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Why foreign volunteers are important for us
The operations of the Don Bosco Foundation of Cambodia since 1991 (and before in the refugee camps on the Thai border) has been supported by volunteers. Young people, seniors, professionals, persons of good will and from different countries, have dedicated their time, skill, talents and their own wealth to support the education of the Cambodian youth.
Normally, volunteers are sent by different institutions, associations, foundations in their home countries. Those organizations usually cover the expenses of those volunteers as an act of support for the educative projects of Don Bosco Foundation in Cambodia.
In other cases, some persons offer themselves as independent volunteers. They pay for their own expenses in joining our projects.
In Cambodia foreign volunteers are an important key for development. We hope that in a near future, our operations will have local volunteers, but, so far, consciousness of solidarity amongst Cambodian professionals towards their own fellow countrymen is still very low (as it is still very low the number of real Cambodian professionals at all). Inviting some well-trained young Cambodians to offer their free time to teach our students means to be asked monetary compensation, and not just a symbolic one. Their wrong concept that Don Bosco, as all international NGOs, get hold of a lot of funds, justifies their ambitions. However, there are as always, exceptions, as some open-minded Cambodians in many cases struggle for a country where Khmer helps Khmer.
Foreign volunteers come to this country to offer themselves, asthey are pushed by their ideal of solidarity for the poorest. Professionals or just ordinary people, the volunteers work without complaining or asking for special conditions. They share their own culture and skills with the students, learning at the same time the identity and the culture of the Cambodian people.
It is quite physiological that many volunteers return back to the Kingdom. Some volunteers come for a few weeks to lecture in seminars, workshops and courses, others stay for some months supporting the academic activities, sports,cultural programs and learning the local language.
The presence of a volunteer means a lot for local boys and girls who enter in contact with them. The Cambodian youth, especially those coming from rural areas and poor quarters of the towns, love to relate with the volunteers and consider them quite ”cool” and trendy.
That’s why our volunteers should refrain from showing out habits which represent a danger for the local youth, as smoking dope, getting drunk or, worse, indulge in illicit sexual practices.
Volunteers should set an example for the locals .
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