PMGY - Volunteer in Cambodia from $375

Name: PMGY - Volunteer in Cambodia from $375
Brand: Plan My Gap Year
SKU: 59252
Rating: 5 (3 reviews)

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5.00 Rating

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Location

Cambodia
- Phnom Penh

Length

2 to 24 weeks

Project Types

Childcare Education Teaching Tourism

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Program Details

Language

English

Age Min.

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round

Housing

Guesthouse Hostel

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Travel Type

Budget Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

375

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Sep 07, 2023

Last Reviewed: Aug 23, 2017

Wish List

4 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in Cambodia with Plan My Gap Year – an award-winning, international volunteer abroad organisation with programs based in Cambodia. PMGY provides safe, trusted and affordable programs overseas, with a wide range of volunteer projects in Cambodia, including Childcare & English Teaching opportunities.

PMGY Cambodia have projects located in the rural province of Takeo, which is approximately 1 hour south of Phnom Penh. The Cambodia volunteer programs start on the 1st & 3rd Monday of every month. Our projects in Cambodia run across the year and participants can join us from 2-24 weeks. Volunteers in Cambodia are provided with an extensive pre-departure support service, airport pick-up, orientation, breakfast and dinner, accommodation and local support.

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Impact

Ethical Impact

Plan My Gap Year is committed to providing ethical volunteer opportunities that truly benefit the local communities. We have personally vetted all of our Volunteer Programs in every destination. We support a small network of Volunteer Programs abroad that we have specifically chosen due to their efforts being sustainable for our volunteers and the local communities alike. We work closely with each of our local teams to ensure we are assessing and adapting to ensure quality experiences for all involved.

For this reason, PMGY does not provide volunteer opportunities in orphanages in any of our locations. Research and studies have shown that visiting and volunteering in orphanages has the potential to generate an industry that separates children from their families. In turn, putting children at increased risk of neglect and abuse. Therefore, we do not support these institutions with our volunteer network.

Instead, we focus on offering alternative childcare volunteer opportunities whereby children come to and from the placement setting each day. In other words, our local teams collaborate with childcare projects which do not offer any form of residential care. These are safe, responsible, and vetted projects, where participants continue to provide valued assistance supporting local staff.

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Program Highlights

Most Affordable – PMGY’s programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects.
Best Support – Our international and local teams provide extensive around the clock services to assist you every step of your PMGY adventure.
Safety Prioritised – With safety a PMGY number-1 priority, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe and structured as possible.
Extraordinary Experiences – With PMGY, you have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in amazing cultural and travel experiences, ensuring you leave with unforgettable memories.
Friendships for Life – Your PMGY experience not only opens up a doorway for new experiences and exciting memories, but also life-long friendships when meeting new people from around the world.

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

based on 3 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 100%
4 rating 0%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 4.7
Support 5
Fun 4.35
Value 4.7
Safety 5

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

Having previously been on other trips organised by companies other than PMGY, I must say my time volunteering in Cambodia was by far the most inspiring and fun. PMGY allowed us to balance teaching and relaxing so well, allowing us to explore the area as well as focussing on our teaching project.
Before I left to Cambodia, the pre-departure booklet was so useful and helped to answer any questions that I may have had, making me feel much more at ease. As soon as I arrived at the accommodation, the sense of community was clear and we were welcomed quickly by the leaders. While the accommodation was basic, it was all we needed while teaching and the food etc. was all freshly made.
Teaching the children was by far the most amazing part of my whole trip travelling Thailand and Cambodia. The enthusiasm of both the children and teachers would be hard to find anywhere else and it amazed me how quickly I became attached to the children! I had never taught before so I felt nervous before we started but the kids eagerness to learn and the positive vibe across the whole school immediately put me at ease.
I would definitely recommend volunteering in Cambodia as it is an experience i will never forget! The people you meet there are all amazing and I never thought I could enjoy teaching as much. The difference you can make in just 2 weeks is so fulfilling and I hope to go back soon!

