Donate
TRIP CMB1024.ACa

Cambodia September 2024 -1 week Poverty Eradication. Social Justice. Global Engagement.

C$2,750Flight cost not included
Sep 28, 2024 Oct 5, 2024 Siem Reap, Cambodia Adult & Family Trip Raise the Roof

About the ProjectBuilding houses families can call their home

Millions of families in developing countries face a severe housing problem. A lack of shelter is a manifestation of widespread poverty. People live in homes that are built of flimsy materials, lack adequate sanitation, have an irregular or no electricity supply.
To help mitigate housing issues, DWC’s RAISE THE ROOF program provides adequate shelter and improves the conditions in which families live through sustainable construction projects. Essential services are addressed, such as safe drinking water, improved sanitation, space for food gardens and other means by which people can increase their capacity to generate income.
A liveable home can have a tremendous impact on a family’s well-being and their ability to break the cycle of poverty. For example, research suggests that replacing a dirt floor with cement can result in reductions in cases of diarrhea and anemia due to the presence of fewer parasites. In addition to health improvements, ownership of decent housing increases a family’s personal safety, security, and performance in school and at work. Secure housing improves a whole community.

MAKE AN IMPACT
In Cambodia
  • Two-thirds of the households in Cambodia experience seasonal food shortages every year. This is one example of a consequence of living in a rural area that depends on living off the land. Food supply can change with the seasons, leaving it as an unreliable source of sustenance.
  • 12.3 million people, or around 70 percent of the population in Cambodia, do not have access to a piped water supply.

Volunteer to Make a Difference and a HomeA Typical Workday in Cambodia

Build a floating home for a family on the Tonle Sap in Cambodia

A trip to Cambodia with this DWC volunteer team will offer great insight into local life and the unique landscape of Out Aput Village, in Siem Reap Province.  This project will provide a safe home on the water for a family.  There are many families in this region in desperate need of a safe place for their children to learn and grow. Their vulnerability was exacerbated by the pandemic, and significantly reduced fishing earnings due to lower-than-normal water levels.

Kompong Khleang has about 15,000 people scattered in 11 rural villages.  The village of Out Aput has about 1200 residents. The poverty situation in the area is dire. Families eke out a living by working in the fields during harvest and planting seasons and fishing in the non-growing seasons.  Some live along the riverbanks in wooden framed homes, while those without any land often live in small boats on the river. With the rise and fall of the Tonle Sap, many families are forced to relocate. There is no electricity or potable water system. Many children get to school by boat.

Our teams work in partnership with our in-country partner Bridge of Life School. DWC volunteers work alongside people who have grown up in the region, contribute to the local community, and see a side of Cambodia that most never see.

Having a home that offers better protection from inclement weather and has proper sanitation will increase the standing of the chosen family within the community, boost their self-esteem, and stands to secure a better future for the entire family.

You’ll do construction that builds a future for people who have little. You’ll work alongside like-minded volunteers who are also passionate about travel and giving others a hand up, not a hand out.

 

 

Man looking at Cambodia temple

It's Not All WorkVisit the Temple of Angkor Wat

The team will be stationed in Siem Reap, the cultural mecca of Cambodia. This is a tourist city with a population of just over 140,000 people. The list of cultural activities is endless, including such standards as Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei, Bayon and the Phare Circus. The outlying countryside is loaded with several options for full-day or two-day excursions.

Trip Details

Itinerary

Saturday, September  28 – Team arrives at Siem Reap airport; transport to the hotel
Monday, September 30   – to Friday, October 4  – PROJECT WORK
Saturday, October 5- Return home or continue to travel in Cambodia

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?
The cost of this trip is displayed at the top of the page. This cost includes accommodations, meals, in-country transport, program costs, and a donation to our host partner in their respective country. It does not include airfare and you are responsible for booking your own flights. The entire trip is 100% tax deductible. A $1000 non refundable deposit is due once the trip is confirmed which is then credited towards your trip cost. Your trip cost is due in its entirety 45 days prior to departure. Select trips may be subject to additional cultural activity fees. As of 2025 airfare will no longer qualify for a tax deductible receipt on our open trips. US volunteers may be subject to administrative fees/exchange rate adjustments.

