Cambodia Community challenge

Why do a community challenge?

"Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits. Yet millions of children and adults remain deprived of educational opportunities, many as a result of poverty.” UNESCO

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, with limited education in rural areas and a rapidly growing population. This is leading to overcrowding in classrooms and stretching resources within schools.

This challenge will see participants help construct buildings at a school located near Siem Reap. You’ll live and work with the local community to help increase the school’s capacity and improve the quality of learning for its students.

It will be both physical and emotional but all you need is an open mind, a lot of enthusiasm and a willingness to make a difference. By helping build these classrooms you’ll not only be helping its current 432 students but ensuring the school is well equipped as the numbers rise to almost 600 in the next 5 years.

You will never be asked to do anything outside of your physical capabilities and teamwork will be encouraged at all times. No volunteer will ever be made to feel they have to do something they are not happy or comfortable doing.  If you feel you are unable to do what you have been asked, please speak to your construction supervisor or challenge leader and they will do their best to find you something else. 

Accommodation & Toilets

During the project, accommodation will be in homestay style community house with dormitories.  Your homestay will be hosted by a member of the community who has volunteered their home and been through a vetting process.  Mattresses, pillows and mosquito nets will be provided  You will be sharing with people of the same gender.   When staying in towns or cities you will be staying in hotels on a twin share basis.  Toilets are either squat style or western.

Climate

The dry season in Cambodia runs from October to April, and the wet season from May until September, with the heaviest rainfall generally in August & September. Average temperatures range from 24°C in the cooler months of October, November & December to 35°C at the hottest time of the year from March until June.

Passport

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Cambodia. Entry is normally refused if you have a damaged passport or pages missing.

Your passport should also be valid for a minimum period of 6 months for any subsequent renewal or extension of your visa applied for from within Cambodia.

Money

ATMs are available in Siem Reap and in some other major towns. Take care when withdrawing cash and be aware of your surroundings. Not all ATMs and banks accept foreign debit and credit cards. Check with your bank before you travel. Credit cards aren’t widely accepted, but some hotels and businesses in larger cities will accept them. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some banks and bureaux de change.

The US dollar is the main currency used in Cambodia. Prices in hotels, shops and restaurants are quoted in US dollars. Cambodian Riels are used only as small change at a rate of around 4000 Riels/US$1.

Flights

You will be flying from London to Siem Reap via Bangkok. Your flight info can also be found in your Account Area under 'Flights'. Your flight tickets will be issued to you upon departure at the airport. 

Outbound
Thai Airways TG911   
Depart London Heathrow T2 on 06/10/2018 at 12:30
Arrive Bangkok on 07/10/2018 at 05:45
Thai Smile AirwaysTG2588    
Depart Bangkok on 07/10/2018 at 07:45  
Arrive Siem Reap on 07/10/2018 at 08:50
Return
Thai Smile Airways    TG2591    
Depart Siem Reap on 13/10/2018 at 21:25     
Arrive Bangkok on 13/10/2018 at 22:30
Thai Airways TG910    
Depart Bangkok on 14/10/2018 at 00:55
Arrive London Heathrow T2 on 14/10/2018 at 07:55

If you choose to book your own flights please confirm with the Charity Challenge office prior to booking any flights, otherwise, you may be liable for your included group flight cost. Contact flights@charitychallenge.com for any further info or intent on booking your own flights. For any general flights questions, please refer to our main FAQs page.

Visa

Tourist visas are available on arrival at the Phnom Penh or Siem Reap international airports, for $30. If you wish to get a visa on arrival you should arrive with a passport photograph. You can also get an eVisa online before you travel.

Visa fees, conditions and photograph requirements are subject to change. Check the Royal Cambodian Embassy, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation website for the latest information on fees, conditions and photograph requirements and on how to apply for an e-visa.

Tourist visas issued by a Royal Cambodian Embassy abroad may appear to have a longer validity than 1 month. The validity of the visa refers to time you have to enter Cambodia. The visa is valid for 30 days from the actual date of entry into Cambodia. Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival, and keep the departure form. If you lose your departure form, you’ll need to let your challenge leader know and contact immigration officials before you leave the country to make alternative arrangements.

Vaccinations

For up to date vaccination information please check the Travel Health Pro website https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/49/china#Vaccine_recommendations

The Charity Challenge team are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your GP or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your GP may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting so it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you.

Insurance

It is a condition of travelling with Charity Challenge that you have a suitable travel insurance policy which covers you for your entire challenge. We have a special policy which covers among other things, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, cancellation and curtailment of the challenge, and more specifically for the adventurous activities undertaken on this challenge.

If you have your own travel insurance policy, you must ensure that it provides at least the same level of cover as our recommended policy, including protecting the charity in the event of your cancellation 56 days or less prior to departure. If you choose not to purchase our recommended policy when you book we will send you a disclaimer which you must complete and return to Charity Challenge prior to travel.

Luggage

The luggage allowance is 1 piece at 23kg.  Please only pack what you really need for the trip.  It is also easy for loading into the coaches to have a soft-shelled bag. You may also wish to consider having a padlock for your bag.

Leadership

There will be a UK leader and UK construction supervisor who will be managing the group and leading the project build.  There will also be a local foreman and several local construction workers to help with the teams.  In addition, there will be a Santander representative overseeing the trip.

Clothing & equipment

You will be provided with a kit list with recommmened clothing and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), which you will need to purchase.

Please also dress with cultural sensitivity, when visiting temples and in the homestays you will need to cover your legs and shoulders.

Food & drink

Food will be provided by the local community and will be typically Cambodian.   There will be vegetarian options provided, although the choice is more limited. All participants but especially those with personal eating restrictions should bring snacks to supplement their meals. You may also wish to bring additional treats like marmite, peanut butter etc.  The tap-water is not safe to drink. Boiled water will be provided during the challenge, you may wish to bring some fruit squash with you to add to water to encourage you to drink more. You can buy bottled water or soft drinks in hotels and lodges for meals.
Please let Charity Challenge know prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of our participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up Challenge Safe, one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. Challenge Safe formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the challenge activity itself. Your welfare is absolutely paramount.