At a glance
- Work with local staff to provide support to children with speech and language impairments.
- Gain practical experience by assisting with or running therapy sessions with children.
- Help to ensure disadvantaged children are able to access specialised care.
Start Dates:
Completely flexible dates
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Two Weeks
Age:
18 or over
You should have completed at least two years of speech therapy related studies or training.
Is a Speech Therapy Internship in Cambodia right for me?
Are you a speech therapy student or graduate? Looking to gain practical experience in a country different from your own? Want to enhance your CV with a unique, impactful work placement? If you answered yes, then this internship is ideal for you.
You will have the chance to help people while putting your knowledge into practice.
In order to join this internship, you need to have completed at least one year of speech therapy studies or training. This is because you will work independently at your placement. Speech Therapy is a new field of work in Cambodia, and there is great demand to learn Speech Therapy skills and techniques from interns.
Our start and end dates are flexible, so you can choose a time that suits you.
What Speech Therapy work will I do in Cambodia?
There is a lot of room for you to take initiative on this internship. Some of the things you can do include:
- Assist with speech therapy sessions
- Provide training for local staff
- Keep track of children’s progress
- Support children in class
Your speech therapy work in Cambodia will focus on the following areas:
Assist with speech therapy sessions
You will conduct therapy sessions for children with speech impairments. This is a great way for you to gain hands-on experience. Some of the issues you will work on include cluttering, apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and articulation disorder.
If you would like to bring toys with you, you are more than welcome to do so. These will be greatly beneficial for the patients you will work with. Good examples include:
- Toys that light up or have music
- Toys that involve fine motor skills such as pulling apart or piecing together
- Tongue depressors
- Bubbles
- Balloons
Provide training for local staff
Local teachers and staff are eager to gain skills to support the children. They have had extremely limited training with Speech Therapy techniques and knowledge. You will help to provide training to these staff by organising workshops or simply sharing your knowledge. By improving the skills of the local staff, you’ll ensure that the children in their care benefit from the latest techniques, even after you have gone.
Keep track of children’s progress
Monitoring the progress of the people we help ensures that we can track improvements and target problem areas. You will update an internal Database with the children’s latest developments. This also ensures continuity between interns, so that the next person can pick up where you leave off.
Support children in class
Apart from your speech therapy-related work, there is also plenty that goes on in the school. You may find yourself providing extra stimulation and interaction for the children. This may entail teaching them basic skills, such as maths or colouring in. You can assist in the classroom and also use the sensory room.
Where in Cambodia will I work?
Phnom Penh
All of our opportunities to do internships in Cambodia are based in Phnom Penh, a magnificent city along the banks of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong Rivers. With many historical sites that detail the events of the Khmer Rouge era, the city is definitely one for history enthusiasts.
Even with Cambodia’s history of war, the city is rapidly developing to keep up with an expanding population and growing tourism industry. In some places, it can be an intriguing mix of traditional and modern life. And, around every corner, your nose will be lead to some of the most delicious Cambodian food.
As you walk the streets, you’ll be greeted by saffron-clad monks, chaotic traffic, and some of the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet. You can spend time at the many Buddhist temples, sample delicious fish amok or Cambodian chicken curry, or visit one of the local markets and modern malls. And only a few hours away, lie the grand Angkor Wat Temples.
A typical day at my Speech Therapy placement in Cambodia
After breakfast, it’s time to head to work. You’ll travel to your placement via tuktuk. On your first day, our staff will be there to show you how to get there, and support you with your work.
A typical working day runs from 8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday, with around two hours for lunch.
You will spend your day working alongside local staff in classrooms and leading therapy sessions for children with speech impairments in a separate sensory room. There is space to be very proactive and independent on this internship, so use your initiative where you see fit.
There is also room to help with related tasks. These include teaching basic skills, helping with daily lessons, and training staff.
After the working day has come to a close, it’s time to enjoy all that Cambodia has to offer. Spend time getting to know your fellow interns and making new friends from around the world.
What are the aims and impact of this Speech Therapy project?
There are two main aims to this project: to provide you with an educational, practical internship and to improve the quality of specialised care available to disabled people.
Many of the interns who join us are looking for practical work experience in an international environment. We ensure that you are able to practice your skills and take part in a variety of related tasks for a well-rounded time abroad. You’ll take part in valuable cross-cultural exchange, sharing knowledge and ideas.
You will work with children to improve their speech, which in turn aids their sense of wellbeing and independence. You’ll act as an additional pair of hands in under-resourced institutions, ensuring that children receive dedicated and specialised care.
We have identified several core goals for our medical work in Cambodia. These include:
- Improving hygiene standards
- Improving the quality of overall healthcare to patients
- Improving the quality of specialised healthcare available to patients
- Improving access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
- Promoting the exchange of medical knowledge
Join us as an intern and gain speech therapy work experience in Cambodia. This will allow you to prepare for your future career, while helping those who can benefit from your training.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll share accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers and interns during your stay in Phnom Penh. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and interns, share experiences, and explore your surroundings in your free time together.
The accommodation is safe, clean, and comfortable. Your programme fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Explore Cambodia and you will be amazed by the juxtaposition of vibrant cities, achingly beautiful scenery, and famous historical landmarks. This country has a lot to offer during your free time.
The world-famous gathering of temples near Siem Reap is a must for all visitors, especially the magnificent Angkor Wat. Climbing over huge tree roots to temple doorways shrouded by vines is guaranteed to bring out the Indiana Jones in you!
However, Cambodia offers far more than ancient temples. You can go trekking in the jungles or try snorkelling and dolphin-spotting in the seas surrounding Sihanoukville. For a more relaxed afternoon, you can spend time on one of the beautiful beaches.
What’s more, with a network of international volunteers in Cambodia with you, you can decide if you want to spend your free time exploring independently or in a group.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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