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Cambodia is a country in South East Asia. It is bordered in the north by Thailand and Laos, in the east and south by Vietnam and in the south-east by the Indian Ocean. More than 13 million people are currently living in Cambodia. The capital city of Cambodia is Phnom Penh and the official language is Khmer. The volunteer programs in Cambodia are located in the cities of Phnom Penh (in the south-east) and Siem Reap (north-east).
Cambodia is located in a region that is renowned for its monsoon season, which lasts from May to October. The monsoon causes strong rain storms between the months of May to October, with August being the rainiest month. The country’s temperature is highly variable, ranging from 27 to 35 degrees between May and October. During the dry season, which lasts from November to April, the thermometer reads between 17 and 27 degrees Celsius.
Cambodia is 6 hours ahead of Spain (peninsula time).
The official currency in Cambodia is the Cambodian riel. 1 Cambodian riel equates to 0.0002 euros.
The volunteer programs take place in two cities: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
The stay begins as soon as the volunteer is picked up at the destination.
The meals included in the project/destination will be provided at the accommodation. Meals will not be included for the journeys to the destination, the excursions undertaken by volunteers, etc.
The pickup times specified in each destination/project must be respected. Volunteers arriving outside the pickup times/day will be charged an additional cost of €15.
The volunteer programs take place in two cities: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
The capital, Phnom Penh, is an international city that welcomes many tourists and employees of NGOs. For this reason, you will easily find restaurants and bars serving international dishes. The teaching volunteer program, childcare volunteer program, disabled children care volunteer program, medical volunteer program, NGO support volunteer program and the construction and painting volunteer program take place in this city.
In Siem Reap, volunteers can participate on the teaching volunteer program, childcare volunteer program, NGO support volunteer program and the construction and painting volunteer program.
Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to Phnom Penh International Airport (airport code PNH). However, for volunteers applying to work on one of the programs in the city of Siem Reap, you have the option to arrive at either Siem Reap International Airport (airport code REP) or Phnom Penh International Airport. Upon your arrival, local staff will assist you in taking a bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.
Cambodian cuisine is highly varied, with typical dishes comprising a range of ingredients such as meat, fish, vegetables and even insects. Rice is a staple of Cambodian cuisine, featuring in the majority of local dishes. In general, Cambodian food gets its flavour from the generous use of spices.
In Phnom Penh, you can get from the volunteer house to the project site by “tuk tuk”, motorbike taxis or bike (the commute is roughly 30 minutes, depending on the specific volunteer program). The transport costs of getting to and from the project site are approximately €4 a day.
Siem Reap is a small city, meaning you can walk basically everywhere. However, if you’re looking to save time, you can get around in motorbike taxis or “tuk tuks” (a 15-minute drive from the volunteer house to the project site). This is a safe and cheap form of urban transport. However, we recommend agreeing on a price with the driver before starting the journey.
Renting a bike or motorbike is another way of getting around in Cambodia. The cost of renting one of these vehicles ranges from €30 to €60 per month, with this option requiring greater responsibility than the aforementioned forms of urban transport.
It is possible to fly from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (Cambodia’s capital city) or vice-versa, as there are airports in both cities. This is the quickest way of travelling from one place to another. However, we recommend booking tickets in advance to ensure that the prices don’t go up too much in price. In any case, the cheapest form of getting around the country is by bus or mini bus.
The volunteer must arrive in Cambodia (airport) on the first or third Saturday of each month. The painting and construction volunteer program does not have a fixed start date, as a group of at least 2 people is required for this program (please confirm with our Cooperating Volunteers staff).
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities in the city of Phnom Penh. Being the capital city, there’s always something to discover. The city is notable for its various monuments, which adhere to the country’s distinctive architectural style. These include the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom Daun Penh and the National Museum of Cambodia.
The city of Siem Reap is the perfect place to take a long stroll along the river. Visitors can also visit the Independence Gardens, which lie opposite the Royal Palace. Without a shadow of doubt, the city’s biggest attraction is the Angkor Wat temple. This archaeological complex, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comprises monuments and temples dating back to the Khmer Empire, is located 8 kilometres outside the city of Siem Reap.
