Cambodia: Marine Conservation Adventure. Explore the culture and endangered coral reefs of Cambodian islands.

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1 Cambodia: Marine Conservation Adventure Explore the culture and endangered coral reefs of Cambodian islands.

2 2 Everything you need to know about the Cambodia Marine Conservation Adventure The program will change your life. You will go back to your country a more compassionate, hardworking, and heartfelt person. Katelyn

3 3 Why volunteer in Cambodia? More than one-quarter of Cambodians live below the poverty line, earning less than $1.25 per day. Malnutrition is the main cause of child mortality and illness in Cambodia. Only 24% of Cambodian children eat an appropriate diet. Only 15% of rural Cambodians have access to adequate sanitation, and 35% do not have access to safe water. About 23% of young women and 16% of young men are illiterate. Can you make a difference? Yes! Every person has the ability to make a difference, and this is your opportunity to reach out and help! Between 2011 and 2013, our volunteers have removed over 15 tonnes of rubbish from polluted island beaches, built village school facilities, built a clean-water catchment and filtration system, and helped to expand and develop the first and only official Cambodian protected marine environment. From homes to classrooms, from new food sources to supplies of clean water and medications, each of our activities has made a real difference.

4 M 4 Whereabouts in Cambodia will I be? The islands we work on are in the Gulf of Thailand off the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The warm and pale blue waters of coastal Cambodia harbour a rich and diverse marine habitat. This extraordinary biodiversity sustains the coastal fishing communities and provides the basis for a future tourism industry. For two weeks, you will be living and working on a tropical island, far removed from the tourist trail. You will be helping to preserve some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, which have been badly damaged by harmful fishing practices, including commercial trawling. We were on an island in the middle of nowhere! And it was awesome! I got more from this trip than I ever thought I could, and my team lead kept me laughing and going the whole time! Ryan Mae Sirikit Reservoir Phitsanulok Nam Chao Phraya Bangkok Sattahip Nan Sara Buri Nakhon Ratchasima Gulf o f Thailand LAOS Loei Aranyaprathet Vientiane Udon Thani Ubon Rat Reservoir Khon Kaen Lam Chi Sisophon Krong Kaôh Kong Nong Khai Batdâmbâng Trat Nam Ngum Muang Pakxan Sakon Nakhon Lam Phnom Penh Kâmpong Spóe 104 Kâmpôt Rach Gia Ca Mau Vinh Savannakhét Kâmpóng Thum Kâmpóng Cham Ha Tinh Muang Khammouan Siem Reap Angkor Wat Stœng Trêng Sihanoukville Nam THAIL AND Primary Road Mae Nam Kilometers Mun Miles Surin Nakhon Phanom Si Sa Ket Phumi Samraông Tonle Sap Chi Pouthisat Dao Phu Quoc Me ko n g Ubon Ratchathani Warin Chamrap Mekong Chau Doc Ha Tien Long Xuyen Can Tho Bac Lieu Cao Lanh Soc Trang Pakxé Krâchéh Svay Rieng Muang Xépôn Salavan Loc Ninh Dong Xoai Ho Dau Tieng Tay Ninh Ho Tri An Thu Bien Hoa Dau Mot Ho Chi Minh City Tan An My Tho Vung Tau Ben Tre Vinh Long Xe Ron Kong Tra Vinh Dong Hoi Tônlé Attapu CAMB ODIA Con Dao Dong Ha Quang Tri Hue Lumphat Sr ê pôk Dac To Pleiku Buon Ma Thuot Gia Nghia Tam Ky Kon Tum 108 Da Nang Quang Ngai Da Lat Phan Thiet Cu Lao Cham Ninh Hoa VIETNAM Sanya South China Sea Cu Lao Re Quy Nhon Tuy Hoa Nha Trang Cam Ranh Phan Rang- Thap Cham Cu Lao Thu 12 12

5 What will I be doing? 5 You will be working on one of our building projects. These have included constructing reef pods and placing them on the seabed to create a marine environment for fish breeding and a sustainable source of protein for the villagers; building a water-catchment and supply facility to provide clean water to the village and help them maintain their vegetable supply; developing a playground for the local children; renovating community buildings such as the medical clinic; and installing new infrastructure such as water pumps and rubbish-disposal facilities. You may also be spending time teaching the local children and villagers about the importance of environmental awareness and disposing rubbish responsibly. Sometimes our volunteers lead daily classes in English and mathematics for the village children. Continues I feel like I made a positive impact on the community through my hard work. Through this, the community will soon have a teacher s house as well as the start of a very large artificial reef to bring back the beauty that pollution and trawling have taken away. Tanner

