Occupational Therapy Internship in Cambodia

Gain practical occupational work experience while working with mentally and physically disabled children

Destination

Cambodia

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Apartment

Requirements

You should have completed at least two years of occupational therapy studies or training.

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.

Request Info

Starting at £1,495 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Assist children with special needs

Provide occupational therapy support to children with disabilities at a care centre, observing and assisting qualified therapists while you learn.

Enhance your career

Gain practical experience, develop your skills, and boost your CV for future applications while leaving a positive health impact on local communities.

Expand your global perspective

Gain a deeper understanding of healthcare systems and cultural differences around the world, exposing you to a variety of approaches and ideas.

Immerse in Cambodian culture

Live with other volunteers in a shared house, explore Phnom Penh, and experience the unique traditions, customs, and cuisine of Cambodia.

Cambodia - Group in Siem Reap at the temples

Personal growth and development

Challenge yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and learn vital global skills while contributing to a meaningful cause.

What you need to know

Overview

Are you working towards a career in occupational therapy? Do you enjoy working with children? Then our Occupational Therapy internship in Cambodia is for you.

You’ll learn practical skills alongside qualified medical staff and caregivers, which you can use this to enhance your studies. This internship adds great value to your CV, and gives you interesting points to talk about in applications and interviews. Your work in Cambodia also demonstrates your commitment to therapy, and your willingness to help those in need.

Our internship is open to occupational therapy students who have completed their first year of study. The project runs all year round, so you can join whenever you want. You can intern for a minimum of two weeks. We strongly recommend staying longer so you can have a bigger impact on the children.

A Day in the Life

You’ll start each day with a Cambodian breakfast of fresh fruit, banana pancakes, and egg fried rice before grabbing a tuk tuk to your placement. Our staff will accompany you on your first day to show you the way, and introduce you to your new colleagues.

A typical day will start at 8am and end at 4pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll get a long break between 11am-1pm where you’ll head back to your shared apartment for lunch. Alternatively, you can pack a lunch, and spend time going over the children’s medical files during your break.

Each morning, you’ll go over the plans for the day with your project supervisor. Your main focus will be to help with the assessment and treatment of patients at the centre. The infants and children have varying degrees of disability. Many of them have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy or autism.

You’ll help with individualised exercise plans, progress monitoring, and updating patient files. You’ll spend an hour with each patient before moving on to the next.

In your free time, you can grab dinner at one of the many restaurants dotting the main street. You can plan weekend trips with the other interns and really make the most of your stay in Cambodia.

Aims & Impact

There are two main aims for our Occupational Therapy internship in Cambodia: to improve your skills, and to provide better quality care and additional support to the infants and children we work with.

You’ll work at a centre for infants and children with mental and physical disabilities. Many of these children were abandoned by their families because they were unable to care for them. The medical staff and caregivers at the centre provide them with care and a safe place to grow up in.

You’ll use your skills and training to support the children, and share knowledge with the local staff. Occupational therapy is not a widely recognised profession in Cambodia so you’ll need to be confident and proactive when working. Supporting local medical staff also means that more children will be able to receive treatment at the same time.

In Cambodia, we’re working toward four long-term goals in our Medicine & Healthcare Management Plan:

Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
Improve hygiene standards

Join this internship in Cambodia and help us work towards these goals while improving your occupational therapy skills.

Activities

At your Occupational Therapy placement in Cambodia, you’ll work with mentally and physically disabled children at a care centre. Here are some of the tasks you’ll assist with at the centre:

Observe the medical staff and caregivers as they work with the disabled children at the centre
Care for the disabled children through a range of occupational therapy techniques
Update patient files by including your notes and observations
Encourage an exchange of medical knowledge between yourself and the staff at the centre

Your work will focus on the following:

Observe the medical staff and carers as they work with the disabled children at the centre

Before starting any form of work, you’ll spend time shadowing and observing the centre staff as they work with the children. You’ll learn how to pick them up, engage with them, and assess and treat them. Each child will be different depending on their disabilities. By observing first, you’ll get to know the children and learn skills that will benefit you in the future.

Care for the disabled children through a range of occupational therapy techniques

After observing, the staff might ask for your assistance with the assessment and treatment of patients. For quick reference on each patient, you can observe the wall which displays all the patients details. This wall has patient cards which detail the progress of each child. It gives staff an idea of the patients’ disabilities and which goals they should work towards. These goals could be anything for each patient such as rolling over, sitting, or standing.

You’ll also assist with the creation and implementation of individualised exercise plans that help strengthen the mobility of each patient. You need to monitor their progress and ensure accurate records are kept.

Update patient files by including your notes and observations

To ensure all staff members and future interns are up-to-date with the progress of each child, you’ll be asked to add information to their patient files. You’ll also need to update the patient cards attached to the wall.

Encourage an exchange of medical knowledge between yourself and the staff at the centre

There is a lot you can learn from the medical staff and caregivers at the centre. However, they can also learn a lot from you. Occupational therapy is not a widely known profession in Cambodia, and the staff will benefit from learning different techniques that you were taught during your studies. You can also help improve the English levels of staff members, which will make it easier to communicate with them.

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.