VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

The first thing that struck us was how happy, at ease and comfortable the children are at Kep Gardens. Janine and Andrew have created a delightful atmosphere – the resources built up over time are impressive and the classrooms bright and colourful. It was wonderful to be able to contribute.

The opportunity to work one-on-one with the students – from number, colour and image recognition with the very small children, to reading through various levels for the primary children, to conversations with those in classes 7 and 8 – was very special and lots of fun. Being able to give intensive individual time to children to help them practice their English is so beneficial for their communication skills and understanding. Some of our favourite moments were of taking class 8 for conversation and learning about their lives and what they hope to do.

Anyone choosing to spend some time as a volunteer at Kep Gardens will have a wonderful and rewarding time making a real difference to these lovely young people. You may be in a gap year or retired, stay for a week or months – you can be assured of a very warm welcome from Andrew and Janine and will have a time you will remember forever.

Helen and Becca

Volunteering at Kep Gardens is an educational, fun and valued experience. Come for a day or for as long as you like. Our formal programme is structured to allow flexibility as do our accommodation facilities.

Kep Gardens welcomes you into our family. We are looking forward to your visit. We have put together a few points for you to understand about our expectations of your volunteer work and the living conditions you will encounter.

Our English school has been running since 2008. We run a 45 week curriculum that concentrates on the correct pronunciation, grammar, reading and conversation for English. We hold 16 classes each day from Monday to Friday. Students’ ages range from 6 –18 years old. Class sizes are 25 for younger classes and up to 30 students in the older classes. We also have a Playgroup and Kindergarten each morning, ages ranging from 3 – 5. Life skills also play a very ?????

Our Child Protection Policy requires a recent police report.
Volunteers are asked to choose which sessions they would like to work: 8.00- 10.00 am young children; 2.00-5.00 pm primary school children; 5.15-8.15 pm high school students, five days a week, but should allow additional time for preparation if teaching in the classroom.
The majority of the volunteer work is a one- on-basis which gives volunteers a chance to chat and get to know students individually.
From Monday to Friday we ask you to dress appropriately for a school environment. Please respect the Cambodian culture and dress conservatively and modestly.
Please ensure you are never alone with a student and can be openly seen at all times.
Keo Gardens is a non-government organization with no religious or political affiliations. Please do not discuss your religious or political beliefs with the students.
Please don’t show favourites. All Kep Gardens students are treated equally.
Volunteers must have a good command of the English language and be able to follow a set curriculum. We have very structured rules and regulations for the good of the school – volunteers must abide by these.

Handy Tips

Don’t pat anyone on the head. This is offensive to Buddhists.
Don’t touch a monk. We sometimes have monks in our classes.
To open your mind to learning about Cambodian culture, spend some spare time interacting with the students and staff at Kep Gardens. You will go home a richer person with a warm feeling in your heart.
Villagers dress traditionally and conservatively, and though they will expect foreigners to dress differently, you will get stared at if you wear “short” shorts (knee length is fine) and strappy tops. Bring hats to wear during the day but never wear them inside or in a pagoda. Volunteer Accommodation and Facilities
A donation of $5 per day per room applies. If you stay elsewhere on the weekends, we will keep your possessions in your room.
Volunteers stay in a room with an ensuite bathroom, fan, mosquito net, linen and towels provided. This room may be shared depending on the number of volunteers.
A kitchen is available for use. You are welcome to join staff members for a Khmer lunch at a cost of $2. Deliveries of evening meals can be arranged.
A canteen is open during the day for snacks, noodles and Khmer coffee. Breakfast is available at the canteen.
Unlimited bottled water is provided in your room as well as the shed. Please bring your own bottle for refills.
A laundry service is available at your cost.
The bathroom consists of a sit down toilet with a Khmer bucket and scoop shower. No hot water.
Wifi is available.
Insect repellent and sunscreen are must haves. Also any medications you require.
Please bring a torch/flashlight.
There is a town about 1.5 kms away with a market and other facilities including a bank and an ATM.
Other ATMs are available in Kep.
The nearest place for European food, post office or beach is Kep, approximately 10 kms away. An Italian restaurant has just opened in the village. Tuktuk or moto can be arranged at your expense.
Hire of a motorcycle can be arranged.

Weekends and Spare time Activities

Kep Gardens is situated at the northern entrance to the Kep National Park.
We conduct village tours and local pagoda visits and request a small donation of $2.
The town of Kep is 10 kms away, Rabbit Island is off the coast of Kep and Kampot is 20 kms away, all of which are ideal weekend getaways.
Volunteers may like to visit the national park, pepper plantations and caves which are only a tuktuk ride away.
Tuktuk hire can be arranged.
Hire of a motorcycle can be arranged. DO YOU WANT TO SEE FIRST HAND AND LEARN ABOUT TRADITIONAL KHMER VILLAGE LIFE?
Village walk and home visit.
Listening to stories told by older people who survived the Pol Pot regime.
Visit the local Phnom Prous Pagoda.
Presentation by Class 8 on various Cambodian topics - great public speaking experience for the students.
Khmer dancing presented by younger and older groups of students.

Numbers 1-3 incur a $2 donation per person which goes directly to the local people to thank them for hosting your visit. Volunteering at Kep Gardens is nothing like a holiday, but nonetheless a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. It’s great to see the dedication Janine and Andrew have and all the efforts they put into the English school, the construction work, and all the other activities Kep Gardens offers to the Cambodian community.

Living at Kep Gardens is not always as comfortable as staying in a guesthouse, but it does make you feel part of the family. Kimhean and Vuh are always willing to help you out with whatever query you may have.

When being part of the Kep Gardens’ project, you get to learn a lot about the people who call this part of Cambodia their home. We were very lucky to be invited for a wedding of an old Kep Gardens student. We felt very welcome and it was a pleasure to experience that all the other Kep Gardens students who were present, could talk to us in very good English! They all spoke with great respect and love about Janine and Andrew.

We will cherish our memories of all the Kep Gardens’ children we got to teach every day. The smaller kids really are lots of fun, and it was very pleasant and interesting to get to learn more about the lives of the older English students.

The 6 weeks we spent at Kep Gardens were fun, challenging, hot, interesting …. all in all a great experience we for sure will never forget.

Ruth and Rosa