I have previously volunteered with PMGY in Sri Lanka and absolutely loved it so I decided to volunteer in Cambodia. The experience was completely different but I still had an amazing time.
Teaching the kids was so rewarding as even in a short time you could see the genuine impact you were having and I became attached so quickly! Jason and the team are so supportive and will do everything they can to help while you are there and the UK team were always so quick to help me with any questions I had!
The accommodation was much more basic than the accommodation in Sri Lanka but you adapt very quickly and it is nice to see the money going to the school rather than the volunteers living arrangements. Another difference was that the focus was more on the teaching I felt so we had less nights out. This meant it felt like we were really helping and not just on holiday - but we still had Thursday night pub quiz and went to red club!!
I would highly recommend volunteering at the Hope Agency with PMGY Cambodia!

I cannot begin to explain how amazing I found my two weeks volunteering in Siem Reap. Starting off in Phnom Penh was great & the training we received there was well planned & very useful. The staff were all incredibly helpful & were clearly concerned about our well being & safety along with ensuring that we were confident with what we might encounter. The man who accompanied us to Siem Reap was a star; he really did go above & beyond what any of us expected. He was such a great help in ensuring we were settled & comfortable in our new surroundings. The school that I
volunteered at along with one of my friends was beautiful. The children were all so friendly & inspiring. It really was an experience that I will never forget. My only wish is that we could have stayed longer; two weeks was definitely not enough time. PMGY were fantastic all the way through. It was so reassuring to know that we had a contact if absolutely anything went wrong or if we had a question about the rest of our travels. Thank you so much for your support & for such a great experience.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I had previously volunteered with Plan My Gap Year and loved it as the company is affordable and gives you a good amount of freedom whilst also giving a lot of support when needed. I had already decided I wanted to travel to both Thailand and Cambodia and decided I would volunteer for part of my time in Cambodia. I decided to teach English as it was an extra step up from volunteering in an orphanage, which I had previously done.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

PMGY sorted the volunteer placement, accommodation, travel to the accommodation and two meals a day. I had to organize weekend trips and getting to the pickup point to get the volunteer house. Although PMGY did not book these things, they still gave a lot of helpful advice so it was not hard to book.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Spend as long as you can there. The children at the Hope Agency are so special as they are so willing to learn. I became so attached so quickly and learned so much from my time there. I know that if I had stayed longer both myself and the kids could have got so much more out of it.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

At 8:30 am everyone wakes up to do chores around the volunteer house such as cleaning, gardening, and maintenance. This is followed by breakfast at 9.30 am which consists of fruit and pancakes, eggs, or hot dogs, etc. The rest of the morning is then free to plan lessons, go to the market, visit the orphanage or chill at the volunteer house.

I taught at the New School so we left at 1 pm and stayed until around 4:30, teaching 3 lessons with breaks in between. The evening meal is at 6:30 pm and consists of rice with a variety of different delicious dishes.

In the evenings, volunteers play cards, make friends and socialize. On some days it is possible to leave the house for activities such as football games. On Thursday evenings there is a "Pub Quiz" and then a night out. On the weekends, volunteers leave the Hope Agency at around 7:30 pm on Friday to go to their chosen destination and return on Monday morning.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I had done a 20-hour TEFL course with assessed lessons and a 60-hour online TEFL course but I had no teaching experience so I was very scared that I would struggle or would not know what to do.

I would highly recommend doing the TEFL courses as they helped me so much and as soon as I got there I had no problem teaching the children. They were so willing to learn but also were learning at such a basic level that all you need is the ability to speak English, enthusiasm and some creativity and you can lead a class!

I would now love to develop my TEFL skills and teach more and would definitely not be as nervous about it as I was!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Colby Robinson

Program

PMGY - Volunteer in Cambodia from $375

Job Title

US Operations Manager

An advocate for global mission, Colby has dedicated her life to raising awareness of impoverished countries by immersing herself in local environments across the world. Since 2011 she has lived extensively in Europe, Africa and Asia. She has first-hand experience hosting volunteers, participating on projects, overseeing destinations and is eager to encourage global participants to join communities close to her heart!

