REACH OUT VOLUNTEERS

TEACHING PROGRAM BOOK

Reach Out VolunteersEverything you need to know about the Reach Out Volunteer Teaching Program

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The answer is always yes, you can make a difference. Every person has the ability to make a difference and everybody should try. With the growing tourist industry, English is a vital skill for local people, and in rural schools in which we work, students do not usually have the opportunity to have native speakers, or even teachers proficient in English. You can offer these children a chance to hear and learn.

Every child that receives an education from Reach Out Volunteers, medication from programs and access to water and food, is a step in the right direction.

REASONS FOR TEACHING IN CAMBODIA

1. 23% of young women are illiterate, 16% of young men are illiterate

2. More than one third of Cambodians live below the poverty line, earning less than $1 per day

3. Many families cannot afford the associated costs of the Cambodian State school education system

4. English is not a compulsory subject in Cambodian State Schools

5. Only 24% of Cambodian children eat an appropriate diet with many at risk of malnutrition

6. Malnutrition in the main cause of child mortality and morbidity in Cambodia

7. Only 15% of rural Cambodians have access to adequate sanitation and 65% to safe water

Why teach in Cambodia?

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WHERE IN CAMBODIA WILL I BE?

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Student Teachers in Siem Reap will stay in town and work in a village about 30 minutes from the city, near the remains of ancient Angkor. A thousand years ago, Angkor was the world's largest city, with 750,000 people, ten times the size of the largest European city, Paris. Now only the stunning temples of this city, the UNESCO listed Angkor Wat complex, remain in the jungle near Siem Reap. Siem Reap is a small city with Khmer and Chinese-influenced architecture, an Old French Quarter with local and international restaurants and cafes, as well as a vibrant Old Market. In the city are traditional Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, and nearby rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near Tonle Sap lake.

Student Teachers on the island, will be living on a beautiful and remote Cambodian island in the Gulf of Thailand. Far away from the tourist trail, you will be immersed in the lives of these traditional Khmer people, many of whom have never left the island, becoming a part of their community and culture. The gateway to this program is Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city in Cambodia, located on the banks of the Tonle Sap lake and the Mekong river. The city was founded in 1434 and in the 1800’s was part of French Indochina. Some gracious French colonial buildings have survived and wide boulevards still exist. Phnom Penh is currently home to approximately 2.2 million people.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING? - SIEM REAP

During your program you will be living in Siem Reap and taking a tuk tuk (a motorcycle with a trailer) from your guesthouse to a village approxi-mately 30 minutes away, traveling between rice fields on the only dirt road into the village.

There you will be working at the local village school, interacting with the children, playing sports and improving their English.

You will be involved with the teaching staff to deliver the current educa-tion program. There will be the opportunity for you to assist with lesson

preparation and delivery, classroom management and extracurricular ac-tivities. You will be working with the local teachers on the day to day is-sues that all teachers deal with. Through this life changing experience you will also have the opportunity to practice your up-to-date teaching and pedagogical practices.

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WHAT WILL I BE DOING? - ISLAND

You will be living on the island along with the Reach Out Volunteer participants in the Marine Conservation program and be involved in teaching experiences in and out of the classroom. Not only will you be working with the children and adolescents on the island, you will also have the opportunity to teach English to the predominantly illiterate adults.

The lesson times are organized around the routines of the fishing families. The sessions for the women occur in the morning before they become involved in their daily activities; the classes for the adolescents occur late in the afternoon following their fishing duties and classroom lessons occur during the day.

The key to a positive teaching experience is flexibility. If you are looking for a classroom experience with books, regulated times and set ways of learning then the island will probably be too much of a challenge. If you like developing strategies to meet perceived learning needs, if you are willing to be involved in learning environments outside the classroom and have a desire to interact with the locals through gaining a knowledge of their own language & culture then you will love the challenges of the island.

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ACTIVITIES - SIEM REAPYour program is full of activities to ensure you are immersed in Khmer culture.

Siem Reap is home to one of the wonders of the world: Angkor Wat. Your itinerary will make sure you get to the view the temples of Angkor for example Ta Prohm (featured in Tomb Raider) and Bayon (famous for its 37 free-standing towers).

Additional activities include Khmer language classes, a Khmer cook-ing class, Apsara dancing, a history lesson on the Khmer people and their fascinating past, temple blessings and much more!

To really immerse yourself in the daily routine of Siem Reap we have organised walks and bike rides. The flat central plain makes it an ideal place to explore. You’ll get to take your time moving through the vil-lages and outlying areas of the city. Children will run out to meet you on the village roads and their parents may even practice their English on you! You’ll also have the opportunity to visit local markets, or even stop for a massage.

