Go beyond your boundaries and travel to the breatdtaking Southeast Asia! As you volunteer and Travel in Cambodia, you will discover an astonishing country and drastically change the lives of others. Cambodia is colorful, charming and picturesque and offers sometding special for everyone. Its vibrant capital Phnom Penh boasts beautiful landscapes, rich culture and remarkable temple monasteries (wats). Unfortunately, Cambodia is still tdreatened by poverty and desperately needs your help. Join Global Crossroad Volunteer now and you can join a project to working witd children, orphans, schools, clinics/hospitals, local organizations and/or local municipalities. You can explore this stunning country, enjoy its beautiful scenic beauty, engage yourself in rich traditions and ultimately change your life as well as tdose you help.
To begin this amazing and unique journey, send us an email now for more information. the sooner you inquire for information, the sooner you can help change the world for the better!
All volunteer programs start on the first and tdird Monday of each month.
If you are tired of expensive volunteer programs but want to make a positive contribution in the world, look no further! Global Crossroad is dedicated to offering high quality, well-organized and meaningful programs at the most affordable price in the United States. We work hard to keep costs as low as possible, focusing on the effectiveness of our projects, the safety of our volunteers and the quality of participant experiences. We currently offer the most competitive price possible in today's market including an application fee (of $299) AND a small weekly fee as follows:
| Duration | Teaching Orphanage HIV/AIDS | NGO/ Community Development | Medical Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Weeks | $380 | N/A | $580 |
| 3 Weeks | $489 | N/A | $689 |
| 4 Weeks | $595 | $595 | $795 |
| 5 Weeks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 6 Weeks | $810 | $810 | $1,110 |
| 7 Weeks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 8 Weeks | $1,060 | $1,060 | $1,360 |
| 9 Weeks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 10 Weeks | $1,280 | $1,280 | $1,680 |
| 11 Weeks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 12 Weeks | $1,460 | $1,460 | $1,860 |
Mandatory Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day
Orphaned children have suffered in Cambodia due to poverty, conflict, abuse, disease and abandonment. Sadly, UNICEF estimates Cambodia has around 100,000 orphans, but orphanages lack human and financial resources and receive very little governmental assistance. As a volunteer in Cambodia working in an orphanage, you can directly provide light in these children's lives. Global Crossroad Volunteer works with local organizations and international efforts to provide a home, food and education for these orphaned children. By working together, initiatives are in action to help children survive and live healthy and productive lives in Cambodia. Be a part of this wonderful cause, enrich the lives of orphans and provide them with brighter futures. This program is the perfect opportunity for volunteers looking at opportunities to share their love, passion and skills with these very-unfortunate children who desperately need and deserve it.
As a volunteer/traveler in Cambodia working in an orphanage, responsibilities will vary depending on individual skills and interests and the needs of the orphanage, but may include:
There are no specific qualifications needed to volunteer in the orphanage project in Cambodia. However, volunteers are expected to be flexible and patient. You should also have a passion and love for orphans.
Volunteer in Cambodia teaching English and help widen opportunities for local children! Due to growth in tourism, international trade and the internet, there is an increasingly high demand for English-speaking Cambodians. Because of this, children are put under pressure to learn English, but state and community schools lack resources and qualified teachers to teach the language properly. Global Crossroad Volunteer's teaching English program in Cambodia has collaborated with local schools to offer free English lessons (mostly conversational English) to poorer children who would not otherwise be able to afford it. By working in the English-teaching program in Cambodia, you instantly open doors for your students, personally and professionally. You will help to improve their English reading, writing and conversational skills. This program is the perfect opportunity for volunteers who are looking to share their time, skills and compassion with less fortunate children, all while exploring a beautiful country.
School will remain closed in Cambodia for 2 weeks in April and whole of August and September. The project is not available then.
Each volunteer English teacher in Cambodia will work in a public school. You will mostly teach English at the primary, secondary or high school level, but may also be asked to participate in additional activities. Examples of activities may include:
There are no specific qualifications needed to teach English in Cambodia. However, volunteers interested in participating in this program should have a passion for teaching, a love for children and be willing to share their time, energy and compassion.
Volunteer in the medical/healthcare project in Cambodia and gain professional experience, explore Southeast Asia and most of all, promote quality healthcare. Hospitals and clinics located in and around Cambodia's major cities lack adequate staff and resources. In effect, knowledgeable and able-bodied volunteers are in great demand. Global Crossroad Volunteer collaborates with local hospitals and clinics to give volunteers the opportunity to dedicate their time and energy to those without easy-access to medical facilities. Participating in the healthcare volunteer project in Cambodia opens tremendous opportunities for volunteers/travelers to experience new things in their lives and careers. Volunteers have the unique chance to immerse themselves into another culture while making a positive contribution to the community where the need is the greatest.
Duties will greatly depend on the educational backgrounds, skills and personal interests of the volunteers. Each volunteer in the Cambodia Healthcare Project will assist doctors and other already-existing healthcare professionals by carrying out activities such as:
Applicants must be able to provide some form of medical certification (medical ID, EMT, paramedic, nursing, etc.) or be a healthcare professional. Due to liabilities, applicants lacking some form of medical training/expertise will be ineligible for this project. All healthcare-related credentials must be provided prior to arrival in-country.
