Care & Community - CAMBODIA Project Information for Care and Community in Cambodia

Our Care and Community Placements in Cambodia

Projects Abroad have a range of Care and Community placements in Phnom Penh. Volunteers work in orphanages, with street children, with landmine victims, or with poor and sick children in care centres.

In a typical placement in an orphanage, a volunteer would work from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm, with a few hours break for lunch. A volunteer's tasks would include giving basic English classes, helping in the kitchen, washing the children's clothes and teaching them basic personal hygiene, and generally helping to take care of them. Beside these things, volunteers also play games with the children who love all the new games which they are introduced to.

There are also some placements in a hospital where volunteers help to give medical care and treatment to HIV/AIDs victims. Volunteers are expected to take care of the patients and encourage them to understand how important life is, and that they are not discriminated against or isolated. Many of the children who are permanently resident here are mentally or physically disabled, so volunteers help with basic physiotherapy, and help with teaching them simple games, letters and songs.

The thing all the care placements have in common is that they are designed to help children who have precious few other people to whom they can turn. This work can be challenging, but it is also fun and enjoyable, and greatly appreciated by the children and staff. Probably the greatest value of a volunteer is to bring some fun into the lives of these children. Simply by being there, playing games, showing affection and providing some much needed love and attention you will be making an important contribution.