Rural Development - Volunteer Testimonials

What previous vMaD volunteers have to say about this project

Bridget - April 2011 (3weeks) - Australia

The time I have spent volunteering with vMaD has been fantastic. Two weeks was not enough so I stayed on for a third! The RDP team are great to work with and there is always time for a laugh and a smile. They are patient with you whilst you learn the ropes and let you get involved in just about every aspect of building. I really felt involved and accepted and actually seeing the finished product is really something. The team at base camp were also great...it's nice to return home from a day on the project to a happy welcome. An awesome experience!!

Rob – March 2011 (1 week) - Australia

I loved the experience!!!!! No doubt for me, Alex and Max were the front line people that made my stay both comfortable and insightful. I'm not sure if I would have found the experience as enjoyable without them, so please let me thank them. (Your parents should be so proud of you). Phil is an extremely passionate personality, this has ensured that the MaD project is successful, I can also see he is revered by all that work with him. As a visitor and a guest I did find him slightly overbearing and speak about other volunteer projects and other general subjects with negative under-tones. This can give volunteers and visitors a sense of the unknown. A couple of minor things, breakfast can be varied or at least milk with muesli (hate to be pickier), a head shot of the entire team and their names, an understanding of the work to be carried out for the next day. Overall a 99% great experience that I would recommend to anyone. Thanks all!!!

Dan – December 2010 (3 weeks) - New Zealand

MaD for good, Making a Difference for Good, this is what I feel I have complished by volunteering here in Siem Rep. Do not bring the villagers fish, but bring them ideas to make fishing lines from local materials, so as the people may fish and eat independently. This is what MAD is all about. Dinning all together at night in the open air, exchanging stories and sharing thoughts from the day and other experiences, this is what MaD is all about. I believe MAD is doing a wonderful job here in Siem Rep, please continue to empower and support this amazing land.

Colin – December 2010 (3 weeks)

If it is possible to register MaD as a charitable organisation in Australia, I am sure that could encourage more people to make financial contributions. As much as any contribution that I may have made, this volunteer placement was a first step for me to increase my knowledge and experience of Cambodia and it's people. The support and interaction during the placement from the whole MaD team and current volunteers has certainly provided me with a store of positive information for future use.

Judeena – December 2010 (5 weeks) - New Zealand

Volunteering with MaD has been lots of fun! It's great to be able to volunteer in such an uncontrived environment and really gain insight into what life for many Cambodians is like on a day-to-day basis. To go into a village, meet families and bond with the community is a fantastic experience and only made more authentic by MaD's commitment to truly integrating their work and their team within Prolit village.

Nick - October 2010 (3 weeks) - Australia

I would like to thank everyone for my experience here, I have had an amazing experience that I will always remember. Especially to the guys that we work with on the project thank you for their patience in working with me. I can't express my gratitude to everyone here for having me and helping me so much. Thank you again and I look forward to hearing about all the projects in the future.

Mark - October 2010 (3 weeks) - Australia

Was good to see that I was volunteering in a place that really needed it and I was happy to see that they were actually appreciative of it. ? I didn't really come into MaD with any real expectations but I believe for my future prospects for volunteering you guys definitely set a standard. Peace ☺

Ryan - July 2010 (1 week) - Australia

I really enjoyed my time with MaD. I feel I achieved something really worthwhile that I believe will help MaD and in turn help communities in Cambodia. The whole team were very helpful in accommodating my needs and making sure I could do my job effectively.

MaD is doing some very effective and important work to support families in Cambodia, I would highly recommend being a part of the volunteer team.

Miguel - May 2010 (6 weeks) - Mexico

MaD its an amazing place to be, it really makes you feel like home, and it also make you feel part of the MaD family. It was the time I shared with everyone of you, that let me know my self so deeply. Thank you Phil for those talks, debates, and laughs. I really loved living with all of you. Cambodia opened my heart, and MaD made it open all the way out. Sharing all this experience with you guys is something I’ll remember forever. Thank you for showing me an exciting way of living life.

Marnie - January 2010 (3 weeks) - Australia

Fixing the water pumps was so rewarding. Some of the families had a pump installed, but they not been working for many months - valves were broken and parts required, but they were costly and usually out of reach for the Cambodian families. Working with the Khmer employee, Sol, was great fun - we taught each other the names of the tools and parts in Khmer and English, and even though we couldn't chat to each other very much, we worked together really well and had many laughs. It was especially good when a family member joined in on their pump repair and learned how to fix a pump correctly. Coming home on the work trailer at the end of a long hot day and seeing the red MaD pumps being used always brought a huge smile to face.

Henrik - November 2009 (1 week) - Sweden

Coming to Cambodia for volunteering has given me really good insight in how really poor people in a third world country live their lives. I liked the water pump project because you went into families’ backyards and helped them while they watched you work, sometimes even assisting. You got the chance to sit with them to get a feel how they live their everyday lives.

James - June 2009 (1 Week) - UK

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.

Leong - May 2009 (1 week) - Singapore

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!!!

Theresia - May 2009 (1 week) - Kenya via USA

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!!

Andy - April 2009 (1 week) - USA via Japan

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.

Rob - April 2009 (2 weeks) - UK

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.

Colin - March 2009 (1 week) - USA via Japan

This experience was Same, Same, But Amazing!

David - January 2009 (3 Weeks) - Canada

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.