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Micro-finance Internship in Cambodia

Empower entrepreneurs from disadvantaged areas to build their businesses and earn a sustainable income

Destination

Cambodia

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

June to September

Accommodation

Apartment

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

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Starting at £1,420 for 1 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Expand economic opportunities

Support entrepreneurs in Phnom Penh to build their business, earn a sustainable income, and become financially independent.

Fully supervised and supported

Guided by local experts, provide business training and access to interest-free loans for those who need capital to expand their small business.

Total immersion in Cambodia’s culture

Live in a shared house with other volunteers in the capital city. Enjoy social activities together and benefit from your own cook and cleaner.

Be captivated by Cambodia

As well as living and working with Cambodians, you’ll have the opportunity to explore in your free time. Visit Angkor Wat and much more.

Hone your professional skills

Develop your professional skills in a memorable and engaging way by working in a different culture and financial climate.

What you need to know

Overview

This project is a great way for you to use your time and skills to help people in need achieve financial independence. It’s also a memorable and different way to gain practical work experience, and hone your skills in an international setting.

You’ll work mainly with entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities in Phnom Penh. You’ll mentor them in their independent business ventures. You’ll gain insight into the specifics of micro-finance, on an internship that will greatly enhance your CV or future job applications.

To join this project, you need to have at least one years’ experience or relevant training in business or management. You also need intermediate English skills, and should be comfortable speaking the language.

A Day in the Life

After a hearty breakfast in your shared apartment, you’ll travel to work by tuk-tuk. On your first day, a Projects Abroad staff member will accompany you to show you the way.

A typical day on this internship runs from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll have your evenings and weekends free to socialise, relax, or travel.

On a daily basis you will be involved in a wide variety of tasks. These may include meeting with beneficiaries, planning and conducting training sessions, and managing loan accounts. You’ll gain great insight into how small businesses operate in Cambodia, and the challenges that they face. We typically work with food and drink stalls, as well as tailors and salon owners.

A fun aspect of this project is that you get to travel around the city to visit the beneficiaries at their home or work, so you’re not stuck in an office all day.

Once you’re done for the day, it’s time to soak in sights and sounds of Phnom Penh. You can join us on one of our regular socials, where you’ll get to know your fellow interns and volunteers and local Projects Abroad staff. Or explore the city, visiting tourist attractions such as the National Museum, the Royal Palace, or one of the many temples and local markets.

Aims & Impact

There are two main aims to this project: to help members of disadvantaged communities earn a sustainable income and to provide you with an educational, practical internship in the field of Micro-finance.

Many of the interns who join us are looking for work experience in a different cultural setting. We provide you with the opportunity to learn from local professionals, while sharing your skills and training with others.

There is also an altruistic dimension to this internship. Because of low incomes, many people are unable to set aside savings that can be used to grow their business. By providing them with zero-interest loans, these entrepreneurs can expand or diversify their product offerings or services.

The majority of our beneficiaries are food and drinks sellers, tailors, or salon owners. They all have small businesses or jobs with low incomes that are insufficient to support their families. With these loans, they can buy more stock and equipment to run all-day businesses. They can then grow their income and even start to set aside savings.

Join us in Cambodia today, and help equip local entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to manage their businesses.

Activities

There is a wide range of different activities you can get involved in on this internship, which gives you a well-rounded experience. These tasks include:

Interview and screen potential loan beneficiaries
Monitor and support current entrepreneurs with their business
Provide training for the current Micro-finance beneficiaries

Your work will focus on the following main areas:

Interview and screen potential loan beneficiaries

An important part of this project is spreading the word among entrepreneurs who can benefit from a small loan. You’ll introduce the Projects Abroad Micro-finance programme to potential beneficiaries. The next step is then to conduct interviews with prospects who are interested in participating, and review their business plans. You may also have the chance to sit in on meetings to help decide candidates for the loans.

Monitor and support current entrepreneurs with their business

You’ll spend a lot of your time on this internship monitoring our current beneficiaries, and supporting them in their business ventures.This may take the form of:

Conducting home and business visits to track their progress
Helping them with business plans
Providing personalised advice for improvements

The majority of our beneficiaries are food and drinks sellers, tailors, or salon owners.

Provide training for the current Micro-finance beneficiaries

You’ll also help organise regular training workshops. This will equip the local entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully manage their business. These can cover different topics that are relevant for small businesses, such as:

Basic accounting practices
Customer service
Marketing
Project management

Map & Location

Uncover the magic of Cambodia, a Southeast Asian gem with ancient wonders and modern marvels. Here, the legendary Angkor Wat stands as a testament to the Khmer Empire’s power, but it’s more than just temples. Beautiful beaches, stunning skyscrapers, and roaring rivers can be found everywhere you look.

It’s a country on the rise, with tourism and agriculture driving its economy. Though marked by a complex past, Cambodia is developing as a tourist destination and offers an unforgettable experience.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, lies where the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers meet. This busy city blends French colonial architecture with ornate Buddhist temples and is home to 2.5 million people. It has a tropical wet and dry climate, meaning it can be hot all year.

Filled with artisan markets, excellent Khmer cuisine, and historic landmarks, Phnom Penh has something for everyone. It is also well connected, offering easy access to the countryside and the wonders of Angkor Wat.

Food & Accommodation

You’ll have everything you need to enjoy an incredible experience in Cambodia, including a clean bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water. We’ll also organise your transport (usually a traditional Tuk Tuk!) to and from your placement every day.

You’ll stay in clean, comfortable, and convenient shared apartments in the heart of Phnom Penh. You will have basic Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and large communal areas, giving you the chance to build bonds with other Projects Abroad participants.

Immerse yourself in the local culture, pick up basic Khmer phrases, and enjoy traditional dishes prepared for you by our cook. Explore the fascinating city with new friends, seeing sights like the Royal Palace and the Killing Fields, or organise a weekend trip to Angkor Wat in your free time.

Meet your team

Free Time and Leisure

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 your inner Indiana Jones!

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.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Cambodia Arrival Procedures page.