The big picture

Conversations With Foreigners (CWF)

With local Phnom Penh students and international volunteer teachers helping to raise money for work in rural communities, CWF forms a unique model of learning and cultural exchange (see diagram below).

CWF was founded in 2006 with support from the Australian Government AusAid VIDA program. CWF is registered with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and governed by a Board of Directors, the majority of who are Cambodian.

CWF has raised over US$ 37,700.00 for CRDT, hosted nearly 200 full-time volunteers, and we now teach over 700 students every day.

Vision

A self-sufficient CRDT working to improve livelihoods with rural communities in Cambodia.

Mission

To provide affordable conversational English courses and support volunteer experiences while raising money for the CRDT's work.

English courses

There is a thirst for learning in Cambodia, especially in young people, and providing affordable English courses will contribute to fulfilling the desire of Cambodian people to communicate in the international language in various aspects of life.

It is hoped this will not impact negatively on the traditional Cambodian language and culture. Instead, it may strengthen the commitment of Cambodian people to retain the uniqueness of their language and culture through improved communication and learning with the world.

Volunteering

The Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) describes volunteering as where:

"The volunteer offers time, energy and effort to a project of benefit to a community, and... the community offers to the volunteer an opportunity for experimentation, learning and personal and collective development."

Our volunteers immerse themselves in the urban Phnom Penh community, as well as having the opportunity to visit CRDT and the rural communities they work with.

In covering their own expenses, volunteers may also appreciate more fully the opportunity given to them by the Cambodian people – people whose warm, welcoming smiles defy both the neglect and the aggressive interference from Western and other foreigners in recent history.

Our model

In many volunteer programs, volunteers work directly with the poorest people. Our volunteers don't. Our students in Phnom Penh can at least afford money to study - more fortunate than many. Instead, volunteers are contributing to a social enterprise and the long-term sustainability of CRDT - Cambodian experts experienced in rural development - to work to improve livelihoods with rural communities. Rural communities make up 80% of Cambodia's population.

We believe this model of volunteering is more sustainable for rural communities and Cambodia. We welcome any comments or suggestions you have.

Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT)

CRDT are a team of skilled Cambodians teaching rural Cambodians agriculture skills such as building water pumps, better sanitation, animal raising, planting rice, fish ponds, bio-digestors and home gardens. Learning these skills is one way rural Cambodians may realise more opportunities and make decisions that affect their own lives.

CRDT formed in 2001 and are a registered local non-government organisation (LNGO). All CRDT members are university educated, yet all are from rural backgrounds and therefore share an understanding of daily life in Cambodian villages. They live in the villages they are working with and consider the impact on the environment.

For further information, please visit CRDT.


	Group starting dates Wednesday Nov 24, 2010 (3 months) Wednesday Feb 23, 2011 (3 months) Wednesday May 25, 2011 (3 months) Wednesday Aug 24, 2011 (3 months) Then starting every 3 months (3 month commitment) Info on Cambodia wikitravel.com uk.oneworld.net phnompenh.gov.kh	The big picture Conversations With Foreigners (CWF) With local Phnom Penh students and international volunteer teachers helping to raise money for work in rural communities, CWF forms a unique model of learning and cultural exchange (see diagram below). CWF was founded in 2006 with support from the Australian Government AusAid VIDA program. CWF is registered with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and governed by a Board of Directors, the majority of who are Cambodian. CWF has raised over US$ 37,700.00 for CRDT, hosted nearly 200 full-time volunteers, and we now teach over 700 students every day. Vision A self-sufficient CRDT working to improve livelihoods with rural communities in Cambodia. Mission To provide affordable conversational English courses and support volunteer experiences while raising money for the CRDT's work. English courses There is a thirst for learning in Cambodia, especially in young people, and providing affordable English courses will contribute to fulfilling the desire of Cambodian people to communicate in the international language in various aspects of life. It is hoped this will not impact negatively on the traditional Cambodian language and culture. Instead, it may strengthen the commitment of Cambodian people to retain the uniqueness of their language and culture through improved communication and learning with the world. Volunteering The Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) describes volunteering as where: "The volunteer offers time, energy and effort to a project of benefit to a community, and... the community offers to the volunteer an opportunity for experimentation, learning and personal and collective development." Our volunteers immerse themselves in the urban Phnom Penh community, as well as having the opportunity to visit CRDT and the rural communities they work with. In covering their own expenses, volunteers may also appreciate more fully the opportunity given to them by the Cambodian people – people whose warm, welcoming smiles defy both the neglect and the aggressive interference from Western and other foreigners in recent history. Our model In many volunteer programs, volunteers work directly with the poorest people. Our volunteers don't. Our students in Phnom Penh can at least afford money to study - more fortunate than many. Instead, volunteers are contributing to a social enterprise and the long-term sustainability of CRDT - Cambodian experts experienced in rural development - to work to improve livelihoods with rural communities. Rural communities make up 80% of Cambodia's population. We believe this model of volunteering is more sustainable for rural communities and Cambodia. We welcome any comments or suggestions you have. Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT) CRDT are a team of skilled Cambodians teaching rural Cambodians agriculture skills such as building water pumps, better sanitation, animal raising, planting rice, fish ponds, bio-digestors and home gardens. Learning these skills is one way rural Cambodians may realise more opportunities and make decisions that affect their own lives. CRDT formed in 2001 and are a registered local non-government organisation (LNGO). All CRDT members are university educated, yet all are from rural backgrounds and therefore share an understanding of daily life in Cambodian villages. They live in the villages they are working with and consider the impact on the environment. For further information, please visit CRDT.
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