GO VOLUNTEER IN
CAMBODIA Country Booklet
Fast Facts Living in Cambodia is easy--‐going. The people are very friendly. The public transportation in Cambodia is easy to access with taxi, tok tok or motor taxi. This country has over 1,000 ancient temples across the country. Cambodia is famous for its beautiful beach in the south and its world heritage. • Capital: Phnom Penh • Population: 13.4 million (2008) • GDP: US$8.3 billion (2007) • Language: Khmer (official), French and increasingly English • Government: Multiparty democracy under constitutional monarchy • Number of monks: 60 000 • Adult literacy rate: 73.6% • Life expectancy: 58 years • Number of tourists per year: 2 million and rising Cambodia is located on • National Beer: Angkor Beer mainland Southeast Asia between Thailand to the west and north and Vietnam to the east and southeast. It shares a land border with Laos in the northeast.
Culture- Traditions Cambodians traditionally greet with a Sampeah, which involves pressing the palms together before the chest with a slight bow and greeting with a polite ‘Chumreap Suor’. Customarily, the higher the hands are held and the lower the bow, the more respect is conveyed. Although it may be considered acceptable for foreigners to shake hands with a Cambodian, it is more appropriate to respect the custom and respond with a ‘Chumreap Suor’.
Chumreap Suor
There are many classical dance forms in Cambodia, of which a highly stylized art form was once confined mainly to the courts of the royal palace and performed mainly by females. Known formally in Khmer as Robam Apsara, the dancers of this classical form are often referred to as Apsara dancers. The Apsara Dance is particularly inspired by the style from around more than a thousand Apsara carvings in the Angkor temple complex.
Culture- Cuisine Cambodia offers a wide range of different foods. In Phnom Penh not only can you eat delicious Cambodian specialties like Fish Amok but you can also find French, Vietnamese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Korean and International restaurants.
Rice Porridge Kuyteav
Fish Amok
Sankhya lapov (A dessert made of pumpkin and coconut flan)
The staple food for Cambodians is rice. Rice is consumed by most Cambodians daily and with all meals. Rice is eaten in the form of street-side snacks, such as deep-fried rice cakes with chives and spinach. For breakfast, Cambodia Ansom chek also has a traditional rice noodle soup Rice cake wrapped in banana leaves (kuyteav) or rice porridge. and filled with bananas- sweet)
Main Cities- Phnom Penh Cambodia is one of the world's newest and most exciting travel destinations. After years of isolation under the Khmer Rouge Regime, Cambodia's stable political economy meant that tourist numbers have increased every year since.
Royal Palace
National Museum
Discover the temple in Angkor Wat, a wonder of the world near Siem Reap; the cultural attractions of Phnom Penh; and the beaches of Sihanoukville. Phnom Penh's chaotic yet charismatic culture is rich and interesting; with the Royal Palace, the National Museum and the Killing Fields to learn about, as well as art shops, cinemas, bookshops and galleries. Shopping in Phnom Penh is a must – you can find plenty of malls and markets that sell all sorts of silk material, crafts, fashion & accessories!
Visa Requirements Getting a visa for Cambodia is very hassle-free. Tourist visas are now available online, go to http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/e-visa/vindex.aspx. You can also buy your visa on arrival in Phnom Penh's airport and at all the land crossings with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. A tourist visa costs approximately $20 and a business visa approximately $25. Please confirm the Visa you require with your TN Manager (contact you have in Cambodia) before you apply for any Visa. Find out more about Cambodia here- CLICK HERE!
