Cambodia
After a few days of temple hopping around the majestic Angkor Wat and surrounds in Siem Reap, you may be suitably hooked on the history, political intrigue and revitalised cuisine that Cambodia has to offer. Bordering Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, the safety of this country has improved of late to make Cambodia an appealing option for those interested in history, architecture and aid work.
Cambodia has been referred to as the 'wild west' of South East Asia but things are slowly improving to change this perception. It is still a very poor country but thanks to many organisations a number of worthwhile community initiatives are in place aimed at reintegrating street children into society by teaching trades and skills. A number of community initiatives are operating across the country so if you would like to give of your time or experience, there are many organisations to contact including www.schools4Cambodia.org or www.voluntaryprojectsoverseas.org.
Along with teaching trades and skills, you might also like to consider doing some volunteer English teaching as organisations are always looking for ESL teachers to donate their time.
As Cambodia slowly shakes off its dark past, the opportunities for English teaching jobs are expanding. Most paid teaching positions can be found in the capital city, Phnom Penh. English teaching wages in Cambodia allow for very comfortable lifestyle – rental or long term hotel accommodation is easy to find and relatively well priced at around AUD$100-200 per month. The average teaching salary starts from USD$10-15 per hour. For those with experience and a degree, there are a number of opportunities at the Australian Centre of Education located in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh where the wages are higher. A lot of the teaching opportunities are in schools which have an ESP (English for Specific Purposes) program. This is where other subjects like Maths and Science are taught through the medium of English.
Searching for teaching positions in Cambodia can be difficult. While there is a strong demand for teachers in the country, recruiting teachers via the internet is not very popular with many schools. Most of the jobs advertised on the internet are for positions in the capital city. For teaching jobs in more regional areas, you are more likely to find success looking for teaching jobs once you arrive in Cambodia.
If you are after a more meaningful experience removed from the glitz and glamour of neighbouring Thailand, then consider Cambodia as an opportunity to help the people build a brighter future for their nation.
