Volunteer with AHHA Education in Cambodia

Volunteer with AHHA Education in Cambodia

Location
  • Cambodia
Length
3 weeks

Program Details

Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Hostel
Travel Type
Budget Older Travelers Solo

Pricing

Price Details
In exchange for your dedication, we provide free traditional Cambodian cuisine and accommodation in shared rooms with other international volunteers. This ensures a rich cultural exchange experience while supporting you in your service.
What's Included
Accommodation Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers Equipment SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Jul 14, 2025
Dec 19, 2025
0 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Cambodia is a must-visit destination for any traveler, with stunning geographical landscapes, ancient temples, and a vibrant culture.

Volunteering with AHHA Education enables you to experience this unique country, all whilst making a positive impact. Our NGO empowers and inspires communities through holistic education. We offer English, IT, and Life Skills courses to disadvantaged youths in Cambodia, also providing them with opportunities to apply their learning in real-life situations. We accept volunteers from a variety of backgrounds and welcome everyone who believes they can make a difference, with both teaching roles and office-based roles being available.

In addition to our schooling operation, we also have a few hotels in Kampot which are part of the Group, with 51% of our profit directly assisting educational programs nationwide. By choosing to volunteer in our hotels, you're supporting quality education, and hotel positions are currently available.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Free accommodation with other international volunteers of the same gender
  • Three local meals per day are provided for free
  • Opportunities for cultural exchange

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Program Reviews

4.89 Rating
based on 18 reviews
  • 5 rating 88.89%
  • 4 rating 11.11%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.9
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.5
  • Value 4.9
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 9 - 16 of 18 reviews
Neil
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

I was a volunteer in April & May, 2024, at the school in Ou Chum, Ratanakiri province. The administration & arrangements through Peter in Phnom Penh were very helpful. The head teacher/manager Panha worked incredibly hard in both teaching and running the school. All the teachers were very competent, open to new ideas and easy to get along with. I also learned from them, English grammar for sure, as well as some teaching practices. The students were endearing, from the 4 year old to the teenagers. For me, the greatest reward was in working with the students, both 1 - on 1 and in teaching classes and seeing their learning & development!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
There are many different AHHA schools in Cambodia. Be clear on how rural/rustic an experience you want versus one in a city. Discuss this with Peter.
Pros
  • The wonderful experience teaching the students and watching their development.
Cons
  • Cambodia is a poor country and in the rural areas that will impact on your food.
43 people found this review helpful.
Erika
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A volunteer experience that filled my heart!

The best experience I have had by far!!! 🫶🏽 now I feel like I have a big family in Cambodia. From the very beginning, I was warmly welcomed and felt part of something bigger.

I started volunteering in the province, teaching and helping with social media, and eventually moved to the main center in Phnom Penh. There, I supported video production, photography, graphic design, and ended my journey by painting my very first mural! an unforgettable moment for me!
The students, trainees, and teachers are truly inspiring, and I also had the chance to meet an amazing group of international volunteers. We shared beautiful memories and had so much fun together.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live this experience. I will carry it in my heart forever. Thanks a lot!🫀

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
As life beautifully aligned, I had the incredible opportunity to celebrate Khmer New Year there. I experienced the heart of the Cambodian tradition; water fights, baby powder, joy, color, and deep-rooted customs.
We joined the celebrations with the other volunteers, and I even had the chance to visit the home of one of the NGO’s teachers, where I witnessed how families come together during this special time.
Thank you for opening your lives to me and making me feel truly part of it all!
Pros
  • REALLY deep connection with the local culture
  • Strong sense of community and belonging
  • Tangible and meaningful impact
Cons
  • Cultural adaptation challenges, I feel is not for everyone
40 people found this review helpful.
Celeste
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Meaningful heartwarming experience in education

My one-month volunteering in AHHA Education in both Phnom Penh and Kampot was a meaningful, enriching experience that provided me with flexibility, autonomy, and capacity-building opportunities throughout the whole period spent with Peter and the School staff.

I am grateful for this experience because of my involvement with a very interesting social setting and education challenges, and I had the opportunity to work with and on what I felt most suitable for and happy (grants scouting and partnership building + extra school activities). I had constant support and received frequent support while enjoying the company of Cambodian children and youth.

I made several friends and I felt truly happy and motivated to spend all my time in the school and immerse myself in the work of this NGO, believing in and working for concrete change.

What was your funniest moment?
Building an area of a new school in Kampot and cooking together
Pros
  • Immersion
  • Education curricula and impact strategy
  • variety of people and youth
Cons
  • Food variety (but cultural immersion is more important)
  • Gate closure timings for exploring the city by night (if that is of relevance for some)
42 people found this review helpful.
Jessy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The family called AHHA.

I spent 5 months volunteering for AHHA Education, working in various roles as teaching, marketing and recruiting.

I had a fantastic time with Peter and the team. From meals to social activities to bedroom: Everything is taken care of. I received great support by the staff of AHHA and could always fall back on them like aunts and uncles.

The connection with the students is truly one-of-a-kind, since every moment is spent together. I love that about AHHA Education.

