Cambodia

Articles / Volunteer Evaluations

	Outreach in the UK I found outreach quickly on the internet and almost immediately applied for this art project. Outreach stood out from other agencies due to its wide variety of projects. Correspondence and communication with James was straight forward and informative. I'm afraid I did not take advantage of the various workshops and training activities provided by Outreach and so can't really comment on them.The pre-departure meeting was very useful and a good chance to meet other volunteers. Having had time to talk to other people who have been involved in volunteer projects with other agencies it seems that Outreach provides an unusually good experience in terms of offering placements suited to the skills of volunteers. This is a real strength. Outreach in Cambodia In Cambodia I felt that volunteers were given a great degree of independence. The environment provided in the outreach house with others felt very secure. I found the Outreach oordinator to be easily contacted and helpful with any work related problems. The Outreach funded trips were very enjoyable and worth while. They were the only trips out of Phnom Penh I went on with the whole group. The Outreach house full as it was, seemed much more spacious than my own and had everything we needed. I made use of the kitchen, which is well worth keeping equipped. The people downstairs were absolutely lovely and always kind and welcoming. I found the allowance money was completely adequate for me. Overall I found that I was never at all restricted by the Outreach management but that support for important issues was there when needed. Thanks also to Thou who was an absolutely central figure in everyone's time in Phnom Penh, he is a great help and friend. Project Although I accepted that it was up to me to be pro-active about the work, I felt that the jobs that Kim Tha (the manager) was asking me to do should come first. The work that I did do I thought was always useful and I rarely felt like I was wasting anyone's time, in an organization such as this there's jobs for anyone. I enjoyed the woodwork I did around the place and the decoration of the shops front.Aside from actual work, just being around the people more than made up for the most boring jobs, such as taking stock and labelling shelves. Kim Tha is a great person and a pleasure to work for, he would always be asking for advice and valued my opinion. I felt very respected considering what little skill and knowledge I brought to the project. I think it's important to say that maybe Kim Tha puts a lot of trust in his volunteers expecting doors to unconditionally open for westerners. I was put into a number of situations because of this that I think I may have handled badly. In spite of this I appreciate having had a genuine insight into Cambodia and hope that in the future I will be more useful in similar situations.

• Evaluation by Jonny Wild

	Outreach in the UK How well were things organised? I encountered no organisational problems with Outreach UK, they were very accommodating with my last minute application. The Khmer language Cd could be better but it is at least a helpful start in learning the basics. Did you feel prepared for the trip? Yes! – As much as it is possible to be. In the pre-departure briefing it would be useful to explain that while following the dress code is required, volunteers will be living in a city and so will also need going out clothes – jeans are invaluable no matter how hot it is! Were meetings helpful / necessary? I thought the meetings were very useful – a great chance to meet other future volunteers and ask questions. How improve outreach UK? It would be useful to have all recent / semi recent evaluations for the project before leaving the UK (rather than just the last volunteer), and an up-to-date cost breakdown to aid in fundraising. Outreach in Cambodia I thought the Outreach Coordinator was helpful and supportive when needed, and have enjoyed knowing them in Cambodia. How well organised? Thought the organisation was fine. Liked going out for dinner to talk about projects informally, and having a scheduled meeting one month into the project to discuss it. Phones / helmets useful? Yes. How was the house? The outreach house is lovely. One fridge between five can get a bit crammed though! Having this huge amount of space is such a luxury. How improve orientation? Happy with orientation. Further info about project advance useful? All evaluations as mentioned earlier, and possibly some dialogue about role, in order to prepare everyone involved. (Kim Tha agrees with the generic role in the project description document, I believe both the project and future volunteers will benefit from some thought as to what they want to tackle before starting – even if it all changes afterwards!) Project I have really enjoyed working on this project. They are a lovely group of people and make a genuine effort to help Cambodia's disadvantaged. I found I adjusted to working with the disabled trainees remarkably quickly, mostly due to their friendly and positive attitudes. The centre definitely benefits from having a volunteer working there, and I found it useful to be there for a full six months – it took me three months just to settle in properly! The centre tends to suffer from a fear of change and lack of confidence / inspiration over new ideas. Thus a volunteer is needed to guide them through changing their techniques and processes, some of which they recognise as unhelpful, some of which they don't. Encouraging them to think in a more strategic fashion is also invaluable. The English class can be a little frustrating. The teaching technique involves sticking rigidly to a text-book and rote style teaching – without regard for the varying ability and fluctuating numbers of students. The Khmer method of learning is different to ours and they like the structure of the text book. I think that volunteers could benefit from agreeing specific goals with the project and outreach at the beginning (or even before) of their time here in order to lend focus to their work and for all parties to understand the volunteer role. Feeling productive throughout the placement? I felt productive (within the bounds of working in Cambodia) for every moment of my placement. Advice to future Volunteers? Be proactive about goal setting, and make sure what you are doing is contributing towards these goals. Attempt to get the staff involved with what you are doing, I've found stuff works best when I provide the motivation / begin something and they take it as their own. Be patient with trying to change their attitudes – remind yourself that it's not easy for them to see things in the same way as you. The project have absolutely no budget for anything – so be aware that you need to find funding for any grand (or not so grand) schemes. Have fun! Typical day at CHA For me, a typical day involved spending some time working at a computer, either at the centre or at an internet café. I helped to teach every day from 11.30 to 12.30. I also spent time in the shop/workshop – thinking up ideas, working on prototypes, teaching art, talking to the staff, cleaning / painting the shop, rearranging stock and displays... days on the project are unstructured, and so what you do is up to you! I would recommend being in the shop for the 4.00pm snack though – a great way to get an insight into what typical Cambodians eat! What achieved on placement? My main achievements at the project follow, for the very long list of things I wanted to achieve and didn't see the volunteer journal in the Centre (Kim Tha knows where it is) or contact me directly. Designed and got made signs for the roof of the shop. Got the roof of the shop fixed. Started the project selling jewellery and mobiles. Painted the cabinet in the shop, bought and painted baskets to hold excess stock. Created wall hangings to tidy the appearance of the shop. Entered their stock onto the computer (although I don't think this has been maintained – a good place to start if you have to do the same though!) Photographed the majority of the projects products. Created a website for the project. Rewrote their leaflets and created posters for outside the shop. Wrote an advert for the Cambodia Daily!

