I went on the High School Special offered by Projects Abroad in Cambodia in January 2018. This was a care and community placement offered to high school students aged 16-18. One of the great things about this trip is that I was able to share it with people of a similar age to myself. This made the entire trip more enjoyable and it meant I made some great friends that I still keep in contact with.
On top of meeting a great bunch of people, the support offered by the staff both in country and prior to departure was extremely helpful. I felt prepared for the trip before I left and I felt as though I could really trust the organisation. As a result I had a fantastic experience as the in country staff were supportive and lots of fun an they listened to our concerns.
Finally the entire experience was life changing. We spent most of our days doing volunteer work such as painting and teaching at a children's centre near Phnom Penh. The children we spent our time with were so happy and excited to see us and it made me realise that this trip was worthwhile and the work we were doing was well received by locals. I believe there is no better thing to experience in the world than how your generosity can change a persons life.
I highly recommend the projects offered by Projects Abroad as they are handled in a professional matter and provide you with an amazing life changing experience
Projects Abroad
Established in 1992, Projects Abroad is the world’s leading short-term international volunteer organization. Over 8,000 people a year join our programs in over 25 amazing countries around the world. All participants receive unparalleled in-country support from our full-time, professional staff to ensure that the experience is safe, worthwhile, and fun.
1. After spending 2 months in Cambodia volunteering with Projects Abroad (cost $4400 Australian not including flights) I came away asking where has the money gone. Apparently PA allocated $4.50 US each day for each volunteer to eat. The organization gave the school that I was working at $100 US for my placement and allocated a further $40 for me to buy resources for the school. The accommodation was worse than any basic hostel I have seen. The mattress I slept on looked like it had been dragged out of a rubbish tip. So where did the money go In fact where did the $18 million profit that this company made in 2016 go? Well according to PA (as per an email they sent me) "In Cambodia we make considerate donations to an NGO called Khemera for their 8 daycare centres..." Interesting (if not incorrect) use of the word "considerate" when Khemera's 2016 financial statement indicates that Projects Abroad donated a mere $42,469.00 some of which was made up of the $100 per volunteer placement contribution made to 8 childcare facilities operated by Khemera.
2. Further investigation uncovered the mother company of Projects Abroad....Beech View Holdings Ltd. The company's financial statement 2016 makes for an interesting read: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03286143/filing-history.
3. If you're not fully convinced about the profit making focus of this company, here's another article: https://www.incomediary.com/peter-slowe-interview-running-the-worlds-lar....
4. Also have a read of what Australia's consumer rights website (Choice) has to say about the expensive fees PA charges for Spanish lessons that can sourced much cheaper from other avenues: https://www.choice.com.au/travel/on-holidays/advice/articles/volunteerin....
5. If you do chose PA and want the company to make travel arrangements for you be aware that Beech View Holdings also has a travel agency. You need to ask if your booking will be channeled through this business as this information may not be disclosed to you. It is a profit making business by the way!
5. The mission statement on the Projects Abroad website states that: "Our mission is to encourage young people to volunteer for worthwhile work in developing countries." I find this statement discriminatory in the extreme. At age 58 I clearly don't fit the "young" profile and my attention was crudely drawn to this by a PA staff who referred me to the mission statement when I questioned the efficacy of Projects Abroad practices.
