Project Summary

Volunteers with a passion for the outdoors who are keen to use their physical strength to help to build structures, clear community spaces or assist with agricultural work will enjoy this building and gardening placement in Cambodia. Many NGOs are underfunded and under resourced and struggle with the maintenance and development of their project sites and work in the community. Where possible NGOs and projects will employ local workers to help with the work but extra help is needed with specific projects or larger activities. Extra pairs of hands are often requested to ensure community buildings such as classrooms or community centres are needed. Volunteers are sought to help clear and maintain gardens and to support agricultural projects, which are often linked to sustainable livelihoods, nutrition or community projects. Bring your enthusiasm and willingness to help where needed to assist local NGOs who are supporting the urban and rural poor in Siem Reap province.

Why choose this project?

Many NGOs are looking for extra pairs of hands to help them with ad hoc building, gardening or agriculture activities because they do not have the funds to pay everyone they need to do manual work, despite labour costs being very low in Cambodia. Volunteer support can help complete these activities much quicker than they would otherwise be able. Volunteers benefit from working with local materials and helping to build structures that are important to either the NGO or local community. These are really rewarding placements that see direct results.

Role of the volunteer

Your role will largely depend on your skills and experience and the time of your placement. There is not one placement, but a number of NGOs and projects that are hoping for your support. Placement availability varies due to the needs of the projects.  Projects are hoping for assistance with gardening and agriculture projects so digging, weeding and planting are tasks that volunteers can help with. Other projects may need support with preparing, decoration or building structures with guidance from the local team. These tasks may be at the NGOs themselves or in the communities which they support. Please be aware that tasks may not be approached in the same way that you are used to at home, so you will need to be flexible.

Skills Required

Volunteers should be physically fit to be able to participate fully in the activities on this placement. Please note that it is hot and humid in Cambodia and this can impact on productivity. In the rainy season tasks can often be impacted by the rains with September and October being particularly difficult. No particular skills are needed to join this placement but volunteers will be asked to be patient, be able to work in a team and willing to get stuck in!

Because we work with a number of different placements in the area, we like to conduct telephone interviews with volunteers to find out their skills and what they are looking for. That way we can make sure you are placed in the most appropriate placement for you. You will be asked to send your CV/resume before being accepted onto this project. You will also be asked to send a letter of motivation, medical certificate and 2 references from a former teacher or employer.

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