Volunteer Programs in Rural Areas, Cambodia

The school, the teachers, and the students have made a indelible impression on me. The eagerness of the children wanting to learn, the engagement from the teachers, and the founders of the school are all commendable. It was a very positive experience for me.

This is my second time volunteering via IVHQ. The first time was teaching English in Thailand and just now it was teaching English in Cambodia. The application process is very straightforward. IVHQ provides a good level of information to set you up. The volunteering was satisfying and I hope my little time helps makes an accumulative difference. The Cambodian people are so friendly and the country is great to visit.

I initially chose to volunteer with IVHQ because they are a certified B Corporation, which resonated deeply with me, especially since I work for a B Corp myself. Being part of a B Corp, I understand first-hand the commitment required to meet the high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. B Corporations prioritize people and the planet alongside profit, and I knew that IVHQ would not only have a meaningful impact on the communities they serve but also operate with the highest level of integrity and responsibility. From August to September 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to spend five weeks volunteering with a local NGO in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was an unforgettable experience. My primary role was assisting the organization in developing a proposal for the ‘KIX-call for proposals.’ The work was both challenging and immensely rewarding, providing me with invaluable insight into proposal writing and the NGO's mission. Throughout those five weeks, I gained much more than technical skills. I learned about Cambodian culture, the daily challenges faced by the NGO, and the resilience and strength of the communities they support. The project was highly collaborative, and I truly appreciated how my input was welcomed and valued at every stage of the process. Seeing our collective efforts come together, knowing that it could potentially secure much-needed funding for future initiatives, was incredibly fulfilling. Beyond the professional experience, Phnom Penh is a vibrant city full of life. The warmth and friendliness of the people, the incredible food, and the rich cultural heritage made every moment outside of work just as memorable. I highly recommend this volunteering opportunity to anyone looking to make a meaningful impact while gaining valuable experience. It was an eye-opening journey that left me with a deep appreciation for the critical work being done in Cambodia, as well as lifelong memories and friendships.

The training and the meeting pre-departure were really helpful and gave me great confidence to hop on the trip without worry. Everything was clear and very informative! After staying 7 weeks at the school, I had strong ties with the students and the teachers. Everyone was crying when I left and I wished I could have stayed longer, but sadly, I also have my life to continue... I believe I made a great impact and helped the students a lot! They were all very happy with my teaching approach, the activities I organized and the support I provided. As a 19 years old volunteer, I taught 16-18 years old students. Beyond teaching them English, I also had the opportunity to teach them more life skills such as public speaking, confidence, effective study habits and more. As a university student studying International Development and Philosophy, I gained profound insights. From studying the inequalities in the Western world and in the world of development, I came to appreciate learning directly at the source. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. The people I met were so kind, caring, and friendly to me that I still can't believe it. I learned to listen more, to be more tolerant, and to approach situations without judgment, with a fresh perspective. If I had advice to give to future volunteers, it would be to stay, at minimum, more than a month in one place to get to know people in depth and form strong bonds. They should go with an open mind, without judgment, and without trying to find what they are used to at home. They should challenge their norms and conventions, come with a clear slate to write a new story, immerse themselves fully, and learn from others because we have much more to learn than to teach.

my favourite part of the program was having the chance of doing both teaching and construction because it meant that I could get a taste of both programmes. I enjoyed teaching because the children really showed me that they wanted to learn and were so happy to be in my class. The construction was also amazing because you can really se the impact the work you’re doing has for the local community and education for the children.

This place is amazing in every way! The people the community, the elephants:) it was a little laid back in the volunteering work but I was fine with that! This company can use all the help as it has such amazing atmosphere. I am walking away with my soul full of love from what they do and the experience in general. I will be doing fund raising for the project as they need a positive voice to tell the elephants stories and the help to fund what they do , so they can do it for many years to come . They are not just elephant sanctuary they are so much more. I loved my experience here more than the other places I went and contributed to! I donated tools to help with the project but I wish I could have done more. This is the most ethical elephant sanctuary I’ve seen:)

I gained gratitude for my own life, as well as feelings of amazement for this country’s resilience, respect for their culture, self confidence, excitement for the potential far reaching impact my work will have in changing lives, self pride around my independence, adaptability, resilience and resourcefulness.

