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GYC3128 - Help teach and care for children Country: Cambodia Cost: £595.00 Please note: £150 per week Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, kit and pickup from airport but does not include flight, insurance, food or visas     Duration: 3 weeks (3 - 12 weeks) Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7592 or

 

	This placement would suit... volunteers with a genuine love for children and have plenty of patience to offer them. The work will be hard but as with all teaching placements thoroughly rewarding. To give you a head-start you will be trained before you leave through i-to-i's International 40-hour on-line TEFL programme (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). This course is included in the cost of this placement. Although not essential, any computer skills which you can pass on to the children will be a great advantage. This intriguing country may be widely neglected by the mainstream tourists, but volunteering and travelling in Cambodia is growing in popularity. Nestled in Cambodia's capital city you'll be in the perfect position to absorb the country's remarkable culture and as you live and work with the local people you'll find yourself becoming completely immersed in it. Phnom Penh's bustling streets boast an eclectic mix of French colonial architecture and traditional Khmer structures giving it a unique cross-cultural flavour that will intrigue any traveller. Like much of Cambodia, the city has been scarred by a past filled with cruelty, deprivation and mismanagement, and signs of this are visible everywhere you go. Just outside the city lies the Choeung Ek Memorial or the "Killing Fields" where thousands of people met their deaths under the tyrannous reign of the Khmer Rouge. As well as its historical and cultural features, Phnom Penh boasts a deliciously tempting array of cafes and restaurants, most of which reside on the beautiful banks of the Tonle Sap River. Settling down to a delicious coffee as the sun sets over the river is a favourite pastime for travellers and locals alike, and this surreal blend of intense beauty and daily routine is something you'll never forget. It is in this delightful setting that you will be working and living as you help underprivileged youngsters to develop the skills they need to build themselves a brighter future. Project details: In Phnom Penh we work with a number of children's homes where volunteers are needed to improve the conditions and opportunities of Cambodian street children and orphans. The aim of these children's homes is to provide a safe shelter, education and vocational training. The children are cared for with clothing, medical care and three meals per day. We also work with children of families living in a community around a Pagoda. These children come to the project for their classes which are aimed at teaching them English, developing skills to make changes in their future. Changing their living conditions does not only start from their parents, but also start from the children themselves. Why the project needs volunteers: The children's homes are privately funded organizations and don't have enough money to employ a sufficient number of teachers and carers. By volunteering at this project you will be in a position to improve the education of the students and provide them with a role model and coach. Acquiring language and computer skills can broaden the students' horizons and give them access to far better employment opportunities in the future. At the same time you will be giving a much needed helping hand to the staff in the daily task of looking after the children. The children at the Pagoda attend the classes at the project during the day and then go home to their families at the end of the day. In Cambodia there are schools sessions in the morning and afternoon and some older children are able to attend the government school and also come to the non formal school at the project. Your role as a volunteer: Your role will partly depend on the individual needs of the project where you are based, and partly dependent on your skills and interests. As a guide, you will be teaching the children English and computer skills in the morning or afternoon, as for the remainder of the day they will be at the public school. While the children are at the school you will have time to prepare lessons for them for the next day, or you can help with work around the home. You may also find yourself preparing food, cleaning and playing with the children. At the Pagoda project your main role will be that of teaching the children and giving some basic sanitation lessons, if you are wanting to get involved in a more caring role then you will need to ask the staff and also be able to use your initiative. You may find yourself helping in the homes of the families. Where the project is based: The projects are based in children's homes around Phnom Penh and also at a Pagoda where families live with their children in the surrounding community. Please note that you will need to come to Cambodia with an open mind and be prepared to be flexible. In Cambodia things can change from day to day and numbers of children at the projects can vary due to last minute holiday changes by the Royal Government of Cambodia.Please note that a copy of your CV is required upon booking. Please book your flight to arrive into Phnom Penh (airport code PNH) on the advertised arrival date to ensure your airport pickup. "....have been to our beautiful orphanage called colt where our happy and healthy kids are, all are welcoming and affectionate. its a joy to go each morning." Erin: Help teach and care for children in Cambodia 0845 344 7592 i-to-i: We pride ourselves in a high level of service to ensure that all our gap year travellers get the most our of their meaningful travel. With Teaching, Community Development, Conservation, Sports, Media and Health placements in 24 countries, we can offer you the meaningful gap year that you want.