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Childcare Volunteer Program in Cambodia
The childcare volunteer project in Cambodia offers you a chance to work with children, teaching and caring for them. You will also assist local staff with the maintenance and daily operations at the project in Phnom Penh.
You are placed at a local childcare center or day care in Phnom Penh, working with children roughly ages 3 to 8 from low-income backgrounds. Day to day you assist the local teachers and caregivers: helping with classroom activities, teaching basic English and Khmer alphabet, songs and poems, preparing and serving meals, and supervising play. This program suits volunteers with no prior childcare experience who want hands-on, supervised work with young children.
The program runs 2–24 weeks, with new starts twice a month (sundays); the next intake begins 20 Sep 2026. You live in a shared volunteer house near the Russian Market, with a host family, or in a guesthouse, and eat three set meals a day at a partner restaurant nearby or with your host family. Fees start at $819, deposit included ($249). Weekends are free, and many volunteers use them to travel to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.
- Opportunity to do volunteer work for Cambodian Children
- Work for local NGOs/Childcare centers
- Responsibilities entail teaching children, take care of them, assisting local staff in the upkeep of the center and carrying out day-to-day activities
- An important contribution is to make the children feel comfortable and deeply engage with you
- Opportunity to meet fellow volunteers and do-gooders from all over the world
- Weekends free to explore the Cambodia and Visit Angkor Wat
Your role on this program
- Assist local teachers and caregivers with classroom activities using playway teaching methods
- Teach basic English and Khmer alphabet, songs, poems, and memory verses
- Help prepare and serve meals to the children at the center
- Assist with daily care tasks such as washing clothes and basic hygiene
- Sing, play, and organize simple activities to keep children engaged during the day
- Support administrative tasks and offer suggestions to staff on daily operations
- Help with light renovation or decorating of the center if you have creative skills
- Plan simple activities in advance so your time at the placement is used well
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
Volunteers support the center's own teachers and caregivers and are never left in sole charge of children; all activities take place under the supervision of local staff. A clean criminal background check is required before placement, and Volunteering Solutions does not place volunteers in orphanages, so this program is limited to community childcare centers and day cares.
A typical day and week
As a volunteer for the Child Care Program in Cambodia, your general schedule would be:
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Sunday – Arrival at the destination (Phnom Penh)
An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering the major topics such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestions for things to do in Cambodia. -
Monday – Orientation and Welcome Lunch
Morning :
8:00-11:00: Orientation at office
11:00-12 noon : Bring to buy local Sim Card or necessities at market or currency exchange at market or Bank
12:00-1:30 pm : Welcome Lunch and orientation/advice by the team to set up the Grab App or Local TukTuk App and how to use it.Afternoon:
1:30-4:30 pm: City Tour
4:30-5:00 pm : Traveling back to Office or Volunteer House -
Tuesday: All volunteers will be brought to work at their respective placement and begin volunteer placement
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Tuesday to Fri – Volunteer work
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Weekends – Free to explore the city / Head out to discover Siem Reap
Breakfast – 06:30 am onwards
Working hours at the placement – 09:30 am to 11:00 pm and 01:00 pm to 04:00 pm
Lunch – volunteers get two hours break in between work hours. You can either choose to return to the accommodation for lunch or you can carry packed lunch to the placement
Dinner – 07:00 pm onwards
The same work schedule continues from the second week onwards (Monday – Friday).
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- No previous childcare experience required
- Physically fit and in good health at the time of joining
- Clean criminal background check, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Open-minded, flexible attitude toward working in a new environment
- Travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or the one arranged by Volunteering Solutions
The placement, its limits and your part in it
You are placed with a local childcare center or day care in Phnom Penh, run by its own staff and often serving families from low-income backgrounds. These centers can be overcrowded, and the day-to-day help you provide with lessons, meals, and play adds extra hands alongside the permanent teachers and caregivers.
You work under the supervision of local staff at all times and are never left in sole charge of children. A criminal background check is required before you start, and Volunteering Solutions does not place volunteers in orphanages. Your contribution is a supporting one: you assist with existing routines and activities set by the center's staff, who remain responsible for the children and for how the center is run.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in CambodiaCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $819 | |
| 3 weeks | $969 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,119 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,219 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,289 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,439 | |
| 8 weeks | $1,509 | |
| Each additional week | +$200 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up from the airport
- Orientation and Welcome lunch/dinner
- Food
- Accommodation in volunteer house, host family or guesthouse
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
- Airfare
- Return Trip to Airport
- Local Transportation
- Visa Fees
- Vaccinations
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from the Phnom Penh International Airport by a local representative of the team in Cambodia.Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Phnom Penh. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the Sunday night before your program orientation
Orientation
The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of the month and volunteers need to arrive in Phnom Penh on the Sunday before orientation.
Orientation and briefing of the volunteers is conducted by our local team in Cambodia team at the volunteer house or team office. During the orientation information is provided about Cambodia history, safety, culture differences, expectations, working conditions, your project placement as well as weekend travel opportunities in and around Phnom Penh.
