Location
  • Cambodia
    • Siem Reap
Length
1 to 12 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)

Pricing

What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Visa Wifi
Nov 01, 2023
Apr 04, 2024
16 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Visit some of Cambodia’s most affluently built golden temples in Phnom Penh, or wonder at the age-old temple complex of Angkor Wat with a history spanning over 900 years. This is an opportunity to live and work among local communities, and learn about the culture and heritage. You could join traditional cooking classes in your spare time with local community leaders, or travel across the Mekong River with fellow volunteers from around the world. This is an immersive and ethical volunteer experience that works through collaboration, respect and empowerment.

Participate in ethical volunteering projects to support sustainable development in a variety of focus areas, such as; community, health, youth, and women’s empowerment. GVI measures its impact against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and sets short- and long-term objectives for each program.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Volunteer ethically to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals of a project.
  • Travel to one of Cambodia’s most monumental UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Angkor Wat.
  • Improve your practical skills through teaching, healthcare workshops, environmental awareness classes, economic empowerment initiatives and youth development.
  • Meet people from around the world, while also better understanding the culture of the local community.
  • Become a global citizen as you expand your awareness on leading global issues, and actively engage in different cultural practices.

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Intern leading class of monks in Cambodia

In Siem Reap, Cambodia, teach English to Buddhist monks and local kids. Work with the pagoda in the afternoons to enhance monks' English skills and teach children basic English in our educational centres. Gain teaching experience and leadership skills while exploring Cambodia's culture and making lifelong friends.

Interns working with children in Cambodia

Teach English, environmental awareness, arts and crafts, and health and exercise to children in Kampong Cham. Your efforts assist in the social and basic-skill development of community youth. Improve your own teaching skills while experiencing a new environment and culture and meeting people both locally and from different international backgrounds.

Program Reviews

4.89 Rating
based on 28 reviews
  • 5 rating 89.29%
  • 4 rating 10.71%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.85
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.95
  • Value 4.85
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 17 - 24 of 28 reviews
Default avatar
Budi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Cambodia

We are acquainted with GVI, an international NGO that focuses on improving education at the location of their programs in 20 countries, one of them in Cambodia. We also got the first training to teach English. I also learned about Global Development with lilies, development strategies and several theories related to Global Development. After that, we got training to create NGOs that will be implemented in Kampong Champ based on issues that exist in the village of Cham.

The NGO I made is Super 2030 focusing on young people and children. The aim is to build awareness and concern for young people to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and provide SDGs values to children. So that young people here are ready to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs development goals.

After that we also got the task to make programs related to traffic issues in Cambodia. Before developing the program, Diamond and I conducted a small research on this issue. we interviewed some Cambodian residents regarding the transportation system here. The result is that the average Cambodian does not like to use a helmet, there are no specific rules for riding a motorcycle, such as SIM cards and others and on average in the family each family member gets a motorcycle. Through the results of this survey we created a program that is a happy traffic campaign with #Helmetismystyle.

We also visited one of the NGOs in Kampong Champ, BSDA. There we learned a lot about their programs, program development strategies and problem analysis and risk management in running programs. Many program developments are carried out by BSDA, starting from the education, economic and community empowerment sectors.

We also conducted research related to the importance of learning English, caring for health and empowering women to the community of champ champ. We

got 17 respondents, from them we came to the conclusion that most Cambodian people said it was important to learn English in the tourism sector, and also women's empowerment was also very important. Now we are working on a program for the results of the research that we have done

50 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Budi, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Intan
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Experience Volunteering at GVI Cambodia

I am very enthusiastic to volunteer overseas because I want to learn how to volunteer activities in other countries. The things I want to learn are education and culture in Cambodia. I learned how GVI contributes in the education sector by teaching children.

For me volunteering is very fun, not only adding new experiences but also adding new friends. Of course when we make new friends, we also get new stories like where they come from, their culture, etc.

During my training at GVI, I learned about many things. Starting from international development, Cambodian culture, Khmer language, healthcare situation in Cambodia, environment, tourism, education, making presentations, conducting surveys with Cambodians, developing ideas for making a program, visiting OBT, BSDA, ChungKock until we learn to write blog. The experience given by GVI made me learn to continue to improve myself, to continue to learn and do useful things. I am also happy to be able to give advice on the development of tourism here and of course all the learning that I get will be developed in my organization.

Every day has their favorite parts, all of which are very good moments for me. I like to do surveys because I can talk to Cambodians. I also like when I visit OBT, BSDA and ChungKock, because I learn how these organizations manage their programs. I also like to do assignments from Lili and Avi, because I feel like a student.

53 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Intan, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Default avatar
Yogi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The training

it was an amazing experience. an amazing training. The presentation, the material, the deliverd, are so nice. I will apply it in to my social project in Indonesia.
The most favourite presentation for me was about International Development, i learnt about what the different about a big country and a small country. Why the other country has a develop, and why the other's dont.
And we also do some surveys to the community, we were looking an information about how is important English for them, how is important Healtcare for them, and also how important Women Empowerement to them.
And after the surveys, we managed the data, and according to the data, we make some programs who can be implemented in Kampong Cham to solve thes problems.