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite memory was the first weekend trip I took with the volunteers to Busua Beach in Ghana. Nine of us took the local transport down to Cape Coast where we took the tour of the slave castles, Kakum National Park and went on to spend time catching some rays on the beach of Busua.

We stayed at a local beach resort enjoying some drinks made in fresh coconuts and conversation! We ended up sitting in the sun too long and had some bad burns from the sun so we hid in the shade and sang songs from our childhood and helped prepare some of the local foods for a group of tourists and went to visit some of the staffs family homes!

The weekend trip was much more than any of us anticipated and now years later some of us still communicate with the families we met and laugh together chatting about it! The weekend trips truly bring volunteers closer together as they encounter unexpected adventure!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I am an ambitiously honest woman full of ideas. Working with Plan My Gap Year has allowed me to fulfill so many of my dreams!

I truly enjoy teaching in any aspect whether its in front of a classroom of children teaching English or its venturing through a local market educating volunteers on the culture of the country! I have found a profound patience for almost any circumstance and a true passion for understanding culture across this world.

PMGY is a company that sticks to their word and I love that! All of us; the staff sitting at a desk in the UK, coordinators in country, translators at the project, those changing bed sheets or preparing your food WE do our best to ensure volunteers are happy and feel fulfillment!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Shona Coy volunteered in Ghana in 2014 at the Kumasi Children's Home - orphanage project - where she found her place in many children's hearts. Shona has a particular love for children with disabilities and was Ghana's first disabled project volunteer; it was because of her that there is a disabled project!

Over two years later this incredible woman still has connections with the children in KCH and is constantly coming up with ideas to improve their education by raising awareness and funds! After hearing from the head teacher at the orphanage school about their lack of resources she hosted a grand ball that raised a 1,000 GBP for the children she fell in love with years ago.

PMGY volunteers have the chance to make impacts on the location they are participating at and truly can create long standing relationships!

This trip can be a few short weeks or it can be something that will be with you for years to follow. Shona will return to Ghana, yet again, to give her donations, see her 'kids' and help rebuild classrooms in the Kumasi Children's Home!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

As a coordinator that lives in country and hosts volunteers I have been able to experience first hand the impact from PMGY!

Our company focuses on the local communities and truly gives all it has to improve the environment that the volunteers are participating in. The fees that are collected are given to the local staff whom then provide to improve the schools, orphanage, wildlife, medical facilities and more! You can really count on not only your time improving those in country, but your financial contributions as well.

I am especially proud that we have such long-standing relationships with each destination we work with. Annually, PMGY personally visits each location to see what areas can be impacted most by our volunteers and constantly works to provide the best possible experience for everyone! PMGY truly takes interest in not only the projects, but the local staff members' lives/families!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Plan My Gap Year dedicates its time to offering support from start to finish for volunteers. We spend time to ensure that no matter the circumstance we are available to provide assistance and create the best outcome possible.

I believe we will continue to be a successful company because this is our goal; providing an exceptional experience for our volunteers! We truly care!

Location

Location:

Phnom Penh

Currency:

Cambodian Riel

Weather:

Jan-Mar

95 F / 72 F

Apr-Jun

95 F / 77 F

Jul-Sep

91 F / 75 F

Oct-Dec

88 F / 72 F

Airports:

Phnom Penh International Airport

( PNH )

Cambodia in general is considered an untouched gem for travel. Even though Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia, it is still a bit rough around the edges but has the infrastructure to sustain more travel. While traveling here, make sure to venture outside of the monuments that document the cities troubled past and take in the vibrant and friendly nature.

About Plan My Gap Year

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning volunteer abroad organisation, offering volunteer projects in Africa, Asia, Europe & South America primarily for 17-22 year olds. PMGY provide a safe, structured and social platform with volunteer travel opportunities available from 1-40 weeks. With over 10 years of experience and expertise, PMGY is widely...

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