In this blog post, I share some of the valuable lessons I learned about collaboration and problem-solving during my construction volunteer abroad in Cambodia.
My friend and I applied for a Habitat for Humanity program through our school. During the semester, I was busy and hectic with my studies, so I wanted to do something new during my vacation when I wasn’t under the pressure of my studies. I had always wanted to participate in an overseas volunteer program organized by my school, and this opportunity came along. To conclude, I can say that I am very grateful and thankful for the experience.
At my university, there are many overseas volunteer programs organized by the student affairs office or each college. Most of the volunteer programs are in the form of education and cultural exchange in Southeast Asia. The Habitat for Humanity program I participated in was mainly characterized by building houses. Habitat for Humanity is a global organization that aims to build simple, decent, and affordable homes for people who are homeless. Although Habitat for Humanity volunteers officially work with the Habitat for Humanity organization, they do not receive any external support. This made it difficult to prepare in advance and plan the activities in the field. The 25 volunteers, a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, had to do all the planning and budgeting for the trip themselves.
We headed to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The international airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia’s second largest city, was smaller than expected. Located in Southeast Asia, Cambodia was, as expected, very hot. We wore short sleeves and shorts and started our Cambodian adventure in earnest. We arrived on the first night and spent the night at a hotel in Siem Reap before heading to our volunteer site, Battambang, the next day. The drive from Siem Reap to Battambang took over five hours due to poor road conditions. We would spend five days in Battambang doing construction work, cultural exchange, and educational outreach.
There were only 25 of us on the flight to Cambodia, and we had no one to help us at the Siem Reap airport except for a guide who escorted us to our hotel. In Battambang, our volunteer site, we had a local coordinator, A, to help us, but we were often left to our own devices. During our time in the field, we held meetings every night. We reviewed the day’s activities and planned the next day’s schedule, and I think this was the key to the success of the volunteer program. Complaints were addressed on the spot, and feedback allowed us to laugh and resolve conflicts before they escalated. This was possible because everyone had a strong commitment to service.
For example, because Habitat is a Christian organization, we had a day off on Sundays. Some wanted to spend this time individually, while others felt it would be better for the corps to spend it together. Through a meeting, they were able to agree to clean up the city and go sightseeing together in the morning and have the afternoon free. We learned how to resolve any disagreements that arose.
Looking back on our first meeting in Siem Reap, we hadn’t gotten to know each other well enough yet, and with the exception of a few people, we were more eager to get back to Korea than to serve. We didn’t have any interest in each other, but when all 25 of us ended up participating in the afterparty, I realized how close we became over the course of the 10 days of volunteering. I think that’s how much we grew closer during the volunteering experience in another country, and how we were able to complete the activities without conflict through our nightly meetings.
I’ve talked a lot about the meetings, but I wouldn’t have such good memories of the volunteer experience if the activities there weren’t so good. The volunteer activities consisted of two main parts: construction and education, with other activities including cultural exchange, city cleanup, and sightseeing in Cambodia. Since the main purpose of the program was construction, we spent five days of the seven days working on construction. We worked on construction sites from 8am to 5pm, except for a two-hour lunch break. We carried bricks, made cement, and laid bricks ourselves. Working together in the hot weather and doing hard work, we quickly became close.
Lunch breaks were also fun because we got to try different local foods that Coordinator A introduced us to. We were given $10 per person per day for food, so we were able to eat to our hearts’ content at cheap restaurants in Battambang city. In the evenings, we had time to explore the city of Battambang, watch a show, get a massage, or just enjoy ourselves. Although some members of the group complained about the group behavior, the meetings allowed for free time for individual activities, but interestingly enough, everyone eventually came back together as a group to explore the city.
On Sunday, the group picked up trash in downtown Battambang. This activity was organized on short notice by the local community, but all the members of the group participated eagerly. We hoped to change the perception of the local people a little bit, and we did it from our hearts, not just for show.
Through this volunteer activity, I learned that volunteering is not only about practical help, but it can bring positive results in various ways. Interacting with the villagers through construction work and seeing their joy reminded us of the meaning of service. While interacting with local children through educational and cultural exchange activities, I was deeply moved by their genuine responses.
Through this volunteer experience, I realized that volunteering is ultimately beneficial to myself. I gained a variety of experiences in a new environment and learned a lot through problem-solving. I would highly recommend this activity to others, as it allowed me to make fun memories with good people. I would recommend volunteering with Habitat for Humanity without hesitation, as it is an invaluable experience that can only be had as a college student.
