PMGY’s Real South East Asia Encounter will take you volunteering to Vietnam, Cambodia & Bali. These destinations are some of the most diverse, colourful and spiritual countries in the world. South East Asia stretches across eleven countries from eastern India to China. Every country is unique but across the region, you’ll find blissful beaches and ancient temples. Furthermore, you will enjoy delicious cuisine, lush landscapes and urvban jungles across the continent. Your 6, 9 or 12 week volunteering adventure will take in three of these amazingly exotic but very accessible countries.

Spending 6-12 weeks travelling and volunteering around South East Asia will give you time to embrace the richness of the culture of Vietnam, Cambodia and Bali. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to revel in each countries history and become immersed in the communities. You’ll live in these countries rather than just passing through and have a hugely positive impact while you’re there. Volunteer in Asia on this once in a lifetime trip and choose the trip duration, volunteer projects and travel experiences that are right for you.

HOW IT WORKS

The South East Asia Gap Year experience has start dates all year round. Moreover, participants can choose the trip duration that is right for them when completing volunteer work in Asia . There is 6,9 and 12 week gap year in Asia options to choose from on the online application. All programs commence on the first Wednesday of each month, but alternate start dates can be considered on request.

Should you choose the 6 week option you will spend 2 weeks volunteering in each of Vietnam, Cambodia and Bali. In the same vein, should you choose a 9 week South East Asia Gap Year experience, you will spend 3 weeks volunteering in each destination. Likewise, the 12 week program will see you enjoy 4 weeks of volunteering abroad opportunities in each of the three countries.

Volunteers will need to plan their flight schedules to match their country-specific trip dates. Therefore, you will need to arrange your inbound flight to arrive in Vietnam for the beginning of the South East Asia Gap Year experience. Your outbound flight will need to depart out of Bali once your time on the program is completed.

In addition, you will need to budget and plan your intermediary flights for your South East Asia Gap Year experience. More specifically, you will need to book flights from Vietnam to Cambodia and then Cambodia into Bali matching your specific trip dates. This may sound a little complicated, but rest assured, the PMGY team are on-hand for assistance.

Across your South East Asia Gap Year Experience, you will meet plenty of other travellers and volunteers along the way! The numbers and types of people you will encounter will change as you move from country to country. This will allow you to make many friendships and share experiences with a range of people on your South East Asia encounter journey!

You can choose any of the standard South East Asia volunteer programs in each country during the online application process. Please note, some volunteer projects may be subject to availability and you should only select one project to each destination. Additionally, there may be an additional cost associated with some projects. Any additional costs will be made clear next to the volunteer project option during the online application. You can explore your volunteer options in each destination below. It will be an unforgettable 6-12 weeks!

VOLUNTEER IN VIETNAM (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

Your first stop will be Vietnam. Lonely Planet described the country as ‘astonishingly exotic and utterly compelling’. For the reason that it is a country of breathtaking natural beauty with a unique heritage. Consequently, adventure travelling in Vietnam quickly becomes addictive. However, the country is still plagued by poverty.

Volunteers are vital and you have your choice of where you’d like to help. Ho Chi Minh City may be the capital, but Hanoi is where we feel the maximum positive impact can be made. Consequently, our volunteer programs in Vietnam are based in Hanoi and its surrounding local communities.

Whether you’re supporting children at the Friendship Village or teaching English to a community class, you choose how to make a difference during your time in Vietnam. Ultimately, there is so much positive work that can be done in the bustling city of Hanoi. You will be able to select your volunteer in Vietnam project during the online application.

VOLUNTEER IN CAMBODIA (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

Your second South East Asian country is Cambodia. Cambodia is a country emerging from years of turmoil and civil unrest. Yet, it has the most beautiful and blissfully undeveloped coastlines in the region. Moreover, the country is blessed with one of the most spectacular temples in the world, Angkor Wat. Spend time at weekends during your gap year travel exploring such iconic sites! In contrast to all its beauty and adventure travel opportunities, Cambodia is also one of the poorest countries in the world.

With PMGY you can contribute to grass-roots development projects in Cambodia. These are projects that take place in a rural community around 2 hours from Phnom Penh. Teach English in a community school or help give children a head start at a kindergarten style project. Ultimately, by volunteering in Cambodia, you will be providing disadvantaged young people with the tools to gain meaningful employment. You will be able to select your volunteer in Cambodia project during the online application.

VOLUNTEER IN BALI (2, 3 OR 4 WEEKS)

Your final stop is Bali. With a population of less than four million, Bali is an island of soft white sands. In addition, the country also boasts crystal clear waters, lush tropical forests and ancient temples. Many say that Bali is not so much a place but a state of mind. In the same vein, people talk of Bali being a feeling of wonder and a mood of serenity.

Our programs in Bali aim to provide a true insight into the Balinese way of life. Most noteworthy, all international volunteers can experience Bali’s famous beauty and white sand beaches whilst also giving back. By volunteering in a local community of Bali, you will get the opportunity to see a side of the country the tourists don’t see.

Stay in the rice bowl of Bali in the traditional town of Tabanan. Use your volunteer experience to give the most precious commodity of all, your time. The children in the community projects will be desperate to learn from you. Teach English set amongst rice paddies, steep ravines and forests. Invest your time in Bali’s children and help to ensure their future is bright! Alternatively, choose to help out on our wildlife rescue and environment conservation program. You will be able to select your volunteer in Bali project during the online application.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ON THE PMGY ENCOUNTERS

Different Experiences Across Different Destinations - The PMGY Encounter programs are designed to provide a varied experience across some fascinating and unique destinations. Although we try and design our program set ups in the same way your volunteer experience in each destination is very varied. For example, some destinations provide a more basic accommodation set up but a high impact volunteer role, others are more touristy and therefore your role at the project is more limited, teams have different safety policies depending on the local environment etc. Therefore, please remain open-minded when joining our program across different destinations as each country offers a completely individual experience.

Flights Not Included - None of the flights the itinerary are included within the Program Fee for this itinerary. You should therefore budget accordingly for the main international flights from/to your home location and then the relevant internal flights across the Encounter destinations.