Volunteering in Cambodia

[Bigsky]

Check out mloptapang.org
I spent several months in Sihanoukville in 04. At that time it was a wonderful grassroots project to help homeless children. Great folks and a nice little town on the beach! Also there is the Starfish bakery/project.

[phuketbound]

^Thanks Bigsky, for the link. M'Lop Tapang looks like a really great place. What did you do there? The website is really detailed. Perhaps, I'll get a chance to help out there.



grasshopper

the Cambodians I've met were well ok - was incarcerated with a few of them in Hat Yai, take them over the local inmates any day - polite, undemanding, generally decent

having said that the locals with whom I was friendly, almost family in fact, in Hat Yai were the best - and living on 100 baht a day was normal - never had a problem with it myself - we were happy and didn't worry about much

Sounds real nice, Grassy.

[grasshopper]

^miss it so much it hurts

[rogerman]

I have always been totally accepted by Thais and Cambodians when i live and work with them soley on the fact that i make a huge point on being equal to them in both cultures, food, language etc....

If you can't beat them you better to join them you get on better that way

[grasshopper]

^I think we're in total agreement there

[rogerman]

Thats good.... i must be getting accepted here too

[grasshopper]

o god no!!!

[Bigsky]

I was teaching in a language center that I really didn't like. I got to know the folks at M'lop Tapang and the Starfish Bakery socially. They were just getting going at that time. A great bunch of expats ! They really care about the kids, not just there supporting a lifestyle.
When I googled it yesterday I found a great youtube link and video you may want to see.

[phuketbound]

^I'd love to see it, you can pm me the link or post it on here. What type of work did you do at the M'lop? Did you teach English there? Cheers!

[peelieorion]

Originally Posted by phuketbound

^I'd love to see it, you can pm me the link or post it on here. What type of work did you do at the M'lop? Did you teach English there? Cheers!

I'd be reluctance to pay any volunteer organisation a penny. Many i know know nothing about education and when you arrive here you'll soon wonder what you paid for. Go into any poor school in North East Thailand and they'll love you to do voluntary work. these organisations may start off with good intentions but often the volunteer gets thrown in a school where out walks the teacher. You later find out that some organisations have also been taking sweetners of the school. If you want to volunteer, come to my school or one in my area and you'll get you food, accomodation for free. Always volunteer on your own terms. you also realise in Thailand that you can rent your own 3 bedroom house for 15 bollars a week so why pay an organisation 50 dollars where you'll probably be sharing a house with 10 others.

[rogerman]

Originally Posted by grasshopper

o god no!!!

[Big Bill]

Originally Posted by peelieorion

you can rent your own 3 bedroom house for 15 bollars a week

Sorry Peelie, but this made me laugh-15 Baht
-15 Dollars, or
-15 Bollocks

[rogerman]

16 years ago i bought my house and two hectare farm for $100 US and two bat of gold.
It's a two bedroom house with kitchen and lounge....Quite nice actually. Price has sky-rocketed now tho

[Big Bill]

Originally Posted by rogerman

Price has sky-rocketed now tho

How much now RM?

[rogerman]

Originally Posted by Big Bill

How much now RM?

I really couldn't tell you the prices now.....i've been away from there sooo long now .
I've been meaning to get back there sometime soon but.... theres always something else more important to do