6 6 What will I be doing? continued It was really cool doing seahorse surveys and recording them once we had our PADI licenses. Adrienne You will also be helping with one of our marine-conservation projects. Our diving instructors have been PADI qualified in Canada to the highest SCUBA diving level. Upon mastering how to dive, you will use your skills to work underwater, developing the reef program, monitoring local marine-life populations and patterns, removing tangled nets from coral reefs, collecting rubbish from reefs and underwater areas, and monitoring the implementation of protected zones. A key part of this program is monitoring the success of the regeneration program for unique populations of marine life such as the local seahorse.

7 7 Past experiences Being able to teach the kids every day was an amazing experience. Seeing their faces light up at the opportunity of education and seeing them being so eager to latch on to every word that comes out of your mouth was such a beautiful experience. Adrienne I give my diving experience a 15 out of 10. I am so happy with my experience and what I have learnt. With it being so hot, having 2 dives a day was a dream come true. Sarah Diving was not only beautiful, but the installation of the artificial reef pods made it an especially amazing skill to learn and apply to help the environment. We really could see that our work would assist in the development of the community. Patrick

8 8 There was nothing about the program that I didn t enjoy I didn t want to leave at the end!! The people and the place were amazing! You didn t mind only having rain water to shower in when you could decide to go diving at 7 a.m. in warm seas. Already trying to figure out when I can go back!! The building work, the marine work, and the village cleanups, I feel, make a big difference to the village. The younger children helped us when on cleanup duty, and if that continues, it will only get better in the future. The school hut will hopefully be there for many years to come! Ian

9 Activities Your program will be filled with activities to ensure you experience many aspects of the local culture. Much of your work will be beside local villagers or school officials as they oversee island project work. On the island, women will prepare your meals every day. You will get to experience the tastes and variety of local food. In Phnom Penh you ll eat at commercial establishments and experience the hustle and bustle of Cambodia s capital. On the island, Reach Out Volunteers are treated as extended family and have been invited to many of the local village celebrations, such as weddings. The island offers secluded beaches for our leisure days when we can enjoy some beach football, beach volleyball, snorkelling, and swimming. Should time allow, optional activities are offered, such as visiting the Killing Fields Museum, the Royal Palace, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, or the central market in Phnom Penh. 9

10 10 The people and history The history of Cambodia is still being written today, with the country rebounding and emerging from the nightmare of the Killing Fields. The majority of Cambodians are Khmers and descend from the Khmer Empire that once extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its peak between the 10th and 13th centuries. This is the civilization that built Angkor, which was once the world s largest city. After a long period of decline fuelled initially by Thai and Cham attacks Cambodia became a French protectorate in After 1887 it was part of French Indochina. Following the Japanese occupation during World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. During the Khmer Rouge regime, under the dictatorship Pol Pot, at least 1.5 million Cambodians one-eighth of the population died from forced hardships, starvation, or execution (many in the mass graves that became known as the Killing Fields). In December 1978 the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and drove the Khmer Rouge into the jungle. The Vietnamese occupation lasted for 10 years and was followed by 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. In 1993 the United Nations sponsored elections that helped to restore some semblance of normality under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first government, but a second round of elections in 1998 led to political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999, and several high-ranking members have been tried for genocide.

11 11 On the island, we experienced a wedding. The community embraced the fact that we were there and welcomed us with open arms. I loved seeing their tradition. It really opened my eyes. Katelyn It will change your life for the better, make you appreciate everything you have, and make you a better person in general. Sarah

12 12 Blog: Live from Cambodia! Want to know what your life will be like in Cambodia? Check out current and past blogs to find out how a Cambodian program operates. When it s 6:00 a.m. in New York, it s 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon in Phnom Penh! Communication with home can be tricky but that s where the ROV blogs can fill the void: we provide daily updates with snippets of news and lots of photos! The blogs are updated daily while you re in Cambodia, so your friends and family can see what you re up to. All they need to do is go to choose your program (Volunteer Cambodia: Marine Conservation Adventure), and click on the Live from Cambodia tab (on the far right). Thank you so much for the daily blogs. It was nice to be able to see what was going on and to assure myself my daughter was just fine. What an amazing, life-changing adventure this was for her. Thank you! Joni F.

