Visiting & Volunteering

VISITING AND VOLUNTEERING AT THE VILLAGE AND SCHOOL

Given the hot climate, remember to take and drink fluids (especially water from a reliable source) which can, for example, be purchased on route.

Plan for the cost of about $US7 for a return motorbike trip to the village, and $10US if the trip exceeds 5 hours.

Bring a good sun screen and insect repellant, a hat and food supplies. In the dry season you may find a cotton face mask or scarf useful to keep the dust at bay and in the wet season you should wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet as it may be necessary to walk through water.

Some people wear long (cotton) pants and sleeves as an extra precaution against mosquitoes and sun (problems relating to malaria and dengue are not evident in the village, but it does not hurt to take precautions.)

Can we ask you to be conscious that an increasing number of people are visiting the village, and respect people's privacy and private space.

For this reason it is a good idea to focus, when taking photo's, on photographing activities of relevance to the project and contributing copies back to a community album which is being kept of the life of the village.

We anticipate that our volunteers will naturally treat people as equals and not recipients of charity, and remind them to maintain the sense of a partnership rather than hand out approach (for example, not encouraging begging or favoring one or two of the many needy children with gifts that cannot be shared with all).

Now that we have a school that has constant needs for stationery, books, etc, the best thing you can bring, if you want to come armed with something to donate, is school supplies. This helps all the children. Please ask us what is needed most.

It is a good idea to purchase, carry around and wear a crash helmet due to the frequent use of motos (motor bikes), although many people do not. However, this is sometimes a health insurance requirement.

It is a good idea for volunteers to learn a few words of Cambodian, and village residents may well be happy to help. It is also important to remember to use your English with the children to assist them in getting practice!

Helping Hands people are an interesting and diverse group. We try to link visitors and volunteers up with one another, and have enjoyable get togethers. However, it is not always possible for village visits to be accompanied by a westerner from Helping Hands, due to other duties and commitments both in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh .

Having said that, no visitor or volunteer is permitted to visit the school unless they are accompanied by Helping Hands staff (usually this will be Ho Chanty). This is in line with our Child and Vulnerable Persons Protection Policy.

Staying overnight at the village or Helping Hands’ school is NOT an option for a variety of reasons. The main two being: 1. The personal safety of the visitor cannot be guaranteed, and 2. to ensure the safety of our children (in line with our Child Protection Policy).

Visitors and volunteers are expected to cover all of their own expenses.

While Helping Hands greatly appreciates the assistance from volunteers, we certainly do not have the financial resources to cover all the activities you may wish to undertake at the school. While we do have many resources at our school, such as story books and crayons, you may wish to purchase other stationery items or craft materials to complement your activities. You will be expected to cover the cost of these items yourself. However, remember that most things are very inexpensive in Cambodia and none of these costs have ever amounted to being prohibitive for volunteers in the past.