We are a non-profit learning & development centre for underprivileged children in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Aziza’s Place is a grassroots learning & development centre for underprivileged children in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The children come from local communities and vulnerable families that have been marginalized from wider society. Our holistic programs and services provide the children with opportunities for intellectual, emotional and physical development which are key to their advancement into a balanced adulthood.
AP’s vision is for our students to grow up to be responsible adults with the life skills to become productive members of their community, economically self-sufficient and socially empowered. AP also provides financial support to the children’s families and our social workers support and work in the communities to ensure a sufficiently safe and stable environment exists for their children We hope these efforts will ultimately lead to the families’ financial stability and independence.
Paramount to AP’s vision is respect for children’s rights which is implemented by a strict child protection policy in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Our approach evolves as international research points to new ideas and better practices.
Like so many organisations at the time in Cambodia, AP originally functioned as a residential care centre and has been working on reintegrating children back into living with their families and in their communities since 2014. Today, all of the children under AP’s care have either been reintegrated with their families or supported to transition out of care into community based settings .
Because of our head start with the reintegration program and with the experience gained, AP has recently started to advise and guide other NGO’s on how to safely reintegrate children into families and communities.
English Teacher, creative mind
Today, our children get 2 hours of English every week from our long-term English teacher (UK). Although we see progress, we want to increase our efforts and specifically put more focus on learning while playing.
Supervised and supported by our English teacher, you will have the opportunity to develop on-site activities for the children, giving them the opportunity to practice and develop their English skills in a non-classical way. This can entail crafting, recycling, music, games, having basic group conversations, safe scientific experimenting, etc. In addition, the English Volunteer will participate in off-site activities (skate class, swimming, …) where he/she will stimulate the practice of English.
The children you will be working with range from the age of 6 up to 12.
The following summarizes what the current volunteer role will entail:
• As the children go to public school every day for half a day, the position is part time (50%). You will spend half days at AP and be free the rest of the day. The class timing changes monthly as the children’s public school schedule alternates from morning to afternoon, and vice versa. Working days are Monday to Friday.
• Creating and organizing original activities for the children. Where possible, in a sustainable way so activities can be reused later.
• Stimulating the use of English at all times on-site and teaching English through the activities you organize.
• Participating in special events (for example: off-site activities on Friday, birthday party for the children, etc.)
You will join a small, open and warmhearted NGO, entirely focused on helping children and their families from the poorest communities in Phnom Penh. Part of a young team, you’ll have a fun environment to work in. At the same time, you’ll learn to understand the situation some families in Cambodia have to live in and get a good submersion into the Cambodian culture and lifestyle (also, majority of staff is Cambodian).
We have little means to reimburse financially. We offer a small stipend, assist you in finding a place to stay (and we can provide you a temporary place to stay during the first weeks) and free meals with our staff and children.
Your main expense will be a place to stay. Minimum budget in Phnom Penh would be 500$ per month to have a comfortable stay.
1) Fundraising:
As we are fully dependent on support from donations and grant funding, we rely on fundraising initiatives and are continuously searching for grants we can apply to. We hope to fund new programs and extend our impact, but this all depends on the funding we receive.
Interested in helping us? Let us know!
2) Research:
We want to advise and guide other NGOs on reintegration: bringing children from orphanages/residential care centres back into their family and community. Lots of research still needs to be done in this domain. At Aziza's Place we went through this process and so can help a researcher/phd. We also want more research done, to develop best practices and a toolkit to support the other NGOs better in this transition.
Interested? Let us know and we can discuss any form of cooperation.