Great communication and guidance throughout the entire process. Raksmey and his team was phenomenal. He was present and informative in every capacity imaginable. When not physically present, he would stay in constant contact and provide consistent updates concerning matters related to the program or guesthouse. On a scale of 1-10 I would rate the local team a 100. The food was great throughout my time in Cambodia. The cook at the Phnom Penh guesthouse was phenomenal. Very kind and understanding. I have never had as much fun as I experienced during the 4 months I spent in Cambodia.

The Treak Community Centre is an amazing place for any traveller young or old. The administration is ready to help with any situation or need that comes your way, and the staff at the centre are some of the most welcoming group I have ever met. This program offers cultural immersion and an enjoyable volunteering experience that I would recommend anyone to try.

The staff and team there were amazing and always so welcoming and kind. The food was amazing and always something different. The cook was also very friendly and accommodating. The experience I gained from taking part in this volunteering has been invaluable to me. It has shown me that where I want to work is within the charity sector in order to make a real impact to peoples lives. It has also shown me that I want to live for part of my life in Asia as I have always loved the culture but living in Cambodia for almost 2 months showed me I could really live long-term there. By the end of my time there I could measurably see the difference I had made for the local NGO and the gratefulness of my colleagues for the help I was able to provide gave me real motivation to continue to do work like this in the future. It's a daunting process to start off with, but also one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had and I have no regrets about deciding to do this experience and would highly recommend to anyone.

The experience I gained from taking part in this volunteering has been invaluable to me. It has shown me that where I want to work is within the charity sector in order to make a real impact to peoples lives. It has also shown me that I want to live for part of my life in Asia as I have always loved the culture but living in Cambodia for almost 2 months showed me I could really live long-term there. By the end of my time there I could measurably see the difference I had made for the local NGO and the gratefulness of my colleagues for the help I was able to provide gave me real motivation to continue to do work like this in the future. The staff and team there were amazing and always so welcoming and kind. The food was amazing and always something different. The cook was also very friendly and accommodating. It's a daunting process to start off with, but also one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had and I have no regrets about deciding to do this experience and would highly recommend to anyone.

My favorite part fo the program was the community school and the children who attend are very very special. Having volunteered there, I am so impressed by the organisation and the co-ordinators who run the school.

The fact that I cleaned the stones, while trying to talk with the workers with signs which ones to clean and what side, was a pretty memorable part, mainly because of the entertainment out of the confusion and because we actually managed to communicate.

I had a wonderful time at the Elephant Sanctuary & Forest Conservation program in Cambodia. The time in the jungle, every day outside, meeting the elephants daily and helping around the camp with all different kind of work and this all for a good reason made my stay just great

Spending time in the jungle watching the elephants close-up. Loved being in the jungle - loved working with the other volunteers. Great program that looks holistisically on the challenge of preserving wildlife; i.e. no elephants without a jungle, no jungle without a local population interested in preserving it, etc. Got a much better of understanding the effects of deforrestation.

During the medical tests we were up close to the elephants, in my second week I got to feed one of the elephants, Sambo while she got foot treatment. This was done to train the elephant with positive reinforcement to participate in the treatment. This was a very good experience overall, I learned a lot about elephants and nature conservation. It could be more diverse, in terms of activities.

