 |
 |
|
|
|
||
|
Cambodia - FAQTell me more about CambodiaTell me more about the partner organization What type of volunteer work is available? What age do you have to be to volunteer in this program? When will I know specific details on the placement? What language do I need to know to participate in the program? When do I need to arrive in Cambodia? What are the living arrangements when volunteering? Where will I be located? How do I get to the project? How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? Are we able to do any sight seeing? What hours am I expected to take part in the program? What resources are available for the program? What is the course content of training/orientation session? How do I pay the program fee? What clothing is appropriate for the program? Are there any more expenses once I arrive? Do I need an entry visa and how do I obtain this? Is there any time of the year when I can't volunteer? What is the climate like in Cambodia? What immunisations/vaccinations will I need? Can I bring my family/children to this program with me? How safe is it to volunteer in Cambodia? What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Do I have to be from New Zealand to volunteer through Global Volunteer Network? Can vegetarians be catered for in this program? Is there the opportunity to take classes such as language or more cultural activities while on the program? ------ Tell me more about Cambodia Cambodia is a South East Asian nation bordered by Vietnam to the east, Laos to the north, Thailand to the northwest, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. It has been plagued by recent history of war and genocide and still faces the challenge of rebuilding social, political and economic institutions. The country has sustained considerable peace and stability over the last decade. Tell me more about the partner organization? Our partner organization recruits volunteers to teach in a local language school. Students pay a small fee to attend classes and the money raised is used to support a local NGO working to improve livelihoods in rural communities in Cambodia. Their mission is to provide conversational English language courses and support quality volunteer experiences while raising money for this NGO. The first program was run successfully in mid-2006. What type of volunteer work is available? Volunteers will be working as language teachers teaching around 20 hours per week; most volunteers work 4 hours per day. What age do you have to be to volunteer in this program? Volunteers must be 18 years or over when they volunteer. When will I know specific details on the placement? Your specific volunteer timetable will be arranged during the training and orientation program. What language do I need to know to participate in the program? You need to speak English. You must be a confident English speaker and comfortable with teaching English. When do I need to arrive in Cambodia? Volunteers need to arrive at set start dates throughout the year. These occur every 3 months. For 2007 we are accepting volunteers to begin their program on May 30th, August 29th and November 28th. This is the date that volunteers need to arrive at the airport- a training and orientation program will begin the next day. If you are arriving early we can help arrange a hotel for you to stay in (at your own expense). What are the living arrangements when volunteering? Volunteers will be accommodated together in a rented house. Around 10 volunteers can be placed in the program at one time. Volunteers will share a secure bedroom (lockable) with another volunteer. There are fans in the house but no air conditioning. Where will I be located? The project is situated in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. How do I get to the project? The volunteer accommodation is located approximately 2 minutes walk to the language centre. How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? The project can place around 10 volunteers at a time. Are we able to do any sightseeing? Volunteers work from Monday to Friday and on the weekends they are free to explore the region. Additionally, volunteers have a few days off during their 13 week program. During this time volunteers are free to leave Phnom Penh and explore the rest of Cambodia. What hours am I expected to take part in the program? Classes run all day from Monday to Friday (6AM-9PM). Volunteers will teach around 20 hours per week. Most volunteers teach around 4 hours per day, Monday to Friday. What resources are available for the program? The language centre will provide lesson plans and learning materials so that preparation and teaching is made easier. During the orientation Volunteers will be given instruction on how to carry out their volunteer work. What is the course content of training/orientation session? The orientation covers an introduction to our partner organisation, teacher training, a tour of Phnom Penh, a trip to visit the rural projects as well as an introduction to Khmer culture and language lessons. How do I pay the program fee? Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer's expense, e.g. there is a 5% surcharge on credit card payments. Bank transfers also incur a bank fee at the point of origin that is at the expense of the volunteer. The program fee is non refundable. What clothing is appropriate for the program? When teaching volunteers should be modestly dressed; clothing should cover volunteer's shoulders and knees. Are there any more expenses once I arrive? Volunteers will need to purchase a visa at the airport as well as have funds for snacks and other personal expenses. If on a tight budget volunteers can limit their entertainment spending and live simply but comfortably on US$100 per month (on top of the money paid for their program fee). Do I need an entry visa and how do I obtain this? Volunteers will need to purchase a one month Business Visa on arrival at Phnom Penh airport. This will cost US$25. As this will need to be extended to cover the full 13 week volunteer period, this extension will cost US$75. Is there any time of the year when I can't volunteer? You can only volunteer on the specified start dates and volunteers must stay for the full 13 weeks. What is the climate like in Cambodia? The hottest month in Cambodia is in April when temperatures can be as high as 40�C (105�F). From December to April the climate in Cambodia is at its driest with the most sunshine. The monsoon hits Cambodia from May to October with most of the rain falling in the afternoon. This rain accounts for 70 to 80% of annual rainfall. The highest temperatures around this time average just above the 30�C mark (around 88�F). What immunisations/vaccinations will I need? We advise that you consult your doctor about this, as soon as possible before you leave, as some injections need to be done with a certain amount of time prior to leaving home. The more common ones are Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, Japanese Encephalitis and Typhoid. Can I bring my family/children to this program with me? There may be a few possible placements where you can bring your children and this will be looked at on a case by case basis. Couples can be placed on this program, but please let us know at the time of application. How safe is it to volunteer in Cambodia? We work very hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering. Volunteers will be given safety advice in the orientation session. Petty theft is a problem in Cambodia and therefore we recommend that volunteers do not go out after dark. What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Each applicant is considered on the information they provide on the application. We look at skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to, as well as volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision. Do I have to be from New Zealand to volunteer through Global Volunteer Network? No, you can volunteer through the Global Volunteer Network from any where in the world. Can vegetarians be catered for in this program? Vegetarians can be catered for. Please let us know if you are vegetarian at the time of application. Is there the opportunity to take classes such as language or more cultural activities while on the program? You will be taken through some brief language training during your orientation and volunteers can participate in 1 hour Cambodian language lessons every day (no charge). ------ Question not covered here? Please check the generic FAQ, and if still unanswered, please submit your question here. (We aim to answer all email within 48 hours). Click here to apply for the Costa Rica program. |
|
Kilimanjaro