13 13 Getting ready Weather The months from November to January are dry in Cambodia. Humidity levels are low and there is little rainfall. Daytime temperatures are mild, while the nights are cool. The hot months are April and May, with temperatures from 30 C (86 F) to (more often) 40 C (104 F). In July, monsoons bring rain and humidity that last until October. What to bring Think about your favourite clothes, shoes, and handbags and then discard those thoughts! Think practical, comfortable, and easy to wash. Think work clothes, work gloves, hats, and sunscreen. Your program will involve lots of hard, practical work, and you won t require precious garments or flashy jewellery. Flights For flight and airport information don t forget to check your Get Ready page, which will be available when you pay your deposit. If you are extending your program it is very important that you the ROV office to confirm your arrival and departure airports before you book your airline tickets. Continues on next page

14 14 Continued from previous page Visas A Cambodian tourist visa is purchased on arrival for around US$25. Make sure you have an extra two passport photos in your hand luggage. Cambodians operate on a dual currency, but prefer U.S. dollars, so we recommend that you bring cash. A valid ATM or credit card can also be used at the airport ATM (which dispenses U.S. dollars). Note that if you plan to use your ATM or credit card in Cambodia, you should let your bank know ahead of time to avoid blocked transactions. It was honestly the best experience of my life. It changed me as a person for the better. Jacob Insurance Although our programs are safe, take the stress out of your trip by making sure you are fully covered for any unexpected health or travel problems that might arise, including coverage for emergency flights and hospital visits.

15 15 Frequently asked questions Will there be mosquito nets? Yes. May I wear singlets (tank tops), shorts, and bikinis? No, but when we head off to a secluded spot for a BBQ on our own, you can wear your usual Western-style clothing and bathing costume. Do I need bedding? No! Do I need vaccinations? Ask your doctor. Do I need insurance? Yes! May I bring a suitcase? We recommend a backpack. Will I be met at the airport? We will collect you on the day you arrive (provided you have given us your arrival time and flight number!). Do I need to arrange transport for my departure flight? We will drop you off at the airport on the day of departure. Will there be Wi-Fi? Not all the time. Wi-Fi on the island is very poor and intermittent. Will I have electricity and adaptors? Not all the time, but often enough to charge your cameras, phones, and ipods. Isn t Cambodia dangerous? Cambodia (a predominantly Buddhist country) has very little civil unrest. Will there be big insects or dangerous animals? Sometimes you have to be concerned with the small insects. We suggest mosquito repellent with a high DEET factor be worn 24/7. Mosquito nets are provided. May I bring toys and other small gifts? Yes! What could I bring with me to donate to the village? Children s clothes and shoes. Early childhood-development and educational materials such as books, crayons, and pencils. Sports equipment. Running shoes and clothes.

16 16 Fundraising Because of volunteers like you, we can provide employment for local tradespeople, medication for children, materials for building projects, donations for antipoaching committees, and money for local infrastructure (accommodation providers, activities, transport, etc.). Every cent helps the local people. We need your help to make a difference. Many volunteers fundraise for their Reach Out Volunteer program. That means not one cent has come out of their pocket. We send a fundraisingkit link once you submit a deposit. We also recommend using a crowdfunding site like GoFundMe be sure to embed Reach Out videos and links to our website to give people an idea of what they re contributing to. People will want to help you help others: all you have to do is put yourself out there!

17 18 Safety Every aspect of your program has safety as its highest priority. We organize your program from start to finish. If you arrive at the airport on the day the program commences, there will be a Reach Out Volunteer representative to meet you. The Reach Out Volunteer team leader will be with your group for the entire duration of the program and will be available 24/7 to help in any situation. You will be living in a shared, same-sex room (whenever it is available), in clean, hygienic, and safe accommodations. You will have constant access to safe drinking water. If you choose an extension (with the exception of Laos), Reach Out Volunteers will provide on-ground transportation to the next program location, where a Reach Out Volunteer representative will meet you.

18 19 I loved my trip and I already plan to sign up for another one this year! Nicole Ready to join? If you haven t already applied for the program, you can do so through our website: www. rovolunteers.com/volunteer_ programs.htm. Once you have been accepted, you will need to pay the deposit to confirm your place. We re waiting to welcome you to our team! DO IT! One of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life. Robin Just go! It will be one of the best life-changing experiences you will ever do. Astrid

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