Projects Abroad Teen Volunteer Abroad Program in Cambodia

I took the leap at the young age of 16 and decided to fly half way around the world to volunteer with Projects Abroad. I signed up for their High School Projects without evening knowing where Cambodia was!!! Projects abroad helped and assisted me with everything. My trip leader was beyond amazing, a real support buddy and I later learned that the team did an incredible job at supporting my Mum with all her nervous questions!!

The Staff at Projects Abroad were there to support us 24/7 in country and back Home. It was a well run program and I felt I was in safe hands. I recommended this program to someone else and they had an experience very like my own which was great to hear. It’s great to know that the team at Projects Abroad believe in what they do.

Accommodation was great, basic but very comfortable. I had my own bed, shared bathroom and space for my suitcase at the end of my bed to store my belongings. Accommodation was always clean, neat and tidy. Drinking water was always available. At night there was a night guard although it did feel it was in a pretty safe area.

I am so glad that I went with Projects Abroad for this trip and couldn't imagine having gone with anyone else.

I volunteered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for 2 weeks in December 2015. I was 17 years old at the time and have never traveled outside of the United States, so all of it was totally new to me. There were 13 volunteers and we were from 4 different countries, and we all got along great. We stayed in a nice hotel and the hotel staff was very friendly. During the week we would go to our placement which was a daycare center and a kindergarten on an island, located about an hour from our hotel. During the weekend we traveled to Siem Reap, which was about an 8 hour bus ride on a bumpy, dirt road. We ended up getting a flat tire and had to stand in the 95 degree weather for about 45 minutes. But it was definitely part of the experience. While in Siem Reap we visited the temples and went to the night markets. The second week we went back to the placements and finished our work of painting, gardening, and making resources.
The staff definitely made me feel safe and welcomed the entire trip. Without them or the other volunteers my experience would have been totally different. This was one of the best decisions I've ever made and it definitely helped me grow as a person.

The summer of 2014 I participated in the High School Special program in Cambodia for Care & Community. The previous summer I went to Europe for my first time and realized that I absolutely love traveling and seeing new places. For this summer I wanted to see someplace new but I also wanted to get involved. Projects Abroad gave me exactly what I was looking for. Over the course of two weeks I worked alongside nine other volunteers at a day care center for children 3-6 years old. Projects Abroad was beyond helpful from the planning process to the return home. After talking back and forth with some staff and attending an online information session my parents happily put me on a plane to Cambodia. There was never a moment where I felt nervous or unsafe during my trip. As soon as I stepped off the plane I was met with a staff member and a car to transport me to my placement house. Everything was very organized and easy. I stayed in an apartment with the other volunteers and the outstanding project supervisors. My supervisor was very friendly and had answers to any and all of my questions. We were building a garden and a playground at the daycare, which was something I had never done before. Any of my concerns washed away as soon as we got there. We arrived to two friendly staff members who had all the tools necessary and the guidance we needed. During the two weeks Projects Abroad organized different activities where we got to experience the Cambodian culture. We traveled to Angkor Wat to visit the ancient temples, we toured S-21 and the Killing Fields to learn about the country’s history, and we went out to eat at local restaurants. I made lifelong friends with the other volunteers during my trip and I am planning on doing another volunteer abroad experience with this company. The staff at Projects Abroad are all very impressive and on top of every detail. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to volunteer abroad. Volunteering abroad, helping underprivileged children, meeting so many different people, and getting to see the world are just a few of the wonderful opportunities Projects Abroad provides you with. I will always remember my time in Cambodia!!