We do training everyday, but its not be bored. Because after you finished one training, you'll be curious about what would happend tomorrow. It such an amazing experiences.

What was your funniest moment?
When we had a quiz in our last night. it was so fun and memorable
49 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Yogi, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Agung
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Experience in Cambodia

I joined volunteering in Kampong Cham, Cambodia with GVI. I started looking for volunteering opportunity abroad because I love joining volunteering activities in Indonesia and I want to learn how social project run in other countries. And joining volunteering in Cambodia has been very exciting and inspiring. The staffs were very kind and friendly and they gave various interesting training from TEFL, khmer lesson, international development, etc. These training super interesting and encouraging.
Beside joining several training, I also visited several fascinating local tourism spot in Cambodia. But, my favourite part of volunteering in Cambodia was visiting several local NGO and teaching monks. Here I learned how a NGO develop and implement their project and helping the local community despite many challenge. I also learned how a local NGO can survive by running social entrepreneurship project.
Despite my short period of volunteering in Cambodia with GVI, the experience I get has improved not only my knowledge and my soft skills but also my cultural sensitivity. These experiences will be very important for me in the future.
I would recommend people who want to make a change to start volunteering. Dare to be a volunteer, dare to change the world!

54 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Agung, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Abdul
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wonderful Cambodia

If you want to have sosial activities and holiday too.. Lets join to gvi program.. I am very happy to be able to find beautiful things here, many things get here, starting from finding new friends, new lessons and of course new tourist attractions. the gvi team always provides assistance and support while in Cambodia, and many things can never be forgotten, frangipani is the most beautiful experience in my life. here I learned how to make people smile with simple things. I'm sure the future of the world is in our hands, we just have to continue to care and continue workIf you want to have sosial activities and holiday too.. Lets join to gvi program.. I am very happy to be able to find beautiful things here, many things get here, starting from finding new friends, new lessons and of course new tourist attractions. the gvi team always provides assistance and support while in Cambodia, and many things can never be forgotten, frangipani is the most beautiful experience in my life. here I learned how to make people smile with simple things. I'm sure the future of the world is in our hands, we just have to continue to care and continue work

What would you improve about this program?
I want to improve also my english and i want to improve my skill
50 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Abdul, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Default avatar
Sophie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Working with Children project Cambodia Review

I participated in GVI's Working with Children Project in Cambodia for two weeks. During my time on this project I felt as though I was presented with many opportunities to develop my leadership and teamwork skills. GVI's project helped to strengthen my abilities in working with children and working in an alternative environment. Experiencing first hand how you can improve a child's life situation by supporting their language development is very rewarding. This project entirely changed my perspective on volunteer work, and has inspired me to continue to pursue similar work in my home country. In addition to this, the friends I made while on base were one of a kind, and truly made this project fun and enjoyable for me. I hope to return to working with GVI and recommend anyone considering participating in volunteer work abroad to choose GVI.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
To travel alone! You really learn a lot about yourself and improve your connections when you embark on a project solo :))
49 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Sophie, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Default avatar
Matthis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

experience to never forget

I had a brilliant time in Cambodia. The country is flat, but very beautiful. There are a lot of small classic 'wooden-houses-on-pillars' villages, that you'd find one mile off the big roads, which means everywhere. The city of Kampong Cham is unique in it's own way too. It is one of the bigger cities in Cambodia, but you get a very laid-back feeling, since everything is shut after 10:30 PM (except the 3 sky bars, haha). And yet, there is a big market that sells everything, a town center with quite some old french colonial buildings. At 6:30 PM young and old come out of their houses to play and relax on the riverside boulevard, something rare to see. The students you teach vary from jolly and hilarious monks to challenging but amazing kids. The staff at Moon River and the GVI team has become my family. If this is appealing to you, apply ASAP!!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Most of the food is quite simple but delicious in Cambodia (try the fish Amok, or Char Chou Aim), but there are some things for the real adventurer too. The most unfamiliar things I ate were cricket and tarantula
53 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Matthis, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Default avatar
Heather
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience of a lifetime!

My experience here in Cambodia has been truly indescribable. Having worked in an office
environment for years, I decided to take myself my out of my comfort zone and volunteer
abroad. Lily and Avi have created a hub here in Kampong Cham,
where you feel welcome from day one, you are given the opportunity to experience various other activities alongside your program, i have thought monks, worked on women empowerment project, held workshop for over 50 students, one on one interview with people in the community, this allowed me to appreciate and understand the local community in a deeper level and the support that you receive is endless! This whole experience has had a huge impact my view in life, where I am determined to remain
in development and continue to help people and make a difference. Thank you GVI!!

50 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Heather, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Questions & Answers