Volunteer Positions in Rural Development

  Cambodia

Phnom Penh

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: flexible

Description: The Vocational Training for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Development is a non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit organization, which was established in 1992. The VAPSD's objective is to alleviate poverty and to improve the livelihood of the rural population. It wants to empower the poorest by capacity building and advocacy work. The VAPSD runs for example programs on human rights and democracy, land conflict resolution, rural development, healthcare, HIV/AIDS, Gender and Micro financing.

The VAPSD offers volunteer placements in the fields of advocacy action, capacity building, rural and agricultural development, community development, health, environmental protection, organization and management, documentation and financial management.

Highlights: Cambodia was an ancient empire, populated by Khmers. It reached its peak between the 11th and 15th century. After that period, Cambodia fell into decline and became a French colony from the latter part of the 19th century until the 1950s. Toward the end of 1960s, Cambodia was confronted with political disorder and conflicts due to economic turmoil, threats from communists in Vietnam, and air strikes by the United States and South Vietnamese forces in the final stages of the Vietnam War. In 1970, Lon Nol launched a successful coup d etat and deposed Sihanouk as the head of state. In April 1975, the Khmer Rouge (KR) expelled Lon Nol and installed the Democratic Kampuchea regime. In less than four years of rule, all institutions in Cambodia were destroyed and more than a million Cambodians were killed. The fundamental Cambodia institutions of family, community, and religion were all viewed as existing solely to support a corrupt status quo. The Khmer Rouge set out to cleanse this inherently corrupt Cambodia in order to build their Utopian state. Their utopia of genocide and aggressive stance against the Vietnamese resulted in the Vietnamese army invading in 1979 and essentially occupying the Nation for the next decade. Insurgencies raged on however and Cambodia remained as volatile and dangerous as before.

Cost in US$: 200 USD per Month (free after the third month)

Responsibilities of the VAC program are:
* Helping to find a host family or a Guesthouse
* Pick up at the airport
* Welcome dinner
* Organization of the transfer to the NGO
* a presentation about the volunteer program Introduction to the partner organization
* To provide a contact, in case of problems
* To provide the volunteer with all necessary informations

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-70

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Cambodia Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

STAR Kampuchea's Mission Statement: STAR Kampuchea is a Cambodian non-profit and non-partisan organization. It was established in August 1997 and is dedicated to building democracy by strengthening civil society. Since it was founded, STAR Kampuchea has become a well-known and respected organization with a solid reputation among civil society organizations, government bodies and donors. Thousands of people and hundreds of NGOs have benefited from its activities. STAR Kampuchea's keyword is advocacy, the organized efforts and actions that use the instruments of democracy to establish and implement laws and policies that will create a just and equitable society (Definition of the Advocacy Institute, Washington, D.C.). Advocacy activities should strengthen democracy, the respect for human rights and civil society on the basis of the rule of law. To achieve its objectives, STAR Kampuchea currently runs three programs: the Advocacy Action Program (AAP), the Advocacy Capacity Action Program (ACP) and a new program to establish the STAR Kampuchea Foundation (SKF). The VAC program is part of the third program.

Year Founded: 1997