YOU CAN VOLUNTEER AND HELP TO SHAPE CAMBODIA’S FUTURE
ABOUT KIDSHELP
More than 100 students have successfully graduated through the Kidshelp university scholarship programme and now work as doctors, dentists, midwives, pharmacists, architects, engineers, accountants, IT specialists, social workers and teachers. Over 70 percent of our graduates are female. Kidshelp is helping to shape Cambodia and you can be part of this programme.
Kidshelp began its activities in Cambodia in 2005 and was officially registered as a German charity in 2006. In its early years, the organisation implemented several smaller projects, including the construction of a water well and two classrooms at Hocker School along National Road 6. In addition, Kidshelp supported individual students, including a medical student, and sponsored schoolchildren to enable them to continue their education instead of leaving school to work in factories or agriculture.
In 2008, the Kidshelp team met Khath Khemara and her husband, who were teaching English to children in the afternoons beneath her mother’s wooden house in the village of Loer Oet, approximately 35 kilometres north of Phnom Penh along National Road 6.
At that time, English language education in local schools was limited and of poor quality. The village had no electricity, and financial resources were scarce. Khemara’s mother owned a piece of land on the opposite side of the road connecting Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and it was decided that Kidshelp would support Khemara and her family in building a proper brick school on this site. The building was designed to accommodate up to 300 children across three daily shifts, powered initially by a generator, and included living space for Khemara’s family as well as rooms for volunteers. Construction began in November 2009, and teaching started in July 2010.
In the following years, additional classrooms were added to both the front and back of the Khemara Kidshelp School (KKS). Student numbers steadily increased, while the focus remained on providing English lessons to complement Khmer schooling. In 2025 and 2026, the school buildings and volunteer accommodation were refurbished, including a full renewal of the electrical systems. Today, 325 children attend English classes at KKS across three daily sessions.
In August 2025, Kidshelp opened its second school, the Kidshelp English School (KES), where 365 children study English every day, also across three shifts.
In addition to supporting the two schools, Kidshelp assists nearly 300 children from the poorest families in accessing education and supports 40 scholarship students at university in Phnom Penh. Around half of the teachers in the Kidshelp schools are themselves former scholarship recipients.
Kidshelp Cambodia – England is registered in England and Wales under Charity Registration Number 1199367. Kidshelp Kambodscha e.V. is registered with the tax authority in Cologne-Porz, Germany, under Tax Number 216/5730/1611. Further information on all programmes can be found at www.kidshelp-kambodscha.org.
VOLUNTEERING
Kidshelp invites volunteers to support its work by teaching in its schools in Cambodia. Volunteers are generally expected to stay for a minimum of three months. In exceptional cases, such as university students volunteering during their holidays, a shorter period of two months may be considered, this is the minimum duration.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, although there is no upper age limit, and many participants in the past have joined as part of their retirement plans. A good command of the English language is essential, as well as an enjoyment of working with children and young people. Volunteers should be open-minded, flexible, social and creative. While teaching experience or studies in education are not strictly required, preference will be given to applicants with relevant English teaching qualification.
For volunteers arriving by plane, Kidshelp will arrange airport pickup and transport to the school. If volunteers are already in Cambodia, arrangements will be made to collect from agreed location in Phnom Penh. Accommodation is provided in single rooms; however, if two volunteers are travelling together and both meet the criteria, shared arrangements can be made subject to availability.
At the beginning of the volunteering period, individual goals will be discussed and documented. During the stay, volunteers will take part in regular monthly reviews and, at the end, a final feedback discussion with the Cambodian Country Director and the German-based Volunteer Coordinator. This feedback will give you a voice in improving the experience of future volunteers and improving children’s learning experience.
The primary role of volunteers is to teach English, to children aged between 6 and 18 years. Lessons are designed to be interactive, engaging and playful, ensuring that students acquire essential language skills in an enjoyable way. Volunteers work in a team-teaching format alongside Cambodian teachers, who provide initial guidance and continuous support throughout the stay.
Teaching is based on materials from Oxford University Press, supported by audio resources. Equipment such as speakers and smart TVs with internet access is available and shared between classes. There are three two-hour teaching sessions each weekday, starting at 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00. Volunteers are expected to teach in two of these sessions per day and may choose which sessions they prefer. Although accommodation is located at KKS, volunteers also have the option to teach at KES, which is approximately four kilometres away; a bicycle is provided for this purpose.
