Volunteer Program at a School in Cambodia
A volunteer program at a school in Cambodia can be a good choice if you want to teach English to children and work directly in a local school environment. At Greenway School in Pul Village in Samraong, volunteers teach alongside local teachers and follow a structured English curriculum.
This program is likely to suit you if you enjoy working with children, can adapt to a different classroom environment and are comfortable following an existing curriculum.
Abroad Escape can help you understand the program and decide whether it fits what you're looking for.
A Note From Our Founder
Kurt, Founder of Abroad Escape
I would recommend this program to someone who wants to experience what volunteering in a local school is actually like. You work alongside local teachers, follow an existing curriculum and spend time with the students, rather than arriving with the expectation that you need to change how the school operates.
You do need to be comfortable with a different classroom environment and keep your expectations realistic. If you're patient, adaptable and enjoy working with children, you may find this teaching structure a good fit.
| Likely to suit you if... | Think carefully if... |
|---|---|
| You enjoy working with children. | You are uncomfortable working with children. |
| You are comfortable adapting to a different classroom environment. | You expect a school environment to operate exactly as it does at home. |
| You are patient and willing to work alongside local teachers. | You want to arrive and redesign how the school operates. |
| You want a hands-on school experience and have realistic expectations. | You expect a short placement to create major change quickly. |
At Greenway School, your role is hands-on but structured. You follow the school's curriculum, prepare lessons, support students with their English and work alongside local teachers and other volunteers in smaller groups.
You will work within the school's existing curriculum rather than creating lessons entirely from your own material.
Volunteers follow the school's structured curriculum, prepare lessons, help students with their English and may also support activities involving subjects such as maths and science. You may teach with other international volunteers and work in smaller groups with students who need additional support.
The program is a better fit if you want teaching to be a meaningful part of your time in Cambodia. It may be less suitable if you want a familiar classroom environment or see volunteering mainly as a way to fit a few activities around a sightseeing trip.
What will you actually do at Greenway School?
Your main role is teaching English to children aged 6 to 13. Greenway School provides free English education to more than 200 children from Pul Village and nearby communities.
You will follow the school's structured curriculum, covering levels from beginner through Level 5. Classes run in two daily sessions, with groups of around 10 to 30 students.
Teaching is organised as a team. You may work with three to five teachers in a class, either teaching alongside other international volunteers or working more closely with a local teacher. This gives you the chance to support smaller groups and individual students rather than having to manage everything alone.
Is it only English teaching?
No. English is the main focus, but the role can also include supporting maths and science through practical activities such as games and art projects.
You may also help prepare lessons, assess students through progress tests and give extra support to children who need it. The local teachers remain an important part of the process because they can help you work within the school's existing curriculum and understand the students.
What makes this different from simply teaching your own class?
You are joining an existing school rather than creating a separate volunteer-led class.
The curriculum is already structured, and the school uses monthly testing to track students' progress. Your role is therefore to work within that system and contribute to it.
If this is your first school volunteering experience, the team-teaching structure can make the transition easier. You can learn from local teachers and other volunteers while getting used to the classroom.
What should you expect from the students and community?
The students come from Pul Village and neighbouring communities, with the school providing free English education for children from poorer backgrounds.
The placement also includes opportunities to experience local life outside the classroom, including markets, historical sites, traditional ceremonies, festivals, cultural activities and shared meals.
The cultural side is part of the placement too. You will spend time in the local community outside your teaching hours, so the experience is about more than classroom work alone.
Is this the right school volunteer program for you?
The key question is whether you are comfortable joining an existing teaching team and working within the school's structure.