Service Learning

CAMBODIA

8 days/7 nights | Full Board | Up to 25 participants | From $1,495pp | November-March

Experience Cambodia’s journey of healing and reconciliation through hands-on community service and cultural exchange in Prek Toal, a floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. Contribute to sustainable development projects, learn about local conservation efforts, and engage with residents to hear their powerful stories of recovery from the Khmer Rouge era. Immerse yourself in the culture through activities like cooking and weaving classes, bird tours, and fostering deep connections with the community. Cap off your experience with a visit to the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat.

Itinerary

Ornate Thai temple with colorful rooftops surrounded by lush green trees and a river in the background.

Day 1

Arrive in Phnom Penh and check in to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with the group. This is a time to meet fellow participants and share your excitement for the upcoming week. Relax and settle into the local environment, preparing for the upcoming days of cultural immersion and service work.

Gallery of black and white portrait photographs of people displayed on glass panels in an art exhibit with tiled floor and a visitor in the background.

Day 2

Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where you'll explore the historical site that once served as a Khmer Rouge prison. Learn about the somber events that unfolded there through powerful exhibits and survivor testimonies. Afterward, transfer to Siem Reap, where you'll rest and get ready for the next leg of your journey.

Five stilt houses built over water, with boats docked nearby, in a rural fishing village.

Day 3

Travel to Prek Toal Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake. Spend the day with local residents and learn about their way of life in the floating village. Participate in a hands-on cooking class, where you'll learn to prepare traditional Cambodian dishes like fish amok, connecting with the culture through food and shared experiences.

A group of herons and storks standing in shallow water among green aquatic plants.

Day 4

Engage in community service work in Prek Toal in the morning, contributing to development projects such as building infrastructure or assisting with sustainable farming initiatives. In the afternoon, embark on a bird-watching tour around Tonle Sap Lake, spotting local wildlife and learning about the area's unique ecosystem and conservation efforts.

An elderly woman sitting on the floor weaving with bamboo sticks inside a wooden structure, with a young woman in the background in a similar environment.

Day 5

Continue community service in the morning, working alongside locals on projects to improve the village’s infrastructure. In the afternoon, participate in a weaving class, where you'll learn traditional Cambodian techniques. The session offers a hands-on experience in the textile craft, using local materials and learning the symbolism woven into each piece.

Three individuals working on a wooden boat structure near a river, with houses in the background. Two are on top of the structure, and one is inside the boat.

Day 6

In the morning, join the community service efforts once again, assisting with projects that support local development and sustainability. After lunch, visit the local fish market, where you'll observe daily life and see how fishing sustains the community. In the evening, engage with locals to hear about their personal experiences during the Khmer Rouge era.

Two monks in orange robes standing by a reflective pond, facing Angkor Wat temple with tall towers and lush greenery under a partly cloudy sky.

Day 7

Transfer to Siem Reap and check in to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat. Explore the ancient temple complex, marveling at its vast scale, intricate carvings, and the rich history embedded in its stones. Wander through the temples, learning about the architecture and its significance to Cambodia’s spiritual heritage.

A wide aerial view of a city skyline at dusk with numerous skyscrapers, illuminated buildings, and a sunset in the background.

Day 8

Transfer back to Phnom Penh. After a week of community service, cultural exchanges, and historical immersion, reflect on your journey. Share your experiences with fellow participants before your flight home, taking with you the memories of Cambodia’s past, its resilient people, and the meaningful connections you've made.

Meals & Accommodation

Hotels & Homestays | Twin & Dorm rooms for students | Single rooms for staff | Full board

Interior of a traditional wooden house with blue painted walls, wooden floor, and a low living area with cushions and blankets, featuring framed photographs, shelves, and household items.
Room with green wooden walls, three windows with pink curtains, four mattresses on the floor with checkered bedding, colorful towels and pillows, framed pictures on the wall, and small electric fans.
A split view of two adjacent bathrooms with corrugated metal walls, each containing a toilet and small shelving with toiletries.
Breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, sausage, baked potato, salad, and three small bowls of sauces. In the background, cheese, bread rolls, fruits, and additional breakfast items on a table.
Luxury resort pool area with white Mediterranean-style buildings, tall palm trees, and blue mosaic-tiled swimming pool, under a blue sky.
Modern bedroom with a large bed, decorative wall art, and a sliding glass door opening to a view of green trees and palm trees.
Table set for a meal with bowls of soup, fried chicken, salad, dipping sauces, and drinks, on a wooden deck with a red tablecloth.
Interior of a modern bar or lounge with a circular bar counter, wooden paneling, and plants, featuring large windows and a high ceiling.
A room with green wooden walls, two windows with bars, a fan in the corner, and mattress beds laid out on the floor with checkered and colorful sheets and pillows.
Two beds with pink floral mosquito nets inside a rustic wooden house. A person is sitting on the left bed. The room has wooden flooring and pictures on the wall.
A hotel room with two beds, a window seat with cushions, and framed wall art above the beds.
Rooftop pool area with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a golf cart overlooking a city skyline and river in the background.

Locations

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation

  • All meals and soft drinks

  • Transportation

  • All activities

  • Entrance fees

  • Certificate of completion

  • Program management

Not included

  • International flights

  • Visas

  • Tips/gratuities

  • Laundry service

  • Alcohol

  • Travel insurance

  • Items of a personal nature

Partners

A stylized logo with the word 'Osmose' in green, featuring a person standing on a small blue boat, with a tree forming part of the lettering.

Osmose is a Cambodian non-profit dedicated to environmental conservation and community development around Tonle Sap Lake. Through ecotourism, education, and livelihood programs, they work to protect wetlands, support sustainable fishing, and empower local communities. Their initiatives promote biodiversity conservation while improving economic opportunities for floating village residents.

Which courses can our Cambodia Service-Learning Trip be tailored to?

Global Studies, International Relations, International Development, Peace & Conflict, Anthropology, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Education, Public & Community Health, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability, Conservation Studies.

Reach out to learn more…