Volunteer Programs in Cambodia
In Cambodia, a sense of community lies at the heart of most volunteer programs. From building homes in Phnom Penh to strengthening marine habitats along the Gulf of Thailand, volunteers play a key role in supporting local developments for both humans and wildlife.
Outside of volunteer opportunities, Cambodia’s fast-paced urban scenes and sprawling countryside fields appeal to foreign visitors. Time off will find volunteers wandering amongst the vast temple complex of Angkor Wat, cruising on motorbikes down empty rural lanes, or escaping to the tropical sands of Koh Rong.
It’s important to remember that volunteering is more about what you give than what you get. While you leave with cherished memories of a time overseas, be sure to leave behind a lasting impact on the causes you came to support.
At times, travelers may feel more compelled to contribute to a local community rather than to simply visit. Cambodia presents unique opportunities for overseas volunteers in industries such as housing construction, animal conservation, and human rights.
Construction, Building & Community Development
Though Cambodia’s poverty rates have declined over the years, there still remains work to be done in order to provide economic security for the country’s underprivileged groups. In particular, homelessness remains a major issue in Phnom Penh and other urban centers, where orphaned youth, those afflicted with illnesses, and poor families reside in the streets or in makeshift settlements.
To combat homelessness, organizations such as Habitat for Humanity recruit international volunteers to lend a hand in constructing new houses for Cambodia’s impoverished groups. Participants receive supervision in building homes that will shelter residents, resist damage from typhoons, and provide security for inhabitants.
Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife conservation in Cambodia provides volunteers with a unique opportunity to positively impact a variety of ecosystems. Along Cambodia’s coastal stretches, sea turtles and other marine wildlife benefit from clean beaches, flourishing coral reefs, and well-maintained habitats, something that volunteers of Save Cambodian Marine Life and other NGOs make possible.
Inland, wildlife reserves housing elephants, gibbons, sun bears, and other rescued animals equally rely on volunteer organizations to upkeep sanctuary functions. Participants of programs like Pod Volunteer will be placed on teams to assist with the care and rehabilitation of these animals.
Human Rights
Cambodia’s recent history has seen such issues as child prostitution and persecution of minority groups affecting lives across the nation. Human rights campaigns work to combat these and other threats, with volunteers playing a crucial role in the development of safer communities.
Organizations like SHE Rescue Home, which helps female children affected by rape and trafficking, need experienced volunteers to help enact change and repair lives. Keep in mind, many volunteer roles in human rights require some training in social work or similar fields in order to successfully make a lasting impact.
Health and Medicine
Volunteer opportunities in the healthcare sector are more limited in scope for short-term volunteers, but between injuries caused by landmines and a high HIV/AIDS prevalence, especially among drug users and sex workers, Cambodia is certainly a top destination for medical and public health volunteer work.
Volunteering Solutions offers a medical volunteering program based in local hospitals and clinics in Phnom Penh. Medical and nursing students can gain valuable hands-on experience while helping underserved populations in the capital.
The majority of volunteer programs, especially those in housing, education, or human rights, operate out of Cambodia’s urban areas of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. In their spare time, volunteers will be able to explore the influences in Cambodia’s present-day structure through historical sites like Angkor Wat and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
Organizations also take participants into the countryside to volunteer on projects in agriculture and wildlife conservation. Away from bustling city life, volunteers will immerse themselves in local rural communities, discovering Cambodia’s green rice fields and more countryside wonders.
To volunteer overseas in Cambodia, you’ll need a visa. This can be acquired upon arrival, and both tourist and business visas are valid for 30 days. Officially, volunteers should go for the latter, which is able to be extended without exiting the country and, as of today, costs $35.
<h3 class="delta">Cost of living</h3>
<p>Cambodia’s cost of living is much lower than that of the US. As such, volunteers will have little trouble budgeting for meals and side excursions. Mobile SIMs are equally simple, with cards from top providers like Metfone and Smart available for purchase when you arrive at the airport or within urban areas.</p>
<h3 class="delta">Housing & Accommodation</h3>
<p>As with most overseas volunteer organizations, programs in Cambodia typically provide accommodation for their participants. Living in communal arrangements, volunteers can expect to share and maintain all facilities, with dormitory style or shared bedrooms.</p>
<p>Volunteers may also opt for homestay programs. Adding another layer to the overseas experience, homestays allow participants to more fully immerse themselves in the Cambodian way of life, consuming authentic home-cooked meals, participating in family outings, and getting to know their hosts.</p>
