Volunteering

Í have had a few people read this blog and ask me how they can get involved in a global outreach like this. So, instead of answering many different times, I figured I would put the answer here. And, unfortunately, I don't know how much help my answer will be!

There are soooo many orphanages in Cambodia. In fact, on our first night here, we ran into a group from Australia who was visiting another orphanage near ours. The man who runs it is also from Australia and invited us to come by anytime. Hopefully we'll make it there before the end of the trip. So...if you are looking for an orphanage to volunteer with, just start looking! But definitely do your research because sadly, a lot of people just want the money and donations that come with having an orphanage and end up starving or depriving the kids and keeping the money. John & Kathy are actually supposed to get 16 kids from one of those places in the next week or so. But keep in mind that not all volunteering involves working directly with the kids (if that is what you are looking for).

As for my specific trip, I am here with Heart Touch Project. Heart Touch does about one international trip a year (previous trips included India and Thailand). But to become a volunteer with Heart Touch, you have to live in the Los Angeles area and be a certified/licensed massage therapist. Once you go through their training, you have to commit to one year of working with hospice clients (it is very helpful to have this previous experience before coming on a trip like this). You also have to take the Children's Program Training, so that you are trained to work with children and infants who have special needs. And on top of that, you should probably become a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (which 3 of us on this trip are). THEN you can apply for an international trip with Heart Touch. Things could change in the future, but that's how it works right now!