NGO Support Volunteer Program in Cambodia

Cambodia has seen a long phase of destruction and war, which heavily impacted the social and economic balance of the country. There still remains the effects from the past, daunting the weaker section of the society as people suffer from poverty and problems such as domestic violence, lack of human rights and proper education, environmental degradation, poor healthcare, and several other issues. Volunteering Solutions, in association with local NGOs in the city of Phnom Penh, aims to help the weaker sections of the society by providing them scopes to earn their livelihood and have a better life.

Volunteers joining the NGO Support Program in Cambodia can commit their time for these projects and provide the necessary support required, matching their skills, qualifications, and interests. For example, A waiter or a hairdresser will be able to support at a vocational training centre. Someone who has worked in the area of tourism will support an ecological tourism project to develop its structure. A lawyer may support a Human Rights Organization with the development or get involved in programs (such as creating awareness). Someone who has studied art or music will focus on imparting these skills to women or children who are supported by local organizations working in this area. A finance professional or student can volunteer for a Microfinance Project, so on and so forth.

Our local partner team in Cambodia has cooperated with different local NGOs including public health, women empowerment, gender equality, advancing community rights, environment issues, natural resource governance, and human rights.

Sample Placement Profile – COCD

COCD is a non-governmental organisation that was founded in 2007 by a team of Cambodian experts who have a shared vision of promoting rural development and child rights in Cambodia. COCD has been working with marginalised and extremely poor communities in remote areas of Cambodia since 2008, with the support of Terre des Hommes Germany and the Cambodian Ministry of Interior. COCD’s main focus areas are child protection, education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and livelihoods. COCD is also a certified Child Safe Organization (CSO) and a member of Cambodia Against Child Trafficking (Cambodia ACTs).

One of COCD’s key strategies is to empower women economically through various programs that provide financial support, microfinance and loans for the poor. These programs aim to help women start or expand their own businesses, increase their income and savings, and improve their living conditions. COCD believes that women’s economic empowerment is essential for reducing poverty, enhancing gender equality, and ensuring sustainable development in Cambodia.

Volunteers can help with various tasks such as conducting market research, providing business advice, facilitating workshops, monitoring loans, or raising funds. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn from COCD’s staff and partners, as well as from the women beneficiaries themselves.

The volunteer’s role is to help COCD enhance its ability to create new projects and proposals that will strengthen its long-term impact. This involves not only developing a specific project design/proposal, but also training the staff in project design and management skills. The ultimate goal is to leverage the acquired skills and knowledge to support the sustainable income generation of the rural poor, which aligns with the Cambodian government’s poverty reduction efforts. Moreover, economic independence of poor rural families protects children from sexual or economic exploitation, enables them to attend school, and increases their future employment prospects.

Note: This is a sample placement and participants are allotted placement depending on different factors such as availability, suitability and requirements of the projects. Volunteers joining the NGO Support Project in Cambodia will have to devote a minimum of 5 weeks for the program. 

Want to see other ways to make an impact? Check out our Volunteer in Asia programs.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteers in the NGO Support Program in Cambodia, usually have the following major tasks :-

• Providing support to the NGO where you’ll be placed

• Using your skills to bring some positive changes in the required areas in the NGO

• Helping with the administrative work in the NGO

• Conceptualize and strategize ideas for improvement in the Programs at the centres

• Prepare assessment sheets and keep records of the growth

• Making Project Reports and writing proposals

Your experience as a volunteer greatly depends on your skills and interests and the length of your stay. If your stay is short-term, you will mainly help out with writing proposals for fundraising, case studies and reports. You may also help with IT skills, teach English to the staff or conduct research on the success of the programs or future plans. You might also visit the fields and projects in the countryside to get a firsthand idea of the problems people are facing. Volunteers having more specific skills and experience may assist in arranging campaigns, meetings or public forums or implementing new projects, as well as developing the internal structures and new initiatives within the programs. 

Requirements & eligibility

Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the beginning of the program. Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be physically fit and in good health at the time of joining the program. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check before joining the project.Volunteers joining the NGO Support Project in Cambodia will have to devote a minimum of 5 weeks for the program. Participants need to bring a laptop as they will be involved in administrative role at the project.