“Discover Cambodia” Discover Cambodia is a project aimed to raise awareness about Cambodian culture to International Exchange Participant (EP’s) and young Cambodian people, in order to preserve the identification, to foster cross-cultural understanding and to inspire Cambodian youth to care and maintain Cambodian culture. Benefits: Personal Workspace & Internet access Close contact with the Host Local Committee Chance to take on roles within the Host Local Committee Duration: 6 weeks Issue: Cultural Understanding
Learning Points: Possibility to develop language skills Explore Cambodian culture! Meet people from all over the world Working in a multicultural environment and team Change your global perspective Professional work experience with small and medium enterprises
“Discover Cambodia”- Job Description Job Description 1
Job Description 2
Job Description 3
Learn about different parts of Cambodian culture such as traditional dance, martial art, traditional Cambodian products, and historical sites Deliver presentations and sessions to Cambodian youth about Cambodian culture and traditions and help Cambodian youth to understand how to protect their culture EP’s will write a report about this Project (at least 1500 words) and report their achievement, impact and especially their journey in Cambodia- the things they have learnt from their project
Job Description 4
EP’s will be on the Organising Committee of culture fairs which aim to promote Cambodian culture an understanding
Job Description 5
EP’s will participate in a Global Village to share their home country’s culture and traditions. EP’s will bring food, clothing and souvenirs from their home country Cambodian youth should be more inspired about their culture and traditions and willing to protect it by creating awareness about their culture
Measurable Results Expected from the EP
“People Improvement Organisation” Provide language and literacy training to students in need. EP’s will create a learning atmosphere and inject fun learning activities. Benefits: Personal Workspace & Internet access Close contact with the Host Local Committee Chance to make an impact on Cambodian youth and improve their English language skills! Work with NGO’s! Duration: 6 weeks Issue: Language Literacy
Learning Points: Possibility to develop language skills Explore Cambodian culture! Meet people from all over the world Working in a multicultural team Change your global perspective Work with NGO’s Improve organisational skills through planning English learning sessions
“People Improvement Organisation”- Job Description Job Description 1
EP’s need to design proper courses and lesson plans for basic English before the time of the project start. EP’s are welcome to bring basic books or any material from their home country to assist in children's learning
Job Description 2
Deliver presentations and sessions to Cambodian youth to improve their basic English skills. Deliver sessions which are interactive and include activities
Job Description 3
EP’s will write a report about this Project (at least 1500 words)and report their achievement, impact and especially their journey in Cambodia- the things they have learnt from their project
Job Description 4
EP’s will participate in a Global Village to share their home country’s culture and traditions. EP’s will bring food, clothing and souvenirs from their home country
Measurable Results Expected from the EP
Cambodian youth should be more inspired about their culture and traditions and willing to protect it by creating awareness about their culture. Attendance of youth at the Culture Fair will also be measured
Watch an EP’s experience in Cambodia HERE
“ASEAN” ASEAN integration will come to the existence and emerge to the world as a regional grouping. The ASEAN 2015 project aims to raise the awareness of the challenges of the integration, mutual cultural understanding, and career development of Cambodia’s youth. EP’s will get the chance to be the organiser of a community visit trip, Facilitator in a training program and implement ideas throughout the project. Benefits: Personal Workspace & Internet access Close contact with the Host Local Committee Chance to take on roles within the Host Local Committee Duration: 6 weeks Issue: Career Development
Learning Points: Explore Cambodian culture! Organisational skills and team management experience Meet people from all over the world Working in a multicultural environment and team Change your global perspective
“ASEAN”- Job Description Job Description 1
EP’s have to use their creativity and interactive techniques to prepare the sessions for university students about soft skills, Career Planning, and ASEAN integration awareness.
Job Description 2
The EP’s will be the facilitators and presenters of ASEAN 2015 training programs. EP’s should ensure the session is interactive and fascinating enough to make the environment fun. EP’s will have the chance to organize a few events such as community visits at provinces and campaigns at the universities.
Job Description 3
EP’s will have the chance to contact and learn how to build networks in the professional world and will interact with managers from different professions talking about their experience. The networks the EP creates will be used to gather key note speakers for the ASEAN 2015 training program
Measurable Results Expected from the EP
Cambodian youth should encouraged to participate in the ASEAN 2015 training programs. EP’s will be assessed how on well they facilitate during the training program
EP Story- Jess
Jess Erhart, AIESEC QUT “I work for Carpets for Communities, an NGO founded by David Bacon, an AIESEC Alumnus, that breaks the cycle of poverty in one of the poorest areas of Cambodia. It works by empowering mothers to produce eco fair trade products, which sell globally, and enable their children to go to school. If you are looking for an internship in Cambodia, you will be working for organizations that are making a real difference in this country, the fun and energy of being part of one of AIESEC’s newest countries and sharing the experience with a crazy group of interns in the heart of South-East Asia.”
EP Story- Anthony
Anthony Ratcliffe, AIESEC UWA “Usually most of the EPs will meet up at the school for the evening meal, we often go to the the nightlife district of Siem Reap (remember, with Angkor it is fundamentally a tourist city) and eat out at a restaurant. These are more expensive but still cheap compared to Australia, and it means that the homesick creature comforts are never too far away. There is obviously lots of Cambodian food there which is very reasonably priced. We're talking 2-3$ for a full meal!�
…Interested in going on Exchange to Cambodia? …Interested in Applying for any of these Projects? APPLY NOW!!!
CLICK HERE!