Volunteer in Phnom Penh
Cambodia is trying to establish itself alongside its ever-developing neighbours Thailand and Vietnam.
In August 2005 The Bangkok Post reported Cambodia to have "the worst English language skills in South East Asia." One of the reasons for this is that there is no English curriculum taught in state schools therefore it is a privilege bestowed only to those who can afford it.
Volunteer Programs in Phnom Penh
Seametrey Montessori School
In Phnom Penh, we work in local Montessori school called Seametrey. Seametrey is a self-sustainable Cambodian NGO whose aim is the moral reconstruction of Cambodia by restoring self-esteem and self-confidence to the Khmer people. The aim is to change the image of Cambodia and make quality education accessible to Khmer children.
Seametrey Children's Village is a Montessori Nursery and Day Care Centre located in the heart of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is catered to children from 3 months old to six years. There are also several children older than six who go to government school part time and go to Seametrey the rest of the day. The thirty plus students at the school come from three different backgrounds:
Expatriate parents pay full fees comparable to some international schools in Phnom Penh.
Khmer wealthy parents pay 50%.
Economically deprived families contribute what they can, in cash or in kind.
The rationale of this policy is social integration and self-sustainability. The aim is to have 15 children in each category.
Although the school is not wealthy it is well resourced. They take pride in changing the image of Cambodia. The management invests whatever necessary to make the school environment stimulating, enriching and beautiful. Volunteers who choose to come to Seametrey Children’s Village are not doing relief work but rather participating into a long term rebuilding of Cambodia by providing Khmer children with quality education to enable them to become responsible and competent citizens later.
This school needs English speaking volunteers to interact with children and teach them all sorts of skills, not only the English language but also art, crafts, music, computers, swimming, games and sports, etc. There are also other aspects of Seametrey in which you can take part including administration, IT/website design, and construction.
Volunteer in Sihanoukville
T2T has long wanted to expand our volunteer programs into more areas of Cambodia and has recently added Sihanoukville as a volunteer location. Sihanoukville has become one of the most popular destinations in Cambodia with tourists and the Khmer people alike.
Sihanoukville is a coastal port town southwest of Phnom Penh which sits on a small peninsula within the Gulf of Thailand. Sihanoukville is a spread out tourist town where one can catch glimpses of traditional Khmer life and enjoy some of the amenities of home in a tropical setting. Even with the influx of many tourists and new businesses there are many people whom remain in abject poverty and most noticeable of these are the children. While reclining in your chair on the sand there is often a parade of children and adults streaming by hawking goods. The ‘beach kids’ often sell handmade jewelry and fruit and do this in order to help out their family and put food in their stomachs. One of the main volunteer projects we work with helps these ‘beach kids’.
In the beginning our volunteer program in Sihanoukville will focus on English teaching and community work but we hope to include environmental conservation in the near future.
Volunteer Programs in Sihanoukville
Cambodian Children’s Painting Project - English, Art and Computer Teaching
The Cambodian Children’s Painting Project is located on Serendipity beach with the aim of supporting, educating, and taking general care of Sihanoukville’s beach kids. The CCPP is a place where the kids can come to paint, be creative and inspired. They can also sell their paintings in order to make a small income.
This project was initially initiated and inspired by a painter from Spain who was on the beach painting while visiting and was soon surrounded by many children asking if they could also paint. Thus the project was started in 2004 and just a few years later the project became a full-fledged Cambodian NGO with the aim to help these children and provide a safe environment for them. The project is now being expanded with a new classroom to teach English and computers. Volunteers with this project will help teach English, Art, or Computers.
For more information visit our website
http://www.travel-to-teach.org
