General Impression
Overall Rating: / 10
Completing a volunteer program brings a sense of worth to any adventure you go on, well beyond that which could be achieved with a standard vacation. You contribute to a community, more than simply giving money as a tourist; you provide hands-on assistance to bring residents something that genuinely improves their life quality. You see the expressions on their faces personally, and interact with them. They are genuinely grateful to you, not only because you're there in person, but because the money you supplied through this volunteer program paid for the materials, tools and other resources that meant this project could begin in the first place. It is a truly rewarding experience in a part of the country that the vast majority of tourists would never get to see. If you like adventure, exploring, and helping people, these volunteer programs will be exactly what you're looking for.Country
Cambodia is a beautiful country steeped in a fascinating history. The Angkor temples are a site to behold for their sheer size, architectural beauty and wonder, at how the most intricate stone carvings have survived close to 1000 years. The locals are exceptionally polite and, in my humble opinion, speak English, in general, better than in neighbouring Vietnam. Siem Reap is a small, quiet town, as many of the attractions which draw tourists here lie further afield. However, the food is superb and well priced, and restaurant staff remember you if you make repeat visits. Walking around the town, not once did I ever feel unsafe, even at night. While visiting a temple, I befriended a monk who invited me to read passages of text with him in English so that he might improve his pronunciation, and later he invited me to visit him for conversation and meditation. Many great memories were had in Cambodia that will not soon be forgotten. I am yet to visit a land that has left such a marked impression on me as this one.
Project & Staff
Mine was a construction project, aiming to build water fountains that could be filled with water and left to stand throughout the day, allowing young children, not yet physically able to use the pumps, to access fresh water for cleaning and cooling off. My fiancee and I were joined by a representative of Bamboo, Roeun, a native of Cambodia who spoke perfect English and assisted us in the construction of the fountains. He was very polite, jovial, encouraging, and really made us feel included. He was also able to translate anything the locals might wish to say to us and vice versa. The project was completed for two homes, in collaboration with the nearby Helo school outside the main center of Siem Reap. Due to high daily temperatures of 35-40 celsius in the afternoons, we worked from 07:30 - 12:30, after which we would retire for the day and be served lunch at the school while socializing with the staff and other volunteers performing teaching duties. We worked for 1 week, and in that time built two fountains with help from Roeun and the fathers of the families we were helping. Some days were spent laying the brickwork and building the structure with cement, and the following day was spent plastering the walls, waiting for the cement to dry and painting a pattern of our choosing to complete it. On one fountain we painted 5 butterflies representing the family members, and on the other, we went for an underwater theme with sand, fish, whales, seahorses etc. The families were very grateful for our efforts, giving us fresh slices of mango from trees within their gardens, and allowing us to drink straight from coconuts, which worked wonders at keeping us cool throughout the day. The work was extremely satisfying to complete, and I also learnt how to make and apply cement, both to build a structure and for plastering. On the final day we got to see the first fountain we had built being used by the family we constructed it for. Overall, a wondrous experience that I have rarely lived through, and I cannot recommend you try it at least once.
Tips
Bring lots of sunscreen, and keep as much of your skin covered with light, quick-dry clothing as possible. April and May are quieter times of the year for volunteer programs because of the heat, but if you can tackle the heat, you will work in smaller teams on simpler projects. Don't worry about getting dirty or sweating; even the locals sweat when working in the heat, and after noon, you can return to your hotel with a shower, no questions asked. We were set up in a nice hotel about 20 minutes from the work site by tuk tuk. Your accommodation and transport to and from work are all paid for through the volunteer program so once you're on board, you don't have to worry about it. Be willing to dive in and give it your best shot. You're doing something that directly benefits others and the rewarding feeling stays with you long after the work is done. Have fun!