How to Teach English in Cambodia and Everything You Need to Know: New Dream of Cambodia Children Organisation (NDCCO)

Volunteering and English teaching is an amazing way to give back to the local community during your travels. I spent one month volunteering with New Dream of Cambodia Children Organisation (NDCCO), teaching English to students to improve their bilingual language skills and participating in community work to bring food and financial support to rural communities. My volunteer experience was eye opening, humbling, and some of my favorite memories. If you are looking for a way to give back during your time in Cambodia, I strongly encourage you to volunteer your time with New Dream of Cambodia Children Organisation in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In this guide, I will share my experience and everything you need to know about teaching English with NDCCO.

Why is English Language Education Important in Cambodia?

Tourism is one of the largest industries in Cambodia, and the language of the tourism industry is English. When young people can speak English, it opens the doors for job opportunities in tourism and hospitality, some of the better paying industries in the region. English skills allow workers to communicate with international visitors, work in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, transportation services, tour companies, and access training programs and international education opportunities.

Young people who learn English are better prepared and equipped to work in these industries and promote Cambodian culture to visitors from around the world. As tourism continues to grow as a leading industry in the country, English education plays an important role in preparing young people for the work force, and in turn, reducing poverty, improving living standards, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

NDCCO invites English speaking travelers to volunteer their time with the organization through English teaching, meal preparation, marketing projects, grounds maintenance, and participating in other community service initiatives. I spent a month volunteering with the organization and I will share with you NDCCO’s mission, what to expect as a volunteer, and how you can support community work in Siem Reap.

About New Dream of Cambodia Children Organisation

The New Dream of Cambodia Children Organisation (NDCCO) is a non-profit organization in Phneachey Village, on the outskirts of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Kimlean Voeun founded the organization in 2014 with a dream to support families experiencing poverty with free education and community services, including food and financial support. The school serves 370 students ages 6-17 and provides free meals throughout the week. NDCCO is registered as NGO (non-government organization) #2197. Donations are the organization’s only source of income, and they receive no government funding.

The story of NDCCO begins with the founder, Kimlean Voeun, who left home at 13 years old to build a new life for himself and his family. After living in a monastery, learning English, and supporting his family financially by working in restaurants and driving tuk tuk, he now gives back to his community through his organization. His goal is to provide as many children as he can with an English language education with the intention to secure good jobs after graduation and uplift them from poverty.

The organization also offers a sponsorship program for students whose families cannot afford to send them to school. A small monthly donation covers the costs of transportation, school supplies, food, and uniform costs for students whose families otherwise would not be able to afford to send them to school. Kimlean also supports 45 families around the Siem Reap province with monthly food and financial support.

NDCCO Mission Statement: “Providing free and sustainable quality education to over 260 kids from underprivileged backgrounds in order to empower them and to give them the opportunity to break free of the poverty circle.“

What to Expect

The school is open Monday-Friday and hosts three class sessions per day. Younger elementary/primary aged students are taught in the morning and afternoon sessions, and middle and high school/secondary aged students are taught in the evening session. Volunteers have autonomy to volunteer as many hours as they like on any days they choose, and there is no minimum to how many days you have to commit to volunteering for. I recommend planning on staying for at least three days, but I promise after those three days are finished, you won’t want to leave and you will be extending your stay. I planned to volunteer for two weeks and I stayed for a month. This is a common occurrence amongst volunteers. Some volunteers have stayed for an entire year!

If this is your first time teaching English, no worries! You will be teaching alongside a full time Khmer teacher and you are provided with a lesson plan each day. You can also volunteer to support meal preparation, marketing outreach, school maintenance, fundraising, special projects, or any other creative ways you want to support!

NDCCO operates solely on donations, without government funding. In order to cover program costs, they request a minimum donation of $50 from each volunteer. This contribution supports school operations and includes a volunteer t-shirt, name badge, and a volunteer certificate upon completion.

Where to Stay

The Drop Inn Hostel

The Drop Inn Hostel is located next to the school and provides an opportunity to contribute to NDCCO, with every stay directly supports education and meal programs. The hostel is a short tuk tuk ride from Siem Reap’s city center, and offers a quieter and authentic experience of Cambodian village life. Guests are welcome to volunteer at the school, teach English or assist in preparing meals. I highly recommend staying here during your volunteering. You will truly be taken in as a part of the village and school community and you will be using your spending power to make a positive impact.

The Drop Inn offers a variety of activities for travelers to experience all Siem Reap has to offer including tours of Angkor Wat, the floating villages, Kulen Mountain, Khmer cooking classes, Khmer language lessons and family dinners. Accommodation options include $5 dorm rooms and $15 private rooms. The hostel offers a variety of amenities including a restaurant, laundry service, bicycle and motorbike rentals, and tuk tuk rides. If you choose to stay at a different accommodation, New Dream offers an affordable tuk tuk service to and from the school.

NDCCO Short Film Documentary

Check out this short film documentary created by volunteer Daniel Stiliadis, sharing the impactful work of New Dream of Cambodia Children Organisation through interviews with students, teachers, volunteers, and founder Kimlean.

Want to Get Involved?

Volunteer

As a volunteer, you can make an impact by leading or assisting English classes, helping with meal preparation, website maintenance, social media outreach, or fundraising projects. You don’t need any prior English teaching experience. Please come open minded, enthusiastic, and ready to support others!

Donate

NDCCO relies entirely on donations without any government funding. You can make a donation here.

Your donation will support:

Free English education
Free meals for students
Teacher and staff salaries
Community support programs
School supplies

Sponsor a Child

School completion rates in Cambodia are relatively low due to accessibility and financial barriers. Although the number of schools is growing, many children in rural villages still face long and difficult journeys to attend classes, traveling by foot or motorbike.

For families living in poverty, the cost of education can also be overwhelming. Expenses such as school supplies, uniforms, transportation, and daily meals often place schooling out of reach for many children, and they are often forced to drop out of school in order to work and provide for their families.

By making a monthly donation, you can help remove these barriers and give a child the opportunity to stay in school and build a brighter future. Your donation will cover essential education costs and ensure a student has the resources they need to succeed and work toward breaking cycles of poverty. Read here to learn more about how you can sponsor a child’s education.

Become a Corporate Partner

By becoming a corporate sponsor or a partner, your business can make a positive impact on underprivileged children in Cambodia. A few ways corporate partners can contribute to NDCCO’s missions is through monetary donations, donations of services, such as accounting and auditing, fundraising for NDCCO.

FAQs

Do I need to have experience to teach English at NDCCO?

Nope! All you have to do is be an English speaker. The lesson plans are pre-made and you work alongside a full time Khmer teacher who supports classroom management and translation. The only thing you need to bring is an open mind and enthusiasm!

Is accommodation available for volunteers?

Yes! The Drop Inn Hostel is located directly next to the school and offers dorms and private room options.

If I stay at The Drop Inn Hostel do I have to volunteer?

No you don’t have to volunteer if you are a guest at The Drop Inn Hostel, but you will most definitely be invited to. I recommend giving it a try, even if it is just for one day. A lot of volunteers stay at the hostel without realizing the school is next door, and once they give volunteering a try they extend their stay!

Is there food provided for volunteers?

There is a restaurant on site that volunteers can order food from for a small price of $2-3 per entree. You can also purchase drinks, juices, and smoothies. The food is Khmer cuisine cooked by the founder’s family and is authentic and delicious! My order is beef lok lak and a mango smoothie. Yum!