Volunteer

Volunteering at Sangkheum Center for Children

Thank you for considering volunteering with the Sangkheum Center for Children. We are very happy to know that there are so many people interested in supporting our work.

The main goal of our volunteer program is to develop the capacity of our Khmer staff in their direct work with our children. This will make your volunteer support more effective and advance the program in the long-term, as well as strengthen the knowledge of the teachers at Sangkheum Center for Children. Therefore, volunteers will predominantly be working with designated staff in planning and performing the activities.

Volunteer’s Profile

We accept volunteers from the age of 21 and above.

We are looking for volunteers that have the following skills:

• Native English Speaker
• Teaching experience (as volunteer activity or as professional)
• Good with children
• Ability to interact successfully with other cultures
• Managing stressful situations

How long to stay:

Minimum: 1 month (3 months for teaching English)
Maximum: 12 months

Activities

You can choose between one of these different programs:

Teaching English: The students that you will be teaching range from 6-17 years old, and are typical in groups of around 15-30 students per class. Together with our local teachers, you will be able to set up a study plan for a minimum of one term (three months). Prepare yourself for a challenging experience and bring some patience with you! The culture surrounding education in Cambodia means children cannot regularly attend the lessons due to family commitments. During the rainy season they could also have problems reaching the school. Volunteers must be ready to adapt their lessons i.e. preparing a lesson or some games for the next day, or to work only half a day. Classes generally run five days a week, with six to eight class periods each day and a break for lunch (2 hours).

Recreational Activities: Creativity, child friendly behavior and an educational background are the most important elements to work with our children. The activities will be held in our small Library together with one of our educators. Painting, drawing and singing are the main activities, but we welcome any other creative ideas for special workshops. Please be advised that materials for workshops will need to be provided by you. Most of which can be found in Siem Reap.

Sport: At the moment we have the best junior football team in Siem Reap! If you are talented in soccer, or if you know other sports, you can assist our sport coach to run sports programs at the center. With the correct equipment and experienced instructors, new sports such as volleyball can be introduced, and proper training can be provided.

Computers: It is becoming increasingly important for students to be equipped with computer skills. This is largely due to technological advancements and the potential benefits computers bring to the local Cambodians. The centre will very much appreciate your volunteer service in this area. Skills required: This program is best suited for volunteers with good knowledge in computer programs such as Microsoft Office.

Staff Training: We are also looking for experienced teachers to improve the program over 2-4 weeks. If you are an English teacher with a long school career and want to help our teachers in improving their curriculum this program is for you. If you are a professional in other fields we would love to hear any proposals for new activities; just send in a CV along with your idea to Sangkheum.

Medical Care: The children are supported by the Angkor Hospital for Children and receive regular medical visits. However, some students require specific professional help. The centre needs an occupational therapist to help the children who may suffer disabilities due to malnourishment and disease at a young age. The occupational therapists will attend biannual checkups on the centre and assess each student’s medical needs.

Office Assistant: We require graduates with good computer skills looking for office experience. The role will entail admin duties as well as heading a research project to help understand the social and economic situations of the families we work with at the centre. Depending on the education and work experience, the Office Assistant could be also involved in promotional and fundraising activities.

When to go:

All volunteers are required to comply with our child protection policy, sign a volunteer contract, code of conduct and a letter of criminal consent.

Note: Sangkheum Center cannot provide accommodation, transport or insurance and all the costs should be met by the volunteers.

Please send your cv and cover letter to mail@sangkheum.org and we will contact you shortly.

Why do people volunteer?

There are many reasons why people choose to get involved. Here are just a few:

• to support SCC's work and cause
• to do something unusual and inspiring
• to meet new people
• to learn skills and improve their CVs