Expected Schedule
The trip focuses on two parts: the first being visiting successful NGO's in the capital city in order to learn about their projects, followed by taking what we learned to come up with our own service plan that we will carry out in a selected village.
The planned itinerary can be found by clicking here or can be seen below.
After coming back from the trip, we will modify the itinerary based on what we actually did as well as write about our experiences, which can be found on the blog.
Itinerary (from the Rustic Pathways website)
Day 1 (Tuesday)
Travel, check in, relax and get acquainted with your new friends before boarding your flight to Cambodia!
--this applies more to the students travelling from the United States than it does to us, we will technically arrive on Day 3
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Ghost day. Today is lost through time differences and travelling.
Day 3 (Thursday)
Welcome to Phnom Penh!
Head over to the bustling riverside for a welcome dinner. Here we'll introduce you to your trip leaders and they will talk about what you have coming during the trip
Day 4 (Friday)
First full day in Phnom Penh. Not only is this city the political and economic hub of the country, it also has one of the largest concentrations of NGOs and international aid than anywhere else in the world.
After breakfast, you will start off with an introduction to Cambodia's past and present, giving you a firm foundation with which to understand your surroundings. A tuk tuk ride through the buzzing traffic of Phnom Penh will give you a personal look at street life and the neighborhoods that make up this city. First visit will be the notorious Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum where local guides will share with you personal stories of terror and triumph, followed by a tour of the Killing Fields
Day 5 - Day 7 (Saturday - Monday)
We will begin to visit some successful NGO projects that have made a difference in Phnom Penh. We will have meetings with various consultants who will answer question on what it takes to start your own projects. The focus will be on the purpose of their project, the plan of action, and the basics of grant writing. This will include various types of humanitarian work ranging from helping street kids, women's vocational training such as weaving, textiles and crafts, environmental concerns such as wildlife preservation or solar power in rural villages, as well as food donation and medical care to those who need it most. At the end of each day students and staff will meet to compare notes, reference the reading material and reflect on the power of these projects.
Day 8 - Day 9 (Tuesday - Wednesday)
It is now time for us to head out to our project village, chosen by the Global Potential team [refer to map]. For the next two days we will live with the residents of this village and see exactly what life here is like. Students will collect data by speaking to village elders; residents and even children, while keeping in mind all of the advice from the previous three days. You may find yourself helping out in a garden while listening to translated stories or participating in some popular non-verbal communication… volleyball! This time is really about taking in your surroundings and getting to know the people who live here and how we can help them the most.
Day 10 (Thursday)
Now that we have seen several examples of projects in action, met with international aide consultants, and also embedded ourselves in our service village listening to the needs and suggestions of the community, the next step is to come up with a plan. Students are to submit a project proposal of their own for consideration to the Rustic Pathways Foundation.
Day 11 - Day 15 (Friday - Tuesday)
The group project and budget have been approved. Time to buy materials and get going! The next five days are spent in the field: building, planting, teaching, creating or whatever it may be, your idea has come to fruition. Sustainable improvements have been set into place and you have played a crucial role in every step
Day 16 (Wednesday)
Today we head to Siem Reap to the ancient temple of Angkor Wat to have some down time and explore. Reflect on your time spent in the village and the goals you accomplished. What has this experience meant to you and what does it mean in a global sense in terms of instituting grassroots change?
Day 17 (Thursday)
Community service is a life long journey; one that we never tire of here at Rustic Pathways, and we hope you won't either. You now have the necessary tools to start your own organization or simply find an area in need and step in to lend a helping hand.
After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to Cambodia.
The planned itinerary can be found by clicking here or can be seen below.
After coming back from the trip, we will modify the itinerary based on what we actually did as well as write about our experiences, which can be found on the blog.
Itinerary (from the Rustic Pathways website)
Day 1 (Tuesday)
Travel, check in, relax and get acquainted with your new friends before boarding your flight to Cambodia!
--this applies more to the students travelling from the United States than it does to us, we will technically arrive on Day 3
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Ghost day. Today is lost through time differences and travelling.
Day 3 (Thursday)
Welcome to Phnom Penh!
Head over to the bustling riverside for a welcome dinner. Here we'll introduce you to your trip leaders and they will talk about what you have coming during the trip
Day 4 (Friday)
First full day in Phnom Penh. Not only is this city the political and economic hub of the country, it also has one of the largest concentrations of NGOs and international aid than anywhere else in the world.
After breakfast, you will start off with an introduction to Cambodia's past and present, giving you a firm foundation with which to understand your surroundings. A tuk tuk ride through the buzzing traffic of Phnom Penh will give you a personal look at street life and the neighborhoods that make up this city. First visit will be the notorious Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum where local guides will share with you personal stories of terror and triumph, followed by a tour of the Killing Fields
Day 5 - Day 7 (Saturday - Monday)
We will begin to visit some successful NGO projects that have made a difference in Phnom Penh. We will have meetings with various consultants who will answer question on what it takes to start your own projects. The focus will be on the purpose of their project, the plan of action, and the basics of grant writing. This will include various types of humanitarian work ranging from helping street kids, women's vocational training such as weaving, textiles and crafts, environmental concerns such as wildlife preservation or solar power in rural villages, as well as food donation and medical care to those who need it most. At the end of each day students and staff will meet to compare notes, reference the reading material and reflect on the power of these projects.
Day 8 - Day 9 (Tuesday - Wednesday)
It is now time for us to head out to our project village, chosen by the Global Potential team [refer to map]. For the next two days we will live with the residents of this village and see exactly what life here is like. Students will collect data by speaking to village elders; residents and even children, while keeping in mind all of the advice from the previous three days. You may find yourself helping out in a garden while listening to translated stories or participating in some popular non-verbal communication… volleyball! This time is really about taking in your surroundings and getting to know the people who live here and how we can help them the most.
Day 10 (Thursday)
Now that we have seen several examples of projects in action, met with international aide consultants, and also embedded ourselves in our service village listening to the needs and suggestions of the community, the next step is to come up with a plan. Students are to submit a project proposal of their own for consideration to the Rustic Pathways Foundation.
Day 11 - Day 15 (Friday - Tuesday)
The group project and budget have been approved. Time to buy materials and get going! The next five days are spent in the field: building, planting, teaching, creating or whatever it may be, your idea has come to fruition. Sustainable improvements have been set into place and you have played a crucial role in every step
Day 16 (Wednesday)
Today we head to Siem Reap to the ancient temple of Angkor Wat to have some down time and explore. Reflect on your time spent in the village and the goals you accomplished. What has this experience meant to you and what does it mean in a global sense in terms of instituting grassroots change?
Day 17 (Thursday)
Community service is a life long journey; one that we never tire of here at Rustic Pathways, and we hope you won't either. You now have the necessary tools to start your own organization or simply find an area in need and step in to lend a helping hand.
After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to Cambodia.