My Nonprofit Reviews

My friend Cara and I, both 19 years old and from Germany, spent three months volunteering with the Cambodian Children’s Fund. We first heard about the organization through mutual friends, and quickly decided that we wanted to be part of it and contribute in any way we could.
At CCF, we worked as teacher assistants at the elementary school CCF 5. We mainly focused on helping to teach the children in Grade 1 and 2 English, together with the other teachers. What made this experience so special were the bonds we formed with the children. Even though we didn’t speak Khmer and the students were only beginning to learn English, we developed our own way of communicating. The students were so motivated and eager to learn that we looked forward to teaching and seeing their progress every day.
We also had the chance to learn about and take part in other CCF programs, like the food distribution system and the Tom’s Shoes project, which gave us a deeper insight into how impactful the organization truly is. The scale and depth of CCF’s work stood out to us from the very beginning. From early childhood education to elementary and high schools, from healthcare access to housing support, and of course the food programs, CCF addresses so many aspects of a child’s and family’s well-being. Seeing how all these areas are interconnected and how so many children and families are supported on multiple levels is incredibly inspiring.
Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful for the time I spent with CCF. To anyone thinking of volunteering with CCF, especially young people my age, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It was the most rewarding and life-changing experience, as it has immensely shaped my perspective on so many aspects of life, in ways I will never forget.
This was also my first time living in Cambodia and yet we could not have felt more taken care of and supported by CCF.
Therefore I thank CCF for my time there, especially Riza and San Morokoth, for always helping us along the way in all matters. I also look forward to spreading the word about CCF, and I am so excited to have now started to sponsor one of my students from Grade 1!