The objective of the project is to train young people to be social leaders. The volunteers live in a multicultural environment, work as a team to develop tasks or institutional projects, accompany the beneficiaries in their daily lives or through workshops, and collaborate with the needs of the centers and homes.
Social Inclusion of children, young people and grandparents in situations of social risk.
Attention to Centers and Homes for the protection and restitution of rights of socially vulnerable children, adolescents and older adults.
The volunteers committed to the project will work alongside the community, involving different actors in society and allowing the full fulfillment of the rights of all people.
In Cambodia, not everyone has equal access to education, as the state education system does not cover the entire population. We collaborate with teaching volunteer programs in the cities of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. At times, volunteers will have the opportunity to lead their own classes for small groups of students. For the remainder of their time, they will be supporting other teachers or long-term volunteers already working at the school. The level of responsibility assigned to each volunteer will depend on their level of involvement and the duration of their commitment to the program. Volunteers are not required to possess a teaching degree or prior teaching experience. However, since classes are conducted in English, volunteers should have a good command of the language to effectively communicate with the students. Your primary role will be assisting in the delivery of English, mathematics, and ICT classes. Volunteers are expected to plan their lessons before teaching them. Typically, the school’s staff will provide volunteers with a guidebook that can be used for class preparation. Nevertheless, volunteers are also welcome to plan their lessons independently if they prefer. Volunteers will be required to work at the school from Monday to Friday, dedicating 3-4 hours each day. Class times may vary, but the typical school schedule is from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Observations: Classes do not take place on bank holidays. The dates of these bank holidays may vary, as some festivities are determined by the lunar calendar and the Khmer calendar. Generally, the bank holidays that are most likely to impact the program are as follows: 7 January (Victory Over Genocide Day), “Meak Bochea” Day (January-February), Khmer New Year (April), Visakha Bochea Day (May), Pchum Ben Festival (September-October), Independence Day (November).
Example of the program: “The People Improvement Organization” is one of the centres that we collaborate with in Cambodia. The organisation has various centres distributed around underprivileged neighbourhoods and in the outskirts of Phnom Penh. The organisation requires volunteers for two areas of work: English teaching and vocational training (ICT for students and teachers, sewing, cooking and hairdressing). English classes are given to children aged between 4 and 18 years old. Given the lack of resources, it would be a big help if the volunteer could bring their own teaching materials. The Center of Children’s Happiness is another of the centres that we collaborate with in Cambodia. This orphanage provides a home and education to 120 children who were previously working in the “Steung Mean Chey” landfill site in Phnom Penh. Volunteers will contribute 3-4 hours of their time either in the morning or afternoon and will be responsible for the following activities: Assisting children with their homework, ensuring they complete it accurately, leading fun and educational activities (singing, drawing, educational games, etc.), Supporting children in maintaining their personal hygiene, Guiding children in performing their household chores, including bedroom cleaning and meal preparation, and teaching them computer and technical skills (showing them how to take photos, hairdressing techniques, etc.). – office-based work.
Cambodia is a Buddhist country. As such, Cambodian people believe in reincarnation. When a baby is born with a disability, it is often seen as a sign that the child did something negative in their previous life. Besides this issue of discrimination, the healthcare system is also in a precarious situation. Healthcare is very basic, meaning it’s still very difficult to treat disabilities. This project is located in the city of Phnom Penh, where the centre offers disabled children accommodation, food and nursing treatment in accordance with their needs. Daily medical care is also available. The leisure activities are conceived to improve the life conditions of the children. The objective of the volunteer’s work is to help the local staff look after the children. Volunteers are often tasked with playing with the children, coming up with activities, helping with meals, mobility-related tasks and cleaning. Experienced volunteers can also help with rehabilitation exercises and therapy. Volunteers will be expected to work for 4-6 hours a day. Volunteers need to be open minded when they’re asked to perform various tasks, always seeking new ways in which they could help out at the centre.
