WORK CONTENT:
Siem Reap Province is in the north western region of the country where 45% of people live in deep poverty. By volunteering at this school you offer the children the chance to learn conversational English skills that may enable them to create better futures for themselves within this culture-rich region that thrives on tourism.
You'll teach classes alongside the local volunteer English teachers. You'll generally teach around 4 hours a day, Monday to Friday, and you'll compile the lessons yourself. Most classes work from a text book which is provided by the school, so this will also help with planning and structuring lessons. This is a project with many different elements, so if you have any other skills you may like to bring to the table while you are teaching, we are more than happy to try and incorporate this into your time at the project.
They currently have sewing and design projects as well as computer classes; it’s full of variety and tries to touch on as many parts of community development as possible. The school has very limited facilities. It has a basic library that they are currently developing, but resources are very limited. The teaching facilities are also sparse.
THE SCHOOL:
The school has about 150-200 students that attend on a regular basis. They come from surrounding villages and attend either the morning or afternoon classes. When they are not at the school, they help their parents in the fields or attend the local public school where they cover their Cambodian subjects.
The school opens Mondays to Fridays from 08.30 to 11:00 and then again from 14:00 to 16:00, excluding the official holidays of the kingdom of Cambodia.
The school has 4 local volunteer English teachers that you will work alongside and assist. The school is run by a most dedicated Director who has put his heart and soul into helping the children around him. Many of the children who attend the school are recognised on the poverty list in Siem Reap, these are the children most in need. This organisation strives to provide them with education, health care and a meal or two a day. It works to try and keep the children off the streets.
You efforts here will give the children much-needed additional skills and will also help to give the teachers support and ideas which could help to further their teaching careers. Both staff and children are so willing to learn and develop.
You don't need any qualifications for this project and you’ll experience the best of city, history and spirituality that Cambodia has to offer… and that's saying something!
ACCOMMODATION
Living just by the Old Market area of Siem Reap in a lively and sociable guesthouse, you’ll be right in the heart of the action! This popular inner city area gives you access to all that this tourist friendly city has going on. Your room will have a private bathroom and a western toilet. Hot showers cannot be guaranteed, however.
The guesthouse has a sociable communal living area equipped with sofa, TV and a table with chairs where you can eat meals. Internet is free and available at the hostel in all of the rooms. There is a bar serving Western foods and breakfast and a communal balcony where you can relax in the evenings.
The guesthouse is situated 30 minutes away from the NGO school and Angkor Wat region. Transport is provided to and from your accommodation to work each day and will be in by tuk-tuk, car or van. It’s a beautiful drive!
FOOD:
Some food is provided, i.e. you'll get breakfast 7 days a week and lunch on Monday to Friday. You should budget for all other meals.
You're spoilt for choice of places to eat in Siem Reap! There aren't any cooking facilities in the Guest House, but there is excellent local cuisine in the many cheap cafes and restaurants.
Good, wholesome local food is very reasonably priced ... and exciting - Cambodian Cuisine is delicious! AND you can also take Optional Cookery Classes in Traditional Khmer Cooking!