When in Cambodia, I could not recommend volunteering here more

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
One of the teachers grew up more rural and learned to eat.... differently. One day he came back from the market with a bag of cockroaches, and we all had one as a dessert. Surprisingly crunchy and delicious
Pros
  • Great daily structure
  • Fulfilling work
  • The Eye-Exercise
Cons
  • No real place to retreat and disappear into.
30 people found this review helpful.
Madeleine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fascinating immersion in grassroots NGO

I had a very interesting experience working at AHHA in Phnom Penh. Aside from meeting a range of amazing people of all nationalities and backgrounds who keep the school going, I found the fundraising work highly stimulating. The environment in the office was very collaborative, Peter encouraging people to learn from each other depending on their skill set.

I also really enjoyed living on the edge of Phnom Penh. A stone’s throw away from the city and its museum’s and cultural institutions, it also was a lovely place to explore, with the Mekong 5 minutes walk away and all sorts of interesting routes to take around the school.

I’d say that volunteering at AHHA is not for the faint hearted, you are expected to contribute to the community they have carefully built and the housing is basic, but absolutely adequate. It was hugely rewarding and I feel that I learned a lot of practical skills there.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Definitely one of the interesting things was eating the school food! I enjoyed the leftover cakes from Pchum Ben!
41 people found this review helpful.
Aydin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing community, passionate individuals

I have spent 1 month in Kampot in 2024 August. The school is located 30 minutes by motorbike outside of the Kampot downtown in a rural area.

The school has two programs, one for English for all students ages 6 to 13 and business program ages 16 to 18 for 2 years graduation program.

There are permanent teachers and they accept volunteers. I was lucky to teach Englush to childrens at ages 6 to 13 and business to older students. Tge local teachers have been very helpful and motivated and passionate. The family who runs thd school is also very supportive and educated.

I loved the atmosphere and the teacher student engagements. We always had good structure in lessons as well as fun time by playing several games everyday.

I stayed in a private place in Kampot. I recomment you arrange your own accomodation and rent a bike.

Teach, travel have fun!

What was your funniest moment?
When we had a day trip to a nearby waterfall with the business students
Pros
  • Structured
  • Passionate teachers and students
  • Balanced education with fun activities
Cons
  • Accomodation
39 people found this review helpful.
Luca
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learned a lot

Looking back I had a good time at AHHA and after one year I can still confidently say that I stand behind what AHHA is doing. They focus on education for kids whos families don't have much money. That's why they direct their ressources to the school rather than luxurious stuff.

This Volunteering is good for you if you like working and learning about problems of the education system in developing countries & challenges within an organization who focuses on stuff like that.

I'm still in contact with Peter who is overseeing the volunteers and he's a nice and friendly person. So you can easily reach out throughout gooverseas and just check in a call if you would like volunteering there.

34 people found this review helpful.
Gianne
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Empowering Cambodian Community Immersion

Volunteering with AHHA Education in Cambodia has been one of the most enriching and transformative experiences of my life. As an international volunteer, I came with the intention to give—but I left with so much more: a deeper understanding of Cambodian culture, a renewed sense of purpose, and a profound respect for the power of grassroots education.

AHHA Education is not just an NGO—it’s a movement. Their mission to educate and empower Cambodian youth through formal education and skills training is deeply rooted in community values and cultural pride. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by Peter and his team not just as a volunteer, but as part of an international family. The organization’s culture is one of humility, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to social impact. It was inspiring to witness how every team member, from the founders to the local youth leaders, embodied the values they teach.

What sets AHHA apart is its holistic approach. Beyond traditional classroom education, they offer a diverse portfolio of social enterprises that provide real-world training and sustainable opportunities. I had the chance to engage with several of these initiatives—from office work, digital marketing, hospitality promotions, housekeeping and hotel reception. Each project is thoughtfully designed to equip young Cambodians with practical skills while fostering a sense of ownership and pride in their heritage.

Being immersed in the local community was a reward in itself. I lived among the people, shared meals with the staff, interns and other volunteers, and participated in cultural activities that offered a window into the soul and history of Cambodia. These moments of vicarious learning reminded me that education is not just about textbooks and is not confined in the four corners of the classroom; it’s about connection, identity, and empowerment.

One of the most valuable aspects of my experience was learning from AHHA’s organizational culture and public relations strategies. Their approach to community engagement is deeply respectful and inclusive. I observed how they build trust through transparency, how they amplify local voices rather than overshadow them, and how they use storytelling to inspire action. These best practices have reshaped how I view development work and will undoubtedly influence my future endeavors.

AHHA Education is a beacon of hope in Cambodia—a place where dreams are nurtured, and futures are built. For anyone considering volunteering abroad, I cannot recommend this organization enough. It’s not just a place to serve; it’s a place to grow, to learn, and to be transformed.

In a world that often feels disconnected, AHHA reminded me of the power of community, the beauty of cultural exchange, and the enduring impact of education. My time there was not just a chapter in my journey—it was a turning point.

🌱 Thank you, AHHA Education, for the lessons and the legacy you are building every day. 🌱

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Have fun and learn from the experience.
Pros
  • Organizational culture
  • Safety
  • Opportunity to learn and engage
39 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers