommend IVHQ if you're wanting to volunteer abroad. Also numbers to call for free etc so you never feel shut out or scared about anything! My placement was perfect, couldn't have been happier. Surrounded by the most hardworking, kind and passionate kids every day and teaching them english was amazing. THANK YOU IVHQ!

I had the most wonderful experience with Bravehearts in Cambodia. The staff could not have been more welcoming or friendly. Everyone working at the orphanage was incredibly dedicated and it was obvious how much they loved the children. It was an incredibly experience.
The staff at Bravehearts took the safety of their volunteers seriously and were vigilant in that regard. I could not be more impressed with how incredibly organised, kind and caring they were.

The accomodation was nothing flash, but that is what you expect when volunteering, and adds to the charm of the experience.

In having this experience, I have fallen in love with Cambodia, its people, culture and my work there. I have every intention of coming back for a much longer stay.

For my program I spent four weeks in Siem Reap, Cambodia teaching English at one of the local schools. It was a challenging but definitely worth-while experience. The information provided by the IVHQ staff prior to my arrival was excellent and allowed me to be well-prepared for Cambodian culture and climate. Knowing that somebody was meeting me at the airport gave me the confidence to travel alone. Whilst in Cambodia there was always a staff member available at the Volunteer House who was extremely helpful with both placement concerns and weekend plans. I was very happy with the quality of the accommodation, which was clean and comfortable, and the food was great. There was a wide variety of food available everyday and there was always more than enough for everyone. During my four week placement at the school I was able to watch the students learn and improve every single day. Transport was also very easy to organise and drivers were always on time for pick-ups. I used the same driver everyday and was comfortable enough to make several trips by myself. Being only 18, my parents and I are very happy with how smoothly the experience went and I will definitely be recommending IVHQ.

I volunteered in Cambodia for two weeks teaching English at a school in Siem Reap. I hadn't had any practice as a teacher so I was slightly nervous but the IVHQ team provided information on the orientation day to help with any questions and concerns we might of had. When we arrived at our school we were given our timetable and some reading material to help us with ideas for teaching the children and what was expected of us. I was given three classes a day, I had to write lesson plans for two of them and the third I just acted as an assistant. The classes original teachers are usually in the room to assist with translation but you can be left solely on your own so I would definitely recommend having some basic learning games and activities before you start so you're not caught off guard. I was thrown into the deep end as two out of three of the classes teachers handed me the textbook on the first day and then went and sat down, although daunting at first I realised this was the best way to get the most out of my two weeks as I now had full responsibility to teach the kids. Having a textbook as a guideline was very helpful but once you get to know the children you become more aware of their abilities. I then tailored my lessons so I was helping them build on what they already knew.

Two weeks didn't really seem long another to make a massive difference however I did see the children improve in my classes and this made all the slightly stressful times worth it. I wish I had planned to stay for another couple of weeks as although exhausted I wasn't ready to leave after two weeks. It was such a rewarding experience and I would highly recommend it to everyone I really stepped out of my comfort zone and was able to give back to an amazing school.

I was teaching English in Siem Reap in Cambodia for two weeks this summer. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I really saw huge improvements in all three of my classes and they were so eager to learn. My placement was a huge learning curve for me as I was put out of my comfort and learnt a lot about myself. I felt like I was making a big and positive impact on the school I was placed in and was definitely a hugely worthwhile experience. I really felt like I became part of the community during my stay in Siem reap, at the school and the volunteer house, and I wish I could have stayed longer. Definitely apply for this programme, it's so worthwhile!