Volunteer in the HIV/AIDS Awareness Project in Cambodia, where you can explore a beautiful country and truly make a difference in the lives of others. Like many countries in the world, the pandemic resulting from the spread and acquisition of HIV/AIDS is serious and deadly in Cambodia. Volunteer assistance is greatly and desperately needed in many areas of Cambodian HIV/AIDS projects. Global Crossroad Volunteer collaborates with local organizations promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and comforting HIV/AIDS-infected Cambodians. Volunteers/travelers can have the rewarding opportunity to create hope among the sick and assure them that they can live productive lives, even with AIDS (given proper care of their bodies). Volunteer now in the HIV/AIDS Awareness Project in Cambodia and help counsel affected individuals while educating others on the causes, effects and preventions of the disease. The only way to decrease the number of those infected is through education and through your help, you can directly save lives and prevent HIV/AIDS.
As a volunteer in Cambodia working for HIV/AIDS Awareness, you can help in a variety of ways. Volunteer activities may vary depending on skills and interests and the necessities of the local organizations. Examples of activities include:
There are no specific skills or qualifications needed for this particular program. However, volunteers interested in participating in this program should have a passion for educating people and addressing fears about the numerous misconceptions of HIV/AIDS. Participants should also have a passion for caring for others and a willingness to share their time, energy and compassion with these in-need Cambodians.
If you are looking to gain valuable experience helping others, than volunteer in Cambodia and work with local NGOs! Cambodians have suffered from a violent past, mismanagement and corruption. The government has failed to lead the country towards prosperity and as a result, many are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are forming to alleviate dilemmas. While many NGOs have been a powerful tool to communities financially and continue to improve living conditions, many have failed to function effectively due to lack of resources. Many NGOs urgently need the help of volunteers to continue efficiently carrying out projects. Recognizing this, Global Crossroad Volunteer is attempting to help many local NGOs and is requesting volunteers who are willing to dedicate their time to poor Cambodians. This program is the perfect opportunity for volunteers to use their personal and professional skills to greatly contribute to communal projects benefiting the greater good.
As a volunteer working with local NGOs in Cambodia, you can offer support to local communal projects. Personal skills and abilities are often taken into account by matching specific skills with local needs. Activities may include:
There are no specific qualifications needed to teach English in Cambodia. However, volunteers interested in participating in this program should have a passion for teaching, a love for children and be willing to share their time, energy and compassion.
Global Crossroad Volunteer arranges volunteer meals, accommodations and strong field supervision for the duration of projects and optional travel packages. In Cambodia, most volunteers stay either in our guesthouse or with a host family. Our guesthouse in Cambodia is located in a pretty community in a very safe and clean neighborhood in Phnom Penh City (a notable Cambodian tourist city) near the Olympic Stadium and the Orussey Market. There are internet cafés, restaurants, local bus stations, a police station and supermarkets nearby. The guesthouse proves a comfortable place to relax after a long day. There are several bedrooms (which may be shared with a same-gender volunteer) and community areas. There is a shared kitchen, television, hammocks, internet access and shared bathrooms, which have running water and "western-style" toilets.
Host family accommodations are simple and clean homes in safe neighborhoods. Volunteers usually have a private bedroom, but occasionally rooms share a room with a same-gender volunteer. Our host families are well screened and are respected members of their communities who live in affluent neighborhoods. Most of our host families have experience with hosting international volunteers. Host family stays are a great chance for cultural immersion and exchange.
Volunteers receive three local meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We can provide vegetarian meal options, but needs must be detailed in a volunteer's application. Snacks and beverages outside of mealtimes are not provided; however, there are local restaurants and grocery stores near the residences in which we place volunteers.
Global Crossroad offers unparalleled field support to volunteers to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. There are many layers of support for you. The most important support comes from our country coordinator/field staff. The secondary support comes from the host project staff and members of host families and/or a guesthouse staff. Volunteers will have access to our country coordinator's mobile number and they are available 24/7. Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. Our field staff will visit regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to make sure things are going well and as planned. However, if placement is far from our local offices, staff members will stay in touch via email/ phone. Volunteers are also welcome to stop in the offices at any time.
Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for our local coordinator will be provided in a personalized volunteer placement document prior to arrival.
Global Crossroad Volunteer's projects are available in Phnom Penh (known as the "Pearl of Asia" and home to the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom, National Museum and Toul Sleng Genocide Museum) and Pursat (temples of Angkor Wat and the Tonle Sap). All locations have shops, banks & internet cafes nearby. Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia. Khmer or Cambodian is the language of the Khmer people and the official language of Cambodia. It is a pleasure for local people to show volunteers around and give them an idea of country life in Cambodia. Cambodia is an eclectic mix of traditional culture and history with modern urban infrastructure, infused with traditional architectural influence. You will find many of the amenities you would expect from a city.