Example of the program:
Phnom Penh Nutrition Center. This center is an orphanage that was opened in 1980. 180 disabled and non-disabled children and young people currently live in the center, from newborns up to the age of 20. The volunteer will be tasked with helping to feed the disabled children and assisting them with mobility-related tasks, helping to care for the babies and helping to feed the children over the age of 6.
The infrastructures in Cambodia are relatively underdeveloped. Many buildings still haven’t been reformed since the war. Many hospitals, schools and orphanages are poor and cannot be used. The volunteer’s job will be to assist the rehabilitation of these infrastructures, which are greatly needed by the local community. The volunteer can choose whether they would like to work in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Volunteers will need to work for 4-6 hours a day. The tasks will depend on the skills of the volunteer and the specific construction requirements. The work will normally be based on improving the outside and inside areas, painting and renovation. If the volunteer has painting and designing skills, they could help to produce colourful educational designs to liven up the building. This program is ideal for creative volunteers who know how to work with limited resources, who are flexible and willing to work on a wide range of tasks. We recommend that the volunteers arrive on Friday, Saturday or Sunday in order to start working on Monday.
With the outbreak of war, many children were left abandoned, meaning that they have lost contact with their families. After the war, orphanages were opened up to provide support to these young people. The orphanages that Cooperating Volunteers collaborates with are located in the cities of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Despite the fact that the war is now over, the poverty suffered by many families means that many children are sent by their parents to live in these orphanages, in the hope that they will receive a better education there. The volunteer will be tasked with providing assistance in many different ways inside the orphanage. The type of work and the working hours will depend on the centre to which the volunteer is assigned. In general, the volunteer will be expected to work for 4-6 hours a day. The daily activities usually include caring for the children, helping them with their homework, teaching them English and other subjects, playing interactive games with them, drawing, singing and teaching them songs, amongst other things. The volunteer will also help with operational tasks at the centre, such as preparing the meals, helping to maintain the centre and ensuring order and discipline. The children often attend school, where they study a fixed set of topics such as the Khmer language, culture, hygiene and morality-related topics. The volunteer needs to know how to adapt to social changes and be able to accept all of the tasks that are assigned to them in the centre, adopting a proactive attitude to ascertain the ways in which they will be able to help in the centre.
Example of work in an orphanage:
The María Teresa Orphanage in Phnom Penh is an orphanage run by Catholic nuns, which provides a service to around 20 children aged from 5 months to 10 years old. The nuns of the orphanage take their beliefs very seriously, and try to transmit their faith to the children who attend the centre. As such, the volunteer needs to be understanding and tolerant, as the nuns do their very best to look after the children. This orphanage remains closed on Thursdays so that the nuns can practice their faith. Excluding Thursdays, the volunteers will work for 5-6 hours a day from Monday to Friday. In this case, it’s important for the volunteer to dress respectfully, ensuring that their shoulders and knees are covered. They should also know that the hygiene conditions at the orphanage are very poor.
After the Vietnam War in 1960, Cambodia entered a civil war which destroyed the social structure of the country. Many doctors and educated professionals died during this period. As things stand, the country’s medical facilities don’t meet the minimum sanitary standards. As such, working as a volunteer on the medical volunteer program in Cambodia entails working in some of the world’s poorest medical institutions. Volunteers will observe the doctors and nurses in public hospitals located in the city of Phnom Penh. They’ll have the chance to observe the work of various departments. Volunteers need to be flexible and willing to accept different tasks. They must also accept that their presence in the hospital is not required, and that they are simply there to gain an insight into the Cambodian medical system. Volunteers in this program often have to work for 8 hours a day, with a lunch break at around 1:00 PM. Requirements:
Example of the program:
Volunteers can work in the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, located in Yothapol Khemarak Phoumin Boulevard in Phnom Penh. The hospital is managed by the Ministry of Health. The departments in which the volunteers will most commonly work are the Paediatrics Department, the Plastic Surgery Department, the General Disease Department and the Odontology Department, as well as attending surgery in the ICU.