You will also visit the great lake of Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in South- east Asia which is an ecological hot spot designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997. In fact, 16% of Cambodia’s GDP comes from fishing in this lake, and it is home to a vibrant mix of float-ing villages, inhabited by Khmer, Vietnamese and Cham ethnic groups. Tonlé Sap is unusual for two reasons: its flow changes direc-tion twice a year, and the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambo-dia's dry season, Tonlé Sap drains its waters collected from the Hima-layas into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. When the rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake. You will visit the floating villages at the edge of the lake and have an optional choice of a canoe ride through the floating forests. 6

ACTIVITIES - PHNOM PENH & ISLAND

You will be working alongside and interacting with Khmer families many of whom have never left the island. You will also be part of the Reach Out Volunteer island team which includes our marine conservationist volun-teers. While the conservationist volunteers complete their data collection and marine surveys as part of our conservation program you will have the opportunity to be involved in the water activities such as scuba diving or snorkeling over the coral reef, maybe even swimming with a turtle or spot-ting an endangered sea horse. On weekends the team will be involved in island activities – trekking, picnicking, visiting nearby islands, beach cricket, beach volleyball and if you are lucky there may even be an island celebration such as a wedding. Additional activities include Khmer lan-guage classes and a Khmer cooking class run by the local village women.

You will spend the second weekend of your program in Phnom Penh where you will visit local craft markets, sample a range of traditional Cam-bodian food and visit cultural centres, temples and museums such as ‘The Killing Fields’ museum and the Tuoi Sleng Genocide Museum. These museums are confronting as they are reminders and memorials to a bleak and bloody 5 year period following the end of the Vietnam War. The time of the Killing Fields and the Kymer Rouge is detailed in The People and History section of this booklet.

You may also visit the National Assembly building or the National Mu-seum which is the main historical and archaeological museum in Cambo-dia or the Royal Palace. Activities will be determined by the Team Leader after considering the time available and the interests of the group.the group.

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PAST EXPERIENCES & BLOGS

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To see exactly how a Cambodian Adventure program operates, you can visit past program blogs.

The blogs are updated daily while you’re in Cambodia so that your friends and family can see what you’re up to. To view the blog, visit: http://rovolunteers.com/Volunteer-Cambodia-Teach.htm and in the top right hand corner you will see a tab ‘Live from Cambodia’ and that will take you to the program blog.

Below is what just a handful of past volunteers have said about their teaching experience with Reach Out Volunteers:

“What  I  enjoyed  about  the  teaching  program,  was  the  9lexibility  that  we  were  given  to  be  able  plan  lessons  and  the  opportunity  to  interact  with  the  teachers  and  students  through  the  various  activities  that  the  school  provided.  The  program  gave  me  more  that  what  I  had  expected  .  It  chal-­‐lenged  me  both  mentally  and  emotionally  (both  a  positive)  and  has  shown  me  my  inner  strength  and  what  I  am  capable  of.”  Siu

“I  really  loved  meeting  everyone  at  the  village  and  making  so  many  new  friends.  After  a  month  with  everyone,  you  feel  like  a  tight-­‐knit  family.  Most  memorable  part  would  be  seeing  the  students  able  to  put  what  you've  taught  them  into  practice  and  also  their  smiling  faces  every  day!..I  think  what  we  did  helped  them  build  the  foundation  of  starting  to  read  which  was  one  of  our  goals.”  Jancy

“The  school  had  very  high  expectations  for  us  but  we  worked  it  all  out.  Dancing  with  the  children  and  cooking  with  the  teachers  were  the  most  memorable  bits...A  month  was  not  enough.  I  think  the  teachers  learnt  a  lot  from  us  and  we  gave  them  lots  of  resources  to  use.”  Emily

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHYThe history of Cambodia is still being written today with the country rebounding and emerging from the nightmare of the Killing Fields

THE PEOPLE AND LOCATIONThe majority of Cambodians are Khmers and descend from the Khmer Empire that once extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its peak between the 10th and 13th centuries. This is the civi-lization that built Angkor, which was once the world’s largest city. After a long period of decline fuelled initially by Thai and Cham attacks Cambodia became a French protectorate in 1863. After 1887 it was part of French Indochina. Following the Japanese occupation during World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953.

The Killing Fields

In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. Dur-ing the Khmer Rouge regime, under the dictatorship of Pol Pot, at least 1.5 million Cambodians — one-eighth of the population — died from forced hardships, starvation, or execution (many in the mass graves that became known as the Killing Fields).

In December 1978 the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and drove the Khmer Rouge into the jungle. The Vietnamese occupation lasted for 10 years and was followed by 13 years of civil war.

The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of nor-mality under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first government, but a second round of elections in 1998 led to political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surren-dered in early 1999, and several high ranking people from the regime have been tried for genocide.

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“One person can make a difference and every person should try”

John F. Kennedy

START PLANNING

Flights

For flight and airport information you must read your Get Ready document which will be provided when you pay your deposit. If you are extending your program it is very important that you email the ROV office to confirm your arrival and departure airports before you book your airline tickets. Travel Insurance

Although our programs are safe, take the stress out of your trip by making sure you are fully covered for any unexpected health or travel problems that might arise, including cover for emergency flights and hospital visits. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.Visas

A Cambodian visa is purchased on arrival for around US$25 - make sure you have an extra passport photo in your hand luggage. A departure tax of around US$40 may apply although most tickets now include this tax.

