Georgia’s Volunteering Expedition

This summer I'm going to be volunteering in Vietnam, Cambodia and Bali over the course of six weeks.

In Vietnam, I will be working with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to help tackle issues surrounding health and human rights in Hanoi. Activists questioning government policies or projects, or seeking to defend local resources or land, face daily harassment, house arrest, travel bans, arbitrary detention, and interrogation. The number of local NGOs has risen significantly, addressing various issues. However, due to a lack of funding and trained staff, these NGOs potential for advancement has been limited. I am hoping that my work can help to build on the great work already done by NGOs in the region.

Moving on to Cambodia and Bali, I will be teaching English to school children. In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge devastated the education system during the 1970s. Fortunately, it is starting to recover, but at a very slow pace, suffering from a lack of qualified teachers and classroom overcrowding, leading to the country having one of the poorest literacy rates in Asia. Children here go to public school in the morning where they learn basic English and in the afternoon will be able to continue their education at the facility at which I will be volunteering.

In Bali, tourism has significantly increased meaning the tourism sector is becoming a main employer of Balinese people. However, this means a grasp of the English language is required. By volunteering in a summer school programme, I will be able to contribute to their development and hopefully their employability.

Having been able to benefit from free primary and secondary education, with the opportunity to go to university, I am hoping to gain an appreciation of the education system we have in the western world, and inspire those in Cambodia and Bali to excel in their education as much as possible.

Unfortunately, this volunteering comes at a cost. I am going to be organising a number of fundraising activities, but in the meantime, any donations on this page would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance :)