Do you have an interest in volunteering in Cambodia to teach, build houses, or care for children? Continue reading for why you shouldn’t.

Thank you for expressing your willingness to volunteer in Cambodia. Although we appreciate your eagerness to assist, we feel it is important to clarify why participating in volunteer programs may not be the best course of action, and suggest alternative ways to contribute.

At Human and Hope Association, our team made a deliberate decision to terminate our foreign volunteer program in 2014. Our local staff thoroughly considered the following factors when reaching this decision:

  • EMPOWERMENT OF STAFF

    Our mission is to help Cambodians build sustainable futures. We empower both our beneficiaries and staff, ensuring they can excel in their roles and gain confidence. We avoid disempowering our local staff by promoting teamwork and acknowledging their expertise. We believe that locals know their country and traditions best, and they can learn from each other without relying on foreign support.

  • CONSISTENCY

    Volunteer turnover disrupts our pre-planned education system and can lead to ineffective teaching. This has been a concern raised by students in the past. Moreover, our students come from vulnerable backgrounds and the presence of strangers exacerbates their instability. Employing full-time staff to teach and engage with the community builds trust and reliability with our beneficiaries.

  • CHILD PROTECTION

    Cambodia has a high incidence of child abuse, which is why we have implemented a rigorous child protection policy that all our staff and visitors are expected to follow. However, the risk of abuse increases when we invite a large number of temporary volunteers. Our local staff members have undergone child protection training and are well-prepared to handle any such incidents within the local context.

  • CULTURE

    The culture of Khmer is distinctive and situations within it are often influenced by complex factors. Short-term volunteers may unintentionally offend local staff and students by not respecting cultural norms. Our local staff is skilled in working with the community in a culturally sensitive manner, resulting in the best possible outcomes.

  • ATTACHMENT ISSUES

    Our students are dealing with difficult circumstances, and voluntourism creates attachment issues on top of what they are already experiencing.

  • LANGUAGE BARRIERS

    We have several team members who have limited or no proficiency in English, which can lead to frustrating situations for both staff and volunteers, causing strained relationships among all parties involved.

  • SUSTAINABILITY

    Relying on intermittent volunteers is not a viable long-term solution. To establish sustainability, it is essential to train and develop local personnel, who can then pass on their knowledge and skills to successive generations of local staff through a succession plan.

  • TIME

    Running an efficient volunteer program requires a significant amount of time, including pre-arrival, volunteer duration, and post-departure activities. Historically, we have experienced challenges in managing volunteers, with our team members reporting that they spend more time attending to volunteers than on serving our beneficiaries. This diversion of time and resources detracts from our vital work with the local community and impairs our capacity-building efforts for the local staff.

  • WE BECAME LOCALLY RUN IN 2016

    In July 2016, we became completely Khmer operated as part of our dedication to empowering our local staff. Our team, composed of subject matter experts, remains committed to enhancing our community and assisting villagers in breaking the cycle of poverty.

    As pioneers of locally-run organizations in Siem Reap, we are also working to raise awareness that voluntourism and short-term volunteering are not the solutions Cambodians require.

Salin Loeum, Co-Founder and Managing Director

“Local people need to be empowered and valued. When local people are empowered to help their own community and their commitment and accomplishments are valued, it is an obvious evidence to prove to the other potential beneficiaries to trust and be inspired to transform their lives and not rely on foreigners. Foreigners are encouraged to help Cambodia, however, in terms of day-to-day operations, local staff should take responsibility.”

Make a monetary donation

If you want to support Cambodia, a helpful approach is to donate funds to trustworthy NGO's. Prior to your trip, it's advisable to conduct research on these organizations. Look for groups that have financial and annual reports accessible online and practice transparency. Additionally, ensure that they have established child protection policies and require pre-booking for any visits.

During your visit, avoid taking pictures (children are not tourist attractions) and be vigilant for any warning signs, such as staff permitting unaccompanied exploration of the premises or allowing visitors to enter classrooms and "teach" the children. A dependable NGO should have a stringent visitor policy and child protection measures in place, which they must follow. As a conscientious traveler, it's important to respect that NGOs are learning environments, and the community should feel secure and at ease.

Disturbing the beneficiaries/students is not responsible, and reputable NGO's should not allow you to do so.

HOW TO HELP INSTEAD OF VOLUNTEERING

Support social enterprises

In Cambodia, there are numerous social enterprises that provide opportunities to shop, dine, or stay. These enterprises are often affiliated with an NGO, or they prioritize fair wages and working conditions for their employees.

One such enterprise is Phare, the Cambodian Circus, which hosts nightly circus shows that generate profits for their parent NGO in Battambang. Alternatively, you could support the preservation of Khmer culture by attending a performance of traditional Khmer dances by the Sacred Dancers of Angkor.

If you're looking for a great meal, Footprint Cafes offers a delectable menu and directs 100% of their net profits towards educational grants for the local community. Additionally, Salabai is a hospitality training school with a restaurant, hotel, and spa located on its premises.

Donate blood

One way to help Cambodian children is by donating blood to Angkor Hospital for Children, a free hospital in Siem Reap. The hospital's goal is to provide high-quality and compassionate care to children, regardless of their location or ability to pay. Blood donations are always needed to help patients with conditions such as chronic haemophilia, open heart surgery, or motorbike accidents.

Similar to blood donation processes in countries like Australia, potential donors undergo a few quick tests to ensure their haemoglobin levels and blood pressure are safe for donation. The best part is that donating blood is a cost-free way to make a significant impact in the life of a Cambodian child.