In addition to teaching, volunteers are encouraged to contribute to extracurricular activities. In recent years, volunteers have organised project weeks, music lessons, and workshops on youth-related topics. New ideas and initiatives are highly welcomed, provided they are agreed upon with the school principal.
You will also have the opportunity to meet and participate in activities with our Phnom Penh based university scholarship students – depending on the volunteer programmes and specialist subjects they are working on. All scholarship students are fluent in English and many support Kidshelp initiatives at our schools.
ACCOMMODATION
Volunteers are accommodated directly at the Khemara Kidshelp School, where you live alongside the principal’s family. Two individual, lockable rooms are available for volunteers. Each room is equipped with an en-suite bathroom including a hot and cold shower and a toilet, a large single bed, bedding, towels, a desk, chair, mosquito net, fan and storage space. Volunteers are responsible for maintaining cleanliness in their rooms and for doing their own laundry, including bedding and towels. A shared cold-water washing machine is available.
There is a strict no-smoking policy within the accommodation, although designated smoking areas may be discussed with the principal. Internet access is stable, and the electrical system meets modern European standards.
Kidshelp is currently planning to build additional self-contained volunteer rooms with private bathrooms and a shared kitchen at the Kidshelp English School. Once completed, volunteers staying there will receive a weekly food allowance and will be responsible for preparing their own meals.
MEALS
From Monday to Friday, lunch and dinner are provided at the school. Meals typically consist of traditional Khmer cuisine, and volunteers are encouraged to share feedback or dietary preferences where possible. A shared refrigerator is available for storing small amounts of personal food. As the school is located in a rural area, any food kept in rooms must be stored in sealed containers. During weekends, volunteers are responsible for organising their own meals.
COSTS
Volunteers are responsible for covering their travel costs to and from Cambodia. During their stay at the school, however, expenses are minimal, as accommodation and weekday meals are provided. Kidshelp does not offer financial compensation for volunteer work but will reimburse agreed expenses directly related to volunteering activities.
Volunteers are encouraged to explore Phnom Penh and other parts of Cambodia during weekends. Travel, accommodation and personal expenses during these trips must be covered by the volunteers themselves. Local transport is relatively inexpensive; for example, a bus journey to the outskirts of Phnom Penh may cost around five US dollars, while a private tuk-tuk ride may cost approximately twenty US dollars. As a general guideline, volunteers may wish to budget around 400 US dollars per month for personal expenses, although actual costs will vary depending on individual lifestyle choices.
VISA
Volunteers who confirm their participation at least two months prior to arrival and intend to stay for three months or longer will receive support in applying for a visa. The initial 30-day visa is typically issued free of charge, and Kidshelp will assist with the extension process during the first month of volunteering.
Volunteers who are already travelling in Asia or who plan to stay for less than three months will receive guidance on obtaining a visa independently at their own expense. All visitors to Cambodia are required to complete an eArrival form within seven days prior to entering Cambodia.
HEALTH CARE
Volunteers are advised to consult their national foreign office or health authority regarding recommended vaccinations and travel advice before travelling to Cambodia. Vaccinations commonly recommended include Hepatitis A and B, dengue fever, rabies, typhus, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis. These costs must be covered by the volunteers.
Healthcare standards in Cambodia differ from those in Europe, and it is recommended that medical consultations take place in Phnom Penh rather than in the local village. Private medical facilities with English-speaking doctors are available, but volunteers must have valid travel health insurance, as Kidshelp does not cover medical expenses.
If you join our team, you will need to tell us about any condition that requires regular medication or that the school principal should be aware of in case of emergency.
CODE OF CONDUCT
All volunteers are required to read and comply with the Kidshelp Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct, which is available upon request or on the Kidshelp website.
INITIAL APPLICATION
We look forward to hearing from you if you feel you can help us to make a difference in shaping the future of the young people of Cambodia. Please send an email to info@kidshelp-kambodscha.org, indicating your preferred dates and your flexibility. Your application should include a CV and a letter of motivation. If we can invite you to join our team, we will arrange an online meeting, answer any questions you have and let you know of any additional information or documentation we will need.
Reports from former Volunteers
Take a look at the reports of our volunteers Sabine and Franziska here.
