While Cambodia is rich with history, culture and natural beauty, many Cambodians live in poverty and childcare and education are often lacking. This childcare volunteer project gives volunteers the opportunity to work in orphanages where they can have a real impact and make a difference in the lives of orphaned, abandoned and unwanted children.

Gap year volunteer role: This project works in partnership with orphanages in Cambodia to support children in Battambang where a critical shortage of staff means that individual attention is often severely lacking. Volunteers can bring invaluable support, love, and nurturing of the children by getting involved in childcare, teaching and mentoring.

Gap year volunteers will be asked to interact and engage with the children as well as help with day-to-day tasks of running things to help the local carers. Your mornings will be spent playing with the younger children and helping the staff with chores. In the afternoons the older children return from school and volunteers can teach English and help them with their homework.

You will be helping the children by teaching English but also getting involved in other subjects and activities depending on your own skills and interests. This can include helping pupils with art and craft activities, coaching sports after school, improving health awareness and growing vegetables in the gardens. During school holidays, gap year volunteers can provide informal teaching, run games and summer camps and help with small renovation work.

Your gap year experience: This community volunteer project is a meaningful way to immerse yourself into life in Cambodia, while helping children in genuine need. By bringing English skills, enthusiasm and creativity, volunteers can help to enrich the lives of local children.

Working as an orphanage volunteer in Cambodia, you will need to be enthusiastic about working with children and flexible, proactive and committed in your role. This is an incredibly rewarding project and you will spend your time surrounded by beautiful scenery. Battambang itself is in a great location with Thailand and Siem Reap both easily accessible.