Siem Reap - Community Health & Social Care

In the tourism hub of Siem Reap near Angkor Wat, this project provides holistic support to families living in extreme economic poverty – offering help from health care and education to income generation and development of sustainable energy systems.

With such a broad and varied programme of community support, the project welcomes volunteers with all kinds of skills and experience. Each placement will be specifically designed to use whatever experience the volunteer brings.

The health care programme needs volunteers with any of the following specialisms:

·         social workers from all disciplines

·         nurses and health practitioners

·         early childhood development 

·         health visitors and nutritionists

·         midwives and geriatric nurses

·         First Aiders

·         preventative medicine practitioners

·         HR practitioners to help with development of the organisation, staff and community members

The project
This project meets the needs of families who are on or just above the poverty line in 3 farming and fishing villages between Siem Reap and Tonle Sap Lake. Life in these villages still revolves around subsistence farming and fishing.

Every week day, 250 children and young people, aged between 3 and 24, attend the English language programme and 30 young people and adults are learning in the vocational training section. Training is given in domestic electrics, weaving and wood-working skills, supported by adult literacy classes. A crèche is provided for younger siblings and the vocational training students’ children. There is a junior football team who compete in local tournaments.

A programme of health education is being established. This is a new initiative and volunteers are needed to help the local staff and volunteers in developing a programme appropriate for the community they seek to serve. The local community finds it practically impossible to source healthcare support - it is both expensive and remote.

The project has built immense respect within the local community. The challenges are huge - poverty, loss of natural habitat and traditional income, lack of resources, children's need to work, chronic health problems, a violent history. For many, this project offers hope for the future, whether through a child's education or a micro loan to fund a livelihood initiative.

 
The team's goals for the future:
• develop the health education programme
• increase outreach work with families, disadvantaged young people & the elderly
• open a community library
• build a kitchen to provide a nutritious lunch to 100 needy children
• expand  the art programme
• research & develop effective sustainable energy systems

Each and every volunteer will help this local NGO and grassroots project to achieve their goals.