By Daniela Frendo, Epicure & Culture ContributorĀ
In Cambodia, 10% of childrenĀ aged between five and seventeenĀ have never attended school.Ā Many others drop out andĀ seek work to support their family.Ā In fact, about 9%Ā ofĀ children in CambodiaĀ are engaged in child labor. The majorityĀ of children work in agriculture, doing menial (and sometimes hazardous) tasks likeĀ fishing, logging and shrimp peeling. Ā Meanwhile, public schools in Cambodia are understaffed and poorly equipped.Ā Higher education fees are unaffordable,Ā discouragingĀ many studentsĀ from pursuing further education.
In light of these difficulties, one Southeast Asia-based tour company features things to do in Cambodia that help lead toĀ sustainable change in marginalized communities.
AddressingĀ The Needs Of Locals & TouristsĀ
When Brandon and Andrea Ross movedĀ to CambodiaĀ to set up their boutique hotel and global ethics-focused tour company, Journeys Within, they experienced first-hand the strugglesĀ of impoverished communities in rural areas. At the same time, their clients expressed a keen interest inĀ helping local people lead better lives.
The couple decided to take action.
In 2005 they createdĀ Journeys Within Our CommunityĀ (JWOC), a non-profit organization addressing the needs of local people. They work to “promote economic, educational and improved health opportunities through access to basic services such as clean water, microfinance, education and community liaison programs.”Ā Before long visitors wereĀ donating moneyĀ toward water wellsĀ and a language school.
Moreover, Brandon and Andrea recently launched a volunteer program to maximize their clients’ impact on the local community.Ā Says Andrea, “As we developed the tour company and JWOC over the last 10 years, we really wanted to focus on a way for guests and volunteers to have a positive impact and not be a drag on resources. Because of this, we ask all our travelers and volunteers to donate to the organization as part of their commitment. This ensures that any added expenses are covered and not a drain on our donations.”
Are you a responsible traveler? This tour company offers ethical local experiences! #travelgood Share on XEngagingĀ Travelers With Cultural Things To Do In Cambodia
The Journeys Within Active Philanthropy program gives travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in local culture through volunteering on a varietyĀ of projects, some of which include teaching, nutrition training and clean water access.Ā StaffĀ at Journeys Within review the skills and abilities of each volunteer, thenĀ match them toĀ a suitable cause.
Andrea firmly believes this philanthropic approach to travel can change the world. The Active Philanthropy program wasĀ designed to give travelers a greater sense of connection with the local community.Ā Volunteers get to meet their beneficiaries, gain a deeper understanding of theĀ issues affecting marginalizedĀ communities,Ā and experienceĀ enriching interactions with the locals.
She says, “Once youāve donated to a project you then get to visit and learn more about the project and the people it benefits. Itās a wonderful way to make a contribution to a community and then have your experience benefit because of it.”
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Building wells and ensuring a steady supply of clean water was one of the first initiatives undertaken by the Journeys Within Our Community. The most common diseases in Cambodia — which are often fatal — are caused byĀ contaminated water and lack of sanitation. The organization has so far been able to provide clean water to over 2,000 people, mainly thanks to contributions madeĀ byĀ travelers and volunteers.
The organization also manages three language schools, two inĀ Cambodia and one in Laos. People taking part in theĀ Active Philanthropy Program can spend a week teachingĀ EnglishĀ to local residents, or sponsor a Cambodian student who wishes to study at University. Another great way forĀ visitors toĀ empower local communities is by providing funds for microloans to local entrepreneurs so they canĀ start their own small business.
When sponsoring a potential University student or an aspiring entrepreneur, donorsĀ have the opportunity to meet their beneficiary, see their home and listen to their stories. Therefore, besides donating time and money, travelers also get to see Cambodia through the eyes of a local.
This tour group lets you sponsor a University student and make a positive impact in Cambodian communities! Share on XVolunteering Concerns
One major concern when volunteering abroad is the volunteer taking the job of a local. According to Andrea, Journeys Within has a system in place to ensure this doesn’t happen. She explains, “Most of our volunteers are short term so their contribution is really their donation, which allows our projects to grow. With that said, we have put together a system over the years that looks at how volunteers and visitors can do the most good with the least disturbance. For instance, placing volunteers in an English class where talking to and hearing Western accents is a huge advantage to the students. We also talk to each visitor and volunteer to see if they have a skill set that is something needed by our team.”
The Active Philanthropy Program has recentlyĀ won the Educational Travel Community’s 2016 Responsible Tourism Showcase Award for being an excellent example ofĀ responsible and community-based tourism.
Note: Epicure & Culture has not used Journeys WithinĀ for our travels as of yet, and the above information comes from online research and interviews with their team. Before booking any volunteer experience with any organizations we encourage you to do your own research.Ā Please visit our Volunteer section for assistance.Ā