Robin O Neill (USA)

• Project Type -Childcare
• Location of program - Phnom Penh,Cambodia
• Duration of program - 04 May, 2009

How did you find the pre departure booklet given to you and the service of the staff in regards to answering your questions and helping you prepare?
The Pre-departure booklet was very thorough, answered all my questions and gave tons of useful information which I referred back to numerous times during my 5 weeks stay in Cambodia. The Volunteering Solutions staff were very helpful and extremely prompt with answering questions before I left, and the staff in Cambodia were awesome. They gave me an excellent orientation, a welcome dinner with other volunteers and checked in with me all the time both at the orphanage and at the house. Two Thumbs Up!

Did you enjoy working at your project / placement?
It was amazing. Tough at first because I have never taught before, but once I got into the swing of things & got to know the kids, it was so enjoyable and unbelievably rewarding. The kids were really well behaved and had great manners. It was really hard to leave them!!!

Accommodation and meals
Both Excellent! I stayed with a host family along with 3 other volunteers. We all had private bedrooms with fans and were comfortable. The food was really good and there was always much more than necessary. The family went out of their way to make sure we were always happy, they were great! They even took us to the beach for a weekend.

What was the highlight of your volunteering experience and your trip?
I made some great new friends with other volunteers, spend weekends exploring other areas in Cambodia and made awesome memories making popcorn and having slumber parties with 85 really inspired children.

Would you recommend this program and our organization to others? yes/no
YES Absolutely!