Volunteer Programs in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Today, Siem Reap houses several organizations, mostly nongovernmental or private, that focus solely on community development. Most of these organizations provide numerous opportunities for foreign volunteers to get involved in local communities and help implement projects or contribute to long term programs. Depending on the skill set and interest of volunteers, they will have the choice to volunteer in the areas of education, health, construction, and environment-related projects, most prevalently. Regardless of the individual volunteer placement in Siem Reap, all of these organizations focus on sustainable solutions that can lead to local community members living better lives.

Education. The lack of sufficient access to proper education in Siem Reap has increased the need for teaching and education volunteers, and there for both local and international volunteer organizations provide quality programs in which international volunteers can contribute to education in Cambodia. Those who volunteer in Siem Reap will have the chance to provide quality education to local students of all ages, in a variety of subjects.

Building & Construction Projects. The newest and most popular way of volunteering in Siem Reap is working on building projects that help improve the living conditions of particularly needy communities. These projects include construction of houses, bathroom facilities, wells, and other community buildings.

Wildlife, Conservation, & Ecotourism. Many environmental threats in Cambodia put indigenous local wildlife at risk; therefore, many wildlife and ecotourism programs have come about to counter negative environmental factors and protect local species. The lush jungles and number of endangered animals outside of Siem Reap make it a great place for conservation volunteering abroad.

All individuals who volunteer in Siem reap should be very careful when choosing an organization and placement, because there are unfortunately many unregistered organizations that do not provide what they say they do, which should of course be avoided. To start with, volunteers should seek out locally (and potentially internationally) registered organizations, since these organizations will be regulated and meet basic requirements.