Currency

Cambodians operate on a dual currency, but prefer U.S. dollars, so we rec-ommend that you bring cash. A valid ATM or credit card can also be used at the airport ATM (which dispenses U.S. dollars). Note that if you plan to use your ATM or credit card in Cambodia, you should let your bank know ahead of time to avoid blocked transactions.

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FLIGHTS, TRAVEL INSURANCE, VISAS & CURRENCY

WHAT WILL I NEED TO BRING?

Weather

The months of November to January are dry in Cambodia. Humidity levels are low and there is little rainfall. Daytime temperatures are mild, while the nights are cool. The hot months are April to May, with temperatures from 30°C (86°F) to (more often) 40°C (104°F). In July, monsoons bring rain and humidity that last until October. All this water means Angkor is surrounded by fertile land and lush foliage, but rain can also make it difficult to access the schools and villages where we work.

Clothes to Pack

Think about your favorite clothes, shoes and handbags and then dis-card those thoughts.Think practical, comfortable and easy to wash. Think hats and sunscreen.

Your program will involve lots of practical work and you don’t require precious garments or flashy jewelry. Short and strappy is definitely not acceptable in Cambodia.The Reach Out Volunteer T Shirt is given a real workout most weeks!

Refer to your Get Ready document located on your Volunteer Launchpad for a detailed list.

Donations are welcomed

• Sports equipment,runners, joggers, sports clothes

• educational books & posters

• whiteboard markers and erasers, grey lead pencils & pens13

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FUNDRAISING!

Because of volunteers like you, we can provide employment to local tradespeo-ple, medication for children, materials for building projects, donations for anti-poaching activities, and money for local infrastructure, like accommodation pro-viders, activities, transport. Every cent helps the local people. We need your help to make a difference.

Many volunteers fundraise for their Reach Out Volunteer program. That means not one cent has come out of their pocket. Your fundraising materials will be available to you once you have paid your deposit or uploaded your priority code to your profile.

We also recommend using a crowdfunding site like Go Fund Me. Be sure to embed Reach Out Volunteer videos and links to our website to give people an idea of what they’re contributing to! People will want to help you and get behind you, all you have to do is put your-self out there!

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MEET YOUR GROUP

Excited about your program? Reach Out Volunteers creates Facebook groups for every program so that you can get to know your group months before leaving! You may even meet someone who lives close by with whom you can travel.

How to meet other volunteers:

1. ‘Like’ Reach Out Volunteers Facebook page. www.facebook.com/reachoutvolunteers

2. ‘Add’ ROV Adm as a friend.

3. Email info@rovolunteers.com or private message us via Facebook with you full name and program name and dates. We will then add you to the private Facebook group.

QUESTIONS?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

is Cambodia dangerous? Cambodia is predominantly buddhist with very little civil unrest.

will I be met at the airport? We will collect you on the day you ar-rive, and be drop you off at the airport on the day of departure.

will I have electricity / adaptors? Not all the time, but often enough to charge your cameras, phones and iPods.

will there be wifi? Not all the time

will there be big insects / wild animals? Not in the cities or villages

will there be mosquito nets? On the island, yes. In Siem Reap you will be in air conditioned rooms

can you wear singlets (tank tops) shorts, bikinis? No!

can we bring toys and other small gifts? Yes!

do we need bedding? No!

do we need vaccinations? Ask your doctor

do we need to arrange airport transport for departing flights? No!

can I bring a suitcase? We recommend a backpack

is there a difference between Travel and Health Insurance? Yes

do I need Travel Insurance? Yes!

what things / clothing should I bring with me to donate in the vil-lage? Children’s clothes and shoes are always welcome along with early childhood development educational materials

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EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR PROGRAM HAS SAFETY AS ITS HIGHEST PRIORITY1. We organize your program from start to finish.

2. If you arrive at the airport on the day the program commences, there will be a Reach Out Volunteer representative to meet you.

3. The Reach Out Volunteer Team Leader will be with your group for the entire duration of the program, and will be available 24/7 to help in any given situation.

4. You will be living in a shared, same sex room (whenever it is available), in clean, hygienic and safe accommodation.

5. You will have constant access to safe drinking water.

6. The Reach Out Volunteer Team Leader will have a mobile phone for emergency contact for the duration of your program.

7. Sunscreen and hand sanitizer will be readily available.

8. If you choose an Asian extension (with the exception of Laos), Reach Out Volunteers will provide on ground transport to the next program location, where you will be met by a Reach Out Volunteer representative.

9. We escort you to the airport for your departure.

Will I be Safe?

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If you haven’t already applied for the program, you can do so through our website:

www.rovolunteers.com

and click on the Apply Now tab.

If you have already applied and been accepted for our programs you will need to pay the deposit to confirm your place.

Reach Out Volunteer Teaching PLACEMENTS ARE LIMITED so if this program is of interest to you, we suggest paying your de-posit early to secure a position.

We’re waiting to welcome you to our team!

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How to join Reach Out Volunteers?