• Evaluation by Felicity Dorman

	Outreach in the UK Every effort was made to accommodate my slightest whim. Funds, flights, photos, all information requested were provided punctually and reliably. Management of my funding, from diverse sources through circuitous routes, must have been taxing for James but was handled very well. Thank you very much! The pre-departure briefing was a little heavy on the "danger around every corner" aspect of Cambodia, but I suppose it does no harm to prepare people for the worst. In fact the worse hasn't even come close to happening. Ever since I've been here I've felt safe and welcome, especially in backpacker areas. The only people with guns are the police and the only place you'll find prostitutes is in brothels. My advice to staying out of trouble: don't break the law! (Or get involved in politics). Outreach in Cambodia Absolutely grand. No complaints whatsoever. Businesslike and friendly in equal measure, I don't think these the coordinator can be topped for professionalism and grace. The Arts and Craft Project This is an amazing project that I am so happy to have been able to take part in. Much remains to be done (see separate document: Handover Notes) but this project has done so much already that I just want them to rule the world. We would be in safe hands indeed. The project is a Skills Training Program; a Community Based, Non-Governmental Organisation that promotes Income Generation for the disabled. This is the development-sector lingo for a group of people who train disabled people so that they can earn a living. This is really good as Cambodia still has "Least Developed Country" status, and can only better itself through increases in commerce. There are a large number of disabled people in Cambodia, all of whom can become easily disenfranchised when unable to contribute to their community. This project proves that "the disabled are, in fact, able". The project takes on disabled people with nowhere else to go (such as government run initiatives), teaches them how to tailor, how to run a business, how to speak English, how to deal with their issues from being disabled, all this whilst providing accomodation, food, a wage, a positive environment and holidays. I'm absolutely gobsmacked as to how good an organisation this is. To top it all off, the things that are made as a result of the training are sold on site in the shop, with profits feeding directly back into taking on more disabled people. In addition to this, English classess are run and orders are taken for export to countries around the world in order to generate further income. The proof of the this project pudding is that, unlike everbody else, they have survived for a decade on just the sales of the goods that they make, (mostly from export), not on any form of financial aid. They have done it themselves. Anyone can contribute at this project, there is just so much to be done. Personally I am constantly thinking of things that could be done to improve matters (this may have been why the handover notes run to several pages!!), and I know Eva, my predeccesor, is the same. To anyone thinking of volunteering on this project: Go, you will love it. The people are the best, you will learn much and make a great contribution to their lives, whilst they will make a lasting impression on yours. Cambodia in General I have had the best time being here. Following my nose and meeting the people who are doing the things that interest me has been the number one draw of this whole trip. The people I've met have been in turms hilarious, knowledgeable, fascinating, pious, hedonistic, damned intelligent, jaded, tired, rich, poor, welcoming, humble, rambunctious, witty, classy, naughty, scary - or they've been monks. To anyone about to come out here: Get out of the house! There is so much to see and do here, at relatively little expense, that there is barely any reason not to. You will never be Cambodian, never be so poor as to just eat rice and fermented fish, so why try? Consume ethically – markets rather than supermarkets, restaurants training street kids rather than American diners – and one is positively contributing to the economy. Great! And its more fun than watching pirate DVD's in the Outreach house. Follow your interests (in my second week I hired a Vespa to drive around in – home sweet home! Just for a week though, as it wasn't in great shape). Try other peoples' lifestyles. Form your own habits and rituals. Go swimming. Don't make the first restaurant you go to you your favourite. Do something you've never done before as often as possible. Don't spend more time writing your blog or journal than you spend doing things that you can write in your blog or journal! Don't be afraid of making a fool of yourself – you already stick out like a sore thumb by being a different colour, shape and smell to every native of this country. Just for fun: Find out who Pooja is, and where you can get a Flaming Pooja Hand; Register at the British Embassy – you may get invited to fancy do's and meet interesting people; go to meditation for westeners at Wat Lanka; buy a kite; Stare at Cambodians without blinking for ten seconds. After this their stern face will crack into the most beautiful smile, no matter who they are. Try it!; go to the dump; eat as many different types of street food as possible; get someone to show you how to eat the fruit; have a Seeing Hands Massage; the moto-drivers lead interesting lives - see if any will invite you to their houses or for a meal; be guest of honour at a wedding; or a funeral, then decide which is more fun (they can go out with a bang here)! Above all, safety is vital. Wear your helmet. Don't be an idiot around town. Don't wave your fancy possesions around. You're already going to have lots to tell when you get home – there's no need to be telling of things that went badly pear-shaped. (getting caught in the rain without your waterproof is not badly pera shaped). Oh, and try not to give westerners a name for being rich pushovers or hedonistic maniacs. We almost certainly have a bit of a PR campaign to win on that front already. And enjoy yourselves.

• Evaluation by Phil Watkins