Are accommodations included and what are they like?
DWC books your accommodations for you, and it is included in your Trip Cost! Your team will stay at a local hotel that is comfortable and clean. Rooms are booked as shared double occupancy. You may upgrade to a private room for an additional cost, where possible. We will do our best to accommodate adjustments.

Are meals provided and can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
All meals are included in your trip cost. Some meals will be at the hotel, while others at local restaurants. The food is prepared hygienically, and dishes range from local to standard western fare. Volunteers submit a health form to DWC and all requests for dietary restrictions will be provided to the Team Leader, hotel, and host partner, to be accommodated wherever possible. Your Trip Cost does not include tips, alcohol, or snacks.

Can I add personal travel onto this trip?
Absolutely! We want you to have the best travel experience possible. If you choose to add personal travel onto the front or back end of your trip, you are welcome to book your own accommodation and transportation arrangements for early arrivals or late departures, however you are required to arrive in time to fully participate in the volunteer experience with your team. Personal travel would not be covered in your tax-deductible receipt.

Can my family come on the trip with me?
The trip cost listed is a per person rate. Family members can participate in the trip as part of the volunteer team by paying a separate trip cost. Children 12-17 wishing to participate in a volunteer trip require a parent/guardian with them.

What is the minimum age requirement to volunteer?
Children under 12 are unable to participate in our program due to the nature of the volunteer work involved. Children 12-17 wishing to participate in a volunteer trip require a parent/guardian with them.

Do I need construction experience and how much will we work?
You don’t need special skills or training to be able to help. We hire local skilled labourers who will give training onsite for construction and team leaders. You will work at your own pace, within your own comfort level, five days a week from about 8AM to 4PM. Your evenings and weekends are free for cultural activities and relaxing.

What is the work site like and what is the intensity of the labour?
There is a building manager and translator on site. Tasks on the work site vary and you will only be asked to do what you are comfortable with and within your physical abilities. There is no pressure!

Why should I volunteer?
Support sustainable change with us. Learn about the world and yourself, lend a hand and build hope. Every bit of time spent on a DWC project is helping a person, a family, or a community. You’ll know that your contribution will make someone’s life better. DWC matches teams of volunteers and resources with people and organizations in developing nations to alleviate poverty and inspire hope and your efforts do have impact. The experience is enhanced by working as a team. Simply put, there is joy and self-discovery that comes with giving to others. And you’ll have fun doing it, too.

Are DWC trips religious or political in nature?
DWC has no religious or political affiliations.

Meet the Trip Leader

Each trip is coordinated by DWC with the help of a Team Leader, who has travelled with DWC previously, is First Aid Certified, and has completed a Criminal Record Check. Your Team Leader will liaise with DWC and ensure all your questions are answered. Your Team Leader will handle all team finances through the trip and travel with you to ensure the best possible travel and volunteer experience for their team! They also facilitate fun, cultural experiences where possible, ensuring group cohesion. See your Team Leader Biography here:

Andy Clark

I am a retired Construction Project manager, I spent my working career running construction sites or multiple construction sites in the UK.

I managed to retire “early” in July 2021, since then I have wondered how I had time to work…

I have 3 grown up children and one beautiful (yes I am of course biased) granddaughter who was born in August 2021. We moved into a brand new house and new area in 2021 to be near our granddaughter and my time is now taken up with her ( my wife and I look after her two days a week), walking, weekends away, golf and making changes to our new house to make it just right for us.

I have been volunteering since 2007 and to date, if I have the numbers right, been involved with 10 different trips, and helped in the construction of 22 houses and helped 86 people. I also led a DWC trip to Philippines in the fall of 2023.

Travel Light Offset Your Carbon Footprint

Carbon offsets are used to compensate for the greenhouse gasses that we create through certain activities, such as flying. For every tonne of carbon released into the atmosphere, an ‘offset’ is a carefully designed project that absorbs or stores the equivalent CO2 emissions. You can choose to offset your own flight, your whole family’s, or do this as a gift for a friend.

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

Joy

Volunteer Program Manager

Say Hello!

Our friendly staff are here
to help get you on your way.

Contact Us Today
Ask Us a Question