As a pre-Physical Therapy intern, I was one of the first interns to ever come to work in the Therapy Department; therefore, it was a new experience both for me, and the therapists that I worked with. Everyone was very open and excited to teach me everything from their treatment methods to their favorite foods. The amount I learned from each therapist in the department, whether I personally shadowed them or not, is immeasurable. On top of the success I had in my department, the relationships that I made with the other IMA interns was something that made my experience even more amazing. Sharing stories from our days in the hospital, having tough conversations concerning things that we saw, and exploring Kenya together is something that I will always cherish. Altogether, my experience with IMA was rewarding, impactful and life changing in many ways. My experience to the Masai Mara was amazing! I loved being able to see wild animals in their natural habitat, without any outside influence from humans. One morning, we even woke up to giraffes and elephants right outside our bedroom window. The safari is a must for all interns! Upon my arrival in Mombasa, Kenya, I was completely unaware of the impact that the International Medical Aid internship program would have on me as an individual, and further, an aspiring Physical Therapist. The culture in Kenya was overwhelming, in the best sense. It completely engulfed me and allowed me to explore the ins and outs of a foreign culture and healthcare system. My experience through this internship program provided me the opportunity to break down various barriers, allowing my perspectives and attitudes towards everyday situations to be transformed. Mombasa, being one of the two cities in Kenya that has major hospitals, has a public teaching hospital called Coast General Provincial Hospital. It is here where my internship began, and where I was able to learn from multiple different therapists to broaden my knowledge on Physical Therapy and foreign healthcare systems. My experience at Coast General, located in an area of extreme impoverishment, provided me with an environment that required me to understand and break down socioeconomic, racial, cultural and language barriers. The way in which Kenyans welcomed me into their country, and made sure I was learning everything that I possibly could, made me have a whole new respect for the way in which they live their day to day lives. Although I was from a different continent, and looked so different than the native population, I never felt as if I was a minority. I have always believed that people should be treated as human beings and not any differently based on their characteristics, and this experience allowed me to gain more perspective on this idea than I ever thought possible. I learned that being open and eager to learn about all groups of people enables individuals to gain insight and understanding of the world as a whole, expanding the capabilities and assets that such people have. I believe that having this desire and drive is important for Physical Therapists working in all settings, and I trust that it will benefit me greatly in the future. Through this perspective, I also learned the impact that a simple smile and wave has when there is a strong language barrier, being calm in situations that are outside one’s comfort zone, and asking tough questions when one does not understand a cultural practice of another group. In addition to these barriers that I learned to overcome through gaining perspective, the atmosphere of the hospital also presented itself with barriers concerning the resources and population of Coast General. The hospital is extremely under resourced and overcrowded, which gives ample opportunity for high stress situations. This atmosphere creates a barrier in itself, which often requires health professionals to make difficult decisions regarding the number of patients they will see in a given amount of time and the amount of resources they will use. From this, I learned from Kenyan Therapists the importance of patience, and giving their undivided attention to each patient in order to see the best results. There would be many times where the therapists would be called to other wards to see other patients, but they were always sure to stay with their current patients until the very end of their care. From the first moments I knew I wanted to become a Physical Therapist, I always admired the relationships that therapists had with patients based on the level of interaction that they had, and how they genuinely cared about their quality of life. By being able to form relationships in Kenya myself, I was able to practice this characteristic of Therapists that I thought so highly of at a whole new level. Through this experience, I learned how to better understand and adapt to stressful situations by remaining patient, but efficient, in order to give each individual that I form relationships with the proper care that they deserve. Altogether, my experience in Mombasa, Kenya allowed me to acquire skills and perspectives that I hope to use in order to become the best Physical Therapist I could be. My experiences with this program not only reaffirmed my interest to become a Physical Therapist, but greatly expanded it due to the characteristics of the therapists and hands on work that I was able to observe. I desire to continue to give and learn from each community that I am able to work with, in order to continue expanding my knowledge on various groups and characteristics of people. The perspectives that I gained from this experience will stick with me throughout the course of my future career, where I will continue to learn and build upon them.

This was my first visit to Cambodia and I really love the country and the people were so friendly. Mondulkiri was quieter than I thought, it was just a small town with a few bars and restaurants. That made the experience pretty cool though. The staff were great, and I hope I helped them out in their mission to promote the indigenous people of Cambodia. Such a great cause and I wish them all the best.

This was a great experience for me in Cambodia. It was my first time in Asia, so I was a little nervous. The project was really cool, it exceeded my expectations. It was really rewarding work and I hope I made a difference to the wonderful animals. Cambodia was a truly fantastic experience for me, I definitely want to travel more having experienced such a wonderful country.

Had an absolute ball. The Project staff and facilities where we stayed were excellent. The volunteers were a great mixed bunch of people from around the world, all with a common goal in mind and that was to help and make a difference. Will definitely be going back for a longer stint next time.