After the orientation volunteers are given a local tour of Phnom Penh city and also taken for a welcome meal.
Accommodation
Volunteers in Phnom Penh are provided accommodation in the shared volunteer house, host family or in a family operated centrally located guesthouse in Phnom Penh.
The volunteer house is conveniently located in the heart of Phnom Penh City near the Russian Market and Boeung Trabek market. The house provides volunteers with a comfortable, simple and relaxing place to live. Presently, the volunteer house can accommodate more than twenty volunteers in five rooms. Rooms in the house are on a shared basis with generally 3-5 volunteers sharing a room together. Rooms have fans and AC. If the volunteers need any help or assistance they can always come to the local team office, which is in the same building and literally right next door. Wifi Internet is available at the volunteer house.
Participants also have the option to choose to upgrade to a single private room at an additional charge at the guesthouse accommodation. In case of non availability at the volunteer house during busy periods, participants are provided accommodation in a guesthouse.
For those participants wishing to stay at a home stay, host family accommodation is also available.
All the locations provide a welcoming family or staff of helpful individuals who will always be available to help with any questions or issues you may have.
Laundry can be done from a laundry service and usually costs $0.5 – $1/Kg.
Meals
Cambodian cuisine is a fusion of cuisines from other countries in South East Asia such as Vietnam and Thailand. Cambodian food is light and healthy and is not very spicy and hot.
During your stay at the volunteer house, food will be provided at a restaurant which is 3 minutes walk from the house.
The menu will offer for selection of the foods you prefer :-
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Breakfast: Usually starts from 6:10 AM -7: 30 AM, foods such as Baguette or slide bread with Butter jam or honey, peanut butter, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs, omelette or fruit plate.
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Lunch: Usually starts from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, foods such as soup or stir-fried with a main dish consisting of rice, noodles, fresh vegetables, chicken, beef, or pork, volunteers eat with the other volunteers at a restaurant near the volunteer house with other volunteers.
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Dinner: Usually starts from 5:40 PM – 7:00 PM, food is similar to lunch, so you typically come together to eat with others.
Participants staying in the guesthouse and host family accommodation are provided meals there itself.
During your Free Time
Phnom Penh has a lot to offer and you will always find something of interest to do and see during your free time. There are a lot of temples, museums, and historic sites to visit such as Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, Royal Palace, National Museum and Wat Phnom. You can also join the local Khmer cuisine cooking classes if that interests you! Volunteers work from Monday to Friday and you will have the weekends free to relax and explore the country. The local team can also assist and suggest some options of destinations to visit. Other popular places to visit outside Phnom Penh are Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Kep.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Cambodia
Airport pickup
A local team member meets you at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on the Sunday before orientation and takes you to your accommodation.
First night
You spend the Sunday night in Phnom Penh, which is covered by your program fee.
Orientation
Orientation runs on the first or third Monday of the month at the local office, covering safety, culture, language, and your placement, followed by a trip to set up a local SIM card, a welcome lunch, and a city tour.
First project day and ongoing support
You start at your placement on Tuesday and work through Friday, with weekends free. The local team office is in the same building as the volunteer house, and 24-hour assistance is available throughout your stay.
From volunteers in Cambodia
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually do at the childcare center?
You assist the center's own teachers and caregivers with classroom activities, teach basic English and Khmer alphabet, songs and poems, help prepare and serve meals, and supervise play, all under staff supervision.
Do I need childcare experience or qualifications?
No previous childcare experience is required; you need to be at least 18, in good health, and bring an open, flexible attitude.
What does a typical day look like?
Placement hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30am-11:00am and 1:00pm-4:00pm, with a break for lunch; weekends are free to explore Phnom Penh or travel further afield.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
You can join for 2–24 weeks, with new starts twice a month (sundays); the next intake begins 20 Sep 2026.
What is the cost and what does it include?
Fees start at $819, deposit included ($249), and cover accommodation, meals, airport pickup, orientation, and 24-hour local support; flights, return airport transport, local transport, visa fees, and vaccinations are not included.
Where will I live and what will I eat?
You stay in a shared volunteer house near the Russian Market, with a host family, or in a guesthouse, and eat three set meals a day at a partner restaurant a few minutes' walk away or with your host family.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Yes, a local team member picks you up at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on the Sunday before orientation and takes you to your accommodation, with that first night covered by your fee.
What support is available once I am placed?
The local team office is in the same building as the volunteer house, and you have access to 24-hour assistance for the length of your stay.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Visa fees and vaccinations are not included in the program fee, and specific guidance on these is sent before departure; travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one arranged by Volunteering Solutions.
Is a background check required, and will I ever be in sole charge of children?
Yes, a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date is required, and you always work alongside and under the supervision of local staff, never in sole charge of the children.
Are children placed in orphanages on this program?
No, Volunteering Solutions does not place volunteers in orphanages; this program works only with community childcare centers and day cares in Phnom Penh.
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