Volunteer Program Information

Be prepared to get sweaty & dirty in the midday sun - and to work alongside local people in Rural Cambodia.

Working in partnership with impoverished rural communities, the primary aim of RDP (the Rural Development Program) RCD (Rural Community Development) is to empower individuals, families and villages with the knowledge and resources they need to build ththemselves a sustainable future free from poverty. 

Our Rural Devleop Program consists of two main projects.

WASH - Water and Sanitation

74% of deaths in Cambodia are due to water-borne diseases. We assist by drilling for and installing UNICEF designed water pumps, providing water filters, and regularly testing the water for impurities. Additionally, according to the UN, only 16% of Cambodians have access to improved sanitation facilities (i.e. toilets). This is a massive public health problem, as contamination of the environment by human waste causes disease and ill-health. To address this problem, we help villagers build sanitation units consisting of compost toilets and a shower unit. Compost toilets convert human waste into a valuable fertilizer that improves agricultural productivity and contributes to food security. 

Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition

The vast majority of rural Cambodians are farmers, yet many struggle to produce enough food to lead a healthy life. Through our organinc farm and nutrition program, we provide organica agricultural assistance to families and communities with the aim of enhancing and diversifying local agriculture, improving livelihoods, bolstering food security, and combating malnutrition. At the moment, the project is focused on transplanting two super foods - Moringa and Amaranth - to the rural villages and working with the villagers to ensure that the crops prosper.

For more about these projects, visit MaD Cambodia.

A Typical Working Day

As an RDP volunteer, you will be working alongside our team and helping hammer and nail, lay bricks, saw timber and more in order to install water pumps and sanitation units, or transplant crops, for poor rural villagers. It is fantastically fun and rewarding work, and if you like some hard manual labour and getting your hands dirty, then this is the project for you.

The Tuk Tuk to work in the morning will be slow and bumpy, and if you’re here in the rainy season don’t be surprised if you have to get out and push! The work is hard and physically demanding and the heat is sweltering. English is not usually spoken in rural areas, so expect to rely entirely on your non-verbal communication skills (which can go a long way!) and your Khmer project manager or coordinator for any communication you may want to have with the local people.

But on the other side of the coin, you will develop an understanding of the challenges faced by those living in rural poverty, and the psychological, political and economic obstacles that stand in the way of change. You will experience the real Cambodia far from even the most adventurous of backpacker routes, and you will meet, work alongside and help real Cambodians. 

With the vast majority of poverty in rural areas, this is an excellent opportunity for students of development and those looking for a career in the sector to experience development first-hand. It is an equally excellent opportunity for those who want to see the real Cambodia, want to make a difference, and want to get sweaty and dirty in the process.