As part of the teaching volunteer programs, we are now helping to run Spanish language courses in various schools located in the city of
Siem Reap
These classes are conducted within the same schools where we provide teaching support. Since the children are at the beginner level in learning Spanish and are more comfortable with English, volunteers should also have a proficiency in the English language. This enables English to be used as a means to address any questions that may arise during the classes. Volunteers will commence teaching Spanish upon their arrival. The approach to teaching this language largely depends on the volunteers, so they will need to prepare teaching materials before the classes. In addition to teaching, volunteers can assist with various tasks around the school. This may include helping students with their schoolwork, organizing games, and planning other supportive activities in the school garden. Typically, the school’s staff will provide volunteers with a guidebook that can be utilized for class preparation. However, volunteers are also welcome to plan their lessons independently if they prefer. During the volunteer program, volunteers are expected to contribute 3-4 hours of their time each day from Monday to Friday. Class schedules may vary, but the school’s usual timetable is from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, during which Spanish classes will be conducted.
Observations: there are no classes on bank holidays. Click here to consult the academic calendar.
Volunteers will be provided three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Khmer cuisine draws heavily from Vietnamese and Thai gastronomy, with rice, vegetables and noodles featuring commonly. The kitchens are open from 6 AM to 9 PM.
Breakfast usually includes coffee, tea, juice, bread and eggs. Lunch and dinner often include rice, noodles, soup, vegetables, beef, pork, fish and fruit.
Volunteers who are working on projects that are located far from the accommodation can ask for a packed lunch.
In Phnom Penh, volunteers will stay in a volunteer house.
Close to the volunteer house, there are multiple restaurants, shops and a local market. The Russian Market is a short 7-minute “tuk tuk” ride away.
The house has electricity, a fridge, hot running water and Wi-Fi internet connection.
The rooms have single and double beds, with volunteers sharing with 1-2 additional people. The rooms include a fan, and bed sheets are provided.
There are communal areas such as a dining room and a living room with a TV set and several books.
The volunteer house in the city of Siem Reap is located 10 minutes outside of the downtown area. This colourful building is designed in a typical Khmer style, which is very nice to look at.
The owners are aware of the importance of security and cleanliness for the volunteers. As such, they’ve tried to make the establishment as clean and safe as possible, allowing the volunteer to sleep easy at night.
The volunteer house is a great place for the volunteers to relax, with a small garden of palm trees and an indoor fish tank. Volunteers will share a bedroom with other people. Just like the Phnom Penh residence, there is free Wi-Fi internet access and a laundry service.
The total cost of the volunteer program is divided into 2 parts. The registration fee that is paid to book your place in the program 210 EUROS,, and the program fee which is paid afterward.
560€ 2 weeks
280€ extra week
If your currency is not specified in the table, you can convert your costs here.
*** The costs that are given in dollars are estimates, owing to constant fluctuations in conversion rates.
*** For the medical volunteer program, there is an additional cost of €170 for the first month and of €85 for very additional month thereafter. This money will go towards the hospital.
*** For the construction program, there is an additional cost of €15 per week for materials.
Visa, flights, travel insurance (obligatory), vaccines, return to the airport, and other personal expenses.
(*** Volunteers in Cambodia will generally find that €30 (approx. 25 USD) is enough to cover basic weekly expenses, such as commuting costs from Monday to Friday and toilet paper.)
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Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.
What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?
At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.
The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…
The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.
If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.
Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.
And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.
You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.
If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality.
Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.
It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity.
Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.
Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.
We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.
We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.
The advantages of corporate volunteering include:
The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.
If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.
Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members.
Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.
Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.
Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.
Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.
There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.
Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.
An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.
And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.
At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.
There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.
Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.
We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.
It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.
Some of the benefits include:
Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after.
A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.
When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.
Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.
Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.
At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…
And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.
If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.