Having travelled South East Asia for a number of months it became increasingly clear that i wanted to volunteer my time to a worthwhile cause. Making a Difference for Good helped with placement to a needy orphanage, began comphensive introductions and provided ongoing support over my 2 weeks of volunteering. As well as being a professional organisation, MaD were also a welcolming family where I and others were made to feel part of a team. I fulfiled my ambition to support a worthy cause and discovered it was the highlight of my trip. I have future desire to return to Cambodia, a very needy country with beautiful and gentle people. I will certainly work with MaD when this happens, and I recommend volunteering to people of all ages and life experiences. MaD wil facilitate a worthwhile experience that will bring many smiles for years to come - including yourselves!!!

Personally I would recommend anyone who wants to volunteer in Cambodia to look at the worth while projects run by MaD. My volunteering experience with them was fantastic. I taught in a small orphanage where the children were lovely and the director was appreciative of the opportunities MaD was providing for the children. MaD as an organisation is completely sincere in its efforts to make a genuine difference for good which is what impressed me most, the individual members of the team were friendly and supportive throughout my placement and gave me the experience of teaching English that I had been looking for. Volunteering through MaD also gives volunteers lots of chance to meet other volunteers to share their experience with making for an enjoyable as well as a rewarding experience.

I was completely overwhelmed by how all the children just welcomed me with their little arms open on my very first day at the project. I have really enjoyed getting to know them all – and it has been so amazing to see how much they have changed in those 2 weeks they have been here in the house. You look at them now; well fed, clean, neat clothing, and most importantly a big smile! – it is almost like they weren’t orphans.

I had a great time helping out and would recommend it to my friends; it’s a shame I had to leave.

Thank you so much for having me in the MaD House for a week.  It was so kind of you to open your home to me, and incredible that you have done it for these children who are amazing.  I had so much fun with them and they are all so adorable, it will be very hard to say goodbye.  It was so good being able to go in to Siem Reap when we wanted and thank you for taking us around the temples.  Altogether the experience was unforgettable and I cannot wait to tell everybody about you!

Working with MaD has definitely been CHANANG NA!!!

This has been a life changing experience, one that I will never forget.  I am so lucky to have been able to spend the past 12 weeks with the children and I will miss them a lot.  They are truly special and unique kids and I feel honoured to have met them and been in their lives.  Their smiles, laughter and excitement when they experience new things for the first time (pizza, ice-cream, swimming, riding in the car) and being able to see all that and be a part of it, it gives you an indescribable feeling .  The decision to volunteer with MaD will be one of the best decisions I think I will ever make.

Well the last three months of life in Cambodia have definitely been an eye opener for me, I never thought I would decide to live in Cambodia. I have enjoyed it all and the village around Bakong is a very beautiful place to work in, I would have liked to learn more of Khmer but during the time I’ve been here, I’ve picked up a fair few words. We’ve had a go at Cambodian cooking and witnessed a house being built amongst other things.
I have seen the children develop their English skills and have seen them at the worst and best of times. The children are so lucky to have such a loving Chrouk family to look after them, they have a lot more than other children in Cambodia and it wouldn’t have been possible without vMaD. I have had such a fun time with the children, even though we can’t communicate well in the same language, we can still play games and enjoy that time together. I would love to know how the children continue with English and their Khmer schooling. It would be great to be able to come back in a few years time to see how things have changed and to see how the children have grown.

The welcome I received from Phil, family and staff was genuine. The villagers at the Project were also amazing. When they laughed, they were doing it with me rather than at me. There was a lot of laughing, which helped the feeling of being part of the community for my short stay.

This experience was Same, Same, But Amazing!

I really enjoyed all facets of the experience here, and I apologize if it seems from the scores that I had problems with the operations. Honestly, I had a great time and would do it again. All of my critiques have only been to make the experience better for someone who may have the same experience. But keep up the great work and thank you for making this experience possible.

Being a Volunteer has been so fulfilling in Cambodia, digging and stacking bricks under the hot sun on a Holiday??? Its hella lotsa good time!!!

I don’t wanna leave! I’ve really enjoyed my time here and out of the three volunteer experiences I’ve had, I must say this has been the most fulfilling and rewarding. I really felt like I was part of a family and part of a group of people that was doing really good things. I like that I’ve been able to be a part of vMaD - especially near the beginning of its inception and I’m really looking forward to watching it grow. I’m really hoping to continue to contribute whenever I can and I hope to return - for longer than a week! Thank you soooo soooo much to everyone who is a part of MaD - I love you guys!!

I feel the projects would have happened without me there, but I really appreciated the chance to help out wherever I could (even working the charcoal kiln), the friendships made, and the opportunity to experience life in a rural town. Had an excellent time and would recommend a home stay for any out of town projects. Just go with an open mind and a helping spirit.

For the first couple of days I feel I was standing around waiting to be asked to do something. I then started to use my own initiative to get more involved and started to enjoy the experience more. By the end of the week I feel I had bonded with the Khmer staff. I would defiantly recommend MAD to anyone looking to get an insight into the Khmer lifestyle and get out of their comfort zone.

I have had a great experience doing my project. I feel we have made a difference to many people. The project was developing throughout the time I spent here and I found the MaD staff were open to any new ideas I had. I was very interested to see that MaD try to work with the regional health authority to ensure that the work they are doing is of the most benefit to the most people. I was given the opportunity to attend some government health meetings which were very interesting to sit in on. I have found the MaD staff to be very welcoming and it has been great fun.

I believe that if MaD will continue doing what we do now that it can make a whole lot of change to the people’s lives. If medical personnel will continue on seeing these people on a regular basis to monitor, reiterate teachings on healthcare, hygiene, good nutrition and hydration, safe sex, etc. then lives can become better, fuller.
               
I have enjoyed the time I have spent here, I am able to appreciate what I have more because of my experiences here.

What can I say about MaD?!? MaD by name MAD by nature.

The most amazing 10 weeks I have spent so for in my life!!!!

Such an experience and challenge, A million miles away from the western world we know but the people are properly happier here ( Cambodia). The MaD team are a lovely fun and supportive team and become your surrogate family. Would I recommend it to anyone?  In two words  “HELL YER !”