NGO work in Cambodia and teaching English in Vietnam!

Kate Wassell Start Date: Oct 18, 2023 - End Date: Feb 17, 2024
  • Cambodia
  • Vietnam

My Travel Story

by: Kate Wassell Start Date: Oct 18, 2023 - End Date: Feb 17, 2024
About the trip:
(See updates for more information about my NGO placement in Cambodia!)
On the 13th of January 2024 I will be flying to Cambodia to begin a volunteering journey with International Volunteering HQ! This trip will begin with 10 weeks of assisting a non-govermental organisation, Women's Resource Centre in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I will be using my prior teaching skills to help teach staff English, as well as fundraising for this amazing NGO and assisting with writing case studies and reports. I've chosen to stay in Cambodia for longer than eight weeks, meaning (according to IVHQ) that I will have deeper involvement with the NGO. I hope that my writing, language and teaching skills will make a positive impact; meanwhile this work will certainly have its own impact on my knowledge and understanding of NGO work and build my understanding of human rights issues in a country that is not my own.

Following my time in Cambodia I am flying to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to teach English for four weeks. When I first set out to find a way to live in abroad again for a short period of time, teaching English in Vietnam was at the top of my list. By volunteering through IVHQ again I believe I can make the most impact in a short amount of time, helping local young people aged 16-25 their English proficiency - an important skill in an increasingly globalised and English-speaking world. On the other hand I intend to learn as much as I can about Cambodia and Vietnam's cultures, languages and customs and immerse myself through volunteer work in a way that travelling alone might not achieve. 
Following my total 14 weeks of volunteering I hope to travel through the rest of Vietnam and explore its culture and diversely beautiful cities as much as I can.

About me: 
This time last year I took a risk to move abroad following the chaos and uncertainty of graduating during the pandemic. I began teaching English in a secondary school in Murcia, Spain, and it was the best decision I ever made! Over the period of nine months, I regained my love for travel, made lifelong friends and began gaining skills in teaching, a career that hadn't anticipated loving so much. Whilst I was in Spain I also obtained my TEFL qualification, and upon arriving back in the UK immediately began working for a language school in my hometown, teaching English to students with a mix of nationalities and ages. Currently I am working as an English subject supply teacher in British schools to help save up for my travels, but I could really use some help funding this volunteering journey. I am beyond excited to travel abroad again and put all the skills I've gained so far to good use and hopefully gain some new ones!
  • Cambodia
  • Vietnam

Updates

1

  • Cambodia Placement!

    Today I found out my placement for my volunteer work in Cambodia. I'm going to be working with Women's Resource Centre in Siem Reap, which is a female-led NGO that provides women with educational services and workshops, free counselling and a drop-in-centre. WRC is is committed to giving Cambodian women a safe space to voice any concerns, such as violence or emotional abuse in their relationships, worries about finances or childcare, or otherwise use the space to be amongst likeminded women seeking a fairer society and open-minded community.