Volunteers can organize different excursions during and after the project to visit places of interest. There is a tourist infrastructure already in place that volunteers can take advantage of during the weekends. For example, there are markets, internet cafes, temples, boat racing festivals, the Kampot Zoo, waterfalls (rapids), kampot pepper farms, art, restaurants, beaches, hotels and much more.
Please read Global Crossroad Volunteer's 5-step application
Arrival Point: Phnom Penh International Airport
Airport Pick-up: Upon receipt of your flight information, our in-country coordinator or other project staff will greet you in the airport and take you to your project site. The address and telephone number of the local contact hotel will be given before departure just in case volunteers miss our representative in the airport. Please make sure to email your flight information to both the USA office and the local in-country coordinator's office.
Departure Point: Phnom Penh International Airport
Airport Drop: Rarely, a few do request an escort back to the airport; this is an extra expense of about $75. Most are very familiar and comfortable with their stay and have great ease taking their own taxi or bus back to the airport.
Transportation: Global Crossroad Volunteer manages one-way transportation to project. Volunteers will be responsible for their own personal and return travel. We do not cover daily transportation from host family/hotel to the project. Our program is designed to save you the volunteer as much as possible.
Start Dates: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
Start Date: Global Crossroad Volunteers/Travelers coming to Cambodia are advised to arrive one day before their program start date. If you arrive more than one day early or stay after the program, you will be responsible for your room and food expenses.
Working Hours: 30- 40 hours per week
Global Crossroad strongly suggest that all volunteers apply for a tourist visa in a timely manner before departing for Cambodia. Please call our office or contact the local Cambodia embassy to learn more about visas, visa fees and visa extensions. Getting your tourist visa is your responsibility.
Please read about health and safety and become aware about what you should and shouldn't do before travelling to Cambodia. Remember, you're priority while traveling abroad should always be safety first. We recommend you to visit the websites listed below. Please read the content thoroughly.
General Health Tips for volunteer in Cambodia
Bring drugs you require with you. Although you can find most modern medicines in the drugstores of Cambodia, they can be named differently and come with different level of dosage. Carry a health kit and include medications for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, mosquito repellant, sun block, band aids, etc.
You should be vaccinated before traveling to Cambodia. To see which ones you need to, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm#vaccines
You should also discuss your travel plans with your health-care provide and determine vaccinations you will definitely need. We suggest the following:
Rabies: Recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, hiking, or work. Also, children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals and may not report bites.
What is the exchange rate? Where should I change my dollars? Can I use my debit card or credit card? Should I bring traveler's checks?
To find the exchange for Cambodia Riels, visit: http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
Cambodian Riel is the official currency of the country. Change your money at Phnom Penh International Airport when you land there. You'll find bank counters where you can exchange your money into Riels. Start by exchanging $400 first.
We advise you to carry a credit card for large and emergency purchases so you won't go broke if something goes wrong. If you've requested a pin number for your credit card, you can use it to get cash advances at the ATM.
You can also carry a debit card that can be used at ATM's to withdraw local currency. Debit cards are the best way of getting money and ATM vendors are available in major banks and department stores in Phnom Penh. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in some of the large stores and hotels in larger cities, but not accepted in smaller cities.
How much money you bring depends on your personal spending habits. Thrifty people can get by on less than $10/day. Your budget should also include money to explore Cambodia in free time as well as for your personal use. A good rule of thumb for money management is the 1/3 method, bring 1/3 cash, 1/3 traveler's check and leave 1/3 of your money in your account - plus a credit card for emergencies.
Once the volunteer program starts, our local staff will stay in touch with volunteers. We visit our volunteers every 2-4 weeks (in Phnom Penh). During busy season and when a volunteer projects are long distance from the office, our local staff maintains communication by email and by phone. Our Cambodia coordinator maintains a 24/7 mobile phone so you can call him/her at any time. In many occasions, our local partners assign a local mentor and support volunteers.
Volunteers are requested to bring their mobile phone. Once you arrive in Cambodia, you can change sim-card and use it. This is the perfect way to stay in touch with your family and the Global Crossroad Volunteer office in Cambodia. Internet cafes are available in most areas of Phnom Penh.
Take advantage of the Web, which can bring you current weather and forecasts for your destination:
Cambodia has a diverse climate; summer is normally the hot, humid and rainy season. Winter is cold in the morning and warm during the daytime. The temperature drops during winter nights. Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing according to the season and activities. The months of fall and spring are wonderful. *Please bring a raincoat in June-July-August
Take advantage of the Web which can bring you current weather and forecasts for your destination:
Situated in the tropical zone, Cambodia is bathed in sun almost all year around. There are two main seasons: the rainy season and dry. Each season brings about a refreshing change. The humid, rainy season lasts from April to October. Temperatures range from 27-35 degrees Celsius. The hottest month is April when the temperature can reach 41 degree C these days. The cool, dry season lasts from November to March, with temperatures ranging from 17-27 degrees C. December to January is the coolest period at about 27 degrees C.
Most daily items are available in Cambodia at a cheaper price. However, we suggest volunteers pack the following things:
