Work With a Community Development Project in Cambodia

Project Summary

Project at A Glance

Location: Phnom Penh, Pursat and Kampot provinces Start/End Point: Phnom Penh Duration: 4-12 weeks Hours: 20-30 hours per week Food: Local meals; 3 times a day Room: Host family or hostel Date: First and Third Monday of each month Minimum Stay: 4 weeks

Cambodia is a developing country with a painful and strife-filled history. Many localNon-Government Organizations (NGOs) havebeen organizing various community development projects in many areas such as education, women's development, peace/justice and children development. All of these organizations aim to rectify the existing, socially crippling situations in Cambodia – and focus on the reconstruction of the country and its communities. IFRE's community development volunteer program in Cambodia collaborates with many local NGOs to support their community development efforts.

As a Cambodia Community Development volunteer, you will work in various community development projects based on your previous experience and skills. The tasks and duties vary with each type of local project. This program would is the perfect choice for those desiring real hands-on experience working in developing country. This experience can be had while simultaneously honing their personal, career-oriented skills directly related to to international development agencies.

Skills/Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications required for community development in Cambodia. However, volunteers need to have an interest in and be enthusiastic about community works and projects. Volunteers are expected to be flexible and patient.

Volunteers' Responsibilities

IFRE customizes project placements based on a volunteer’s experience and interests. For instance, a law student could help a community apply for their land rights; an English writer with skills in development can offer assistance in writing reports and proposals for fundraisers; an engineer can help create a plan for infrastructure development/improvement. Furthermore, volunteers possessing skills in land-planning/distribution can offer their assistance in establishing land and fishery communities in the Pursat province. In summary, your duties depend on your skills, experiences, qualifications and current needs of the project at the time of participants. All volunteers are encouraged to be proactive and flexible.

Room/Food /Supervision

IFRE arranges room, meals and supervision for volunteer for the entire duration of the program. Depending upon the location of the project, volunteers will either stay in our guesthouse or with a host family. Placements are usually in Phnom Penh or in/close to a provincial capital. Our Phnom Penh guesthouse is located in the center of the city (a notable Cambodian tourist city) near the Olympic Stadium and the Orussey Market. The staff is made up of English and French speaking people and they are very kind. There is a large roof terrace with hammocks, a TV and internet access. Nearby there is a restaurant and more services to help make your stay in Cambodia a pleasurable one.

Our host families are very friendly and hospitable. They look forward to learning more about a volunteer‘s home-country culture and life. Whether you stay in our guesthouse or with host family, IFRE manages clean but simple accommodations with a separate room (occasionally shared with other volunteers), shared bathroom with cold water (usually no hot water is available) and a fan.

IFRE also manages three local meals a day. Usually, volunteers have breakfast in either a small restaurant, with host families or at work. IFRE manages volunteers’ food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some volunteers have lunch with project workers. If a volunteer having special eating requirements (e.g. as a vegetarian or vegan), we recommend staying in our guesthouse and not with a host family, as meat is the basis of most daily Cambodian meals.