Volunteer in Cambodia
Volunteer in Cambodia operates Conversations With Foreigners, a Phnom Penh-based nonprofit social enterprise running two campuses that deliver affordable conversational English courses to Cambodian students (up to 900 daily) through a free 3-month volunteer teacher placement program, with 60% of profits funding rural development partner NGOs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersPhnom Penh, Cambodia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Volunteer in Cambodia does
Volunteer in Cambodia is a Phnom Penh-based nonprofit social enterprise that operates Conversations With Foreigners (CWF), an English language school founded in 2006 by Cambodian Mao Savin and Australian Geordie Smith. CWF runs two Phnom Penh campuses (Tuol Tom Poung and Tuol Kork, the latter added via an ECE merger in November 2018) that deliver conversational English courses to a peak daily enrollment of approximately 900 Cambodian students aged 13-60, including high school and university students, professionals, public servants, and retirees. The core product is a free 3-month ESL teaching placement for international volunteers, who receive a 10-day cultural and pedagogical orientation plus ongoing weekly workshops, classroom observations, and peer reviews, in exchange for teaching classes using a Cambodia-centric localized curriculum.
Revenue is generated through two streams: student tuition at US$110 per 11-week semester (roughly one-third the cost of comparable Phnom Penh programs) and managed volunteer house accommodation at US$725 per semester covering twin-share rooms, meals, internet, and bicycle use. The organization has no proprietary technology stack, operating instead on a WordPress website, Twitter, and Facebook, with volunteer acquisition driven primarily by word-of-mouth from a 600+ person alumni network and partnerships with external volunteer recruiters. Sixty percent of profits are contractually committed to funding rural development projects through partner NGOs, most prominently CRDT (which has received US$153K+ since 2006), 1001fountaines, and CWDCC. The organization is governed by a Cambodian-majority Board of Directors, is registered with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), and has historically operated with a small staff of around 7 core employees supplemented by visiting volunteer teachers.
Volunteer in Cambodia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Volunteer in Cambodia
- Legal name
- Volunteer in Cambodia
- Website
- https://volunteerincambodia.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Volunteer in Cambodia operates Conversations With Foreigners, a Phnom Penh-based nonprofit social enterprise running two campuses that deliver affordable conversational English courses to Cambodian students (up to 900 daily) through a free 3-month volunteer teacher placement program, with 60% of profits funding rural development partner NGOs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Volunteer in Cambodia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Language Education Services
- NAICS
- Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Unpaid/Volunteer-Linked Work Placement Programs (EDAIAFAE), In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services (EDAIAGAM), Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)
Keywords
Where Volunteer in Cambodia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Phnom Penh
- HQ country
- Cambodia
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Volunteer in Cambodia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Student Tuition Fees: Conversational English courses charged at US$110 per semester (11 weeks, approximately 700 contact hours). Affordable pricing at about one-third the cost of similar courses in Phnom Penh. Scholarships of 5% of enrollment offered, ranging from 100% to 20% of fees based on financial hardship, disability, and access to education.
- Volunteer Accommodation: Volunteer house accommodation at US$725 per semester covering twin-share room, meals, internet, bicycle, and utilities. Independent volunteers pay rent directly to landlords (US$250-400/month for apartments).
- Profit Donations to Rural Development: 60% of profits donated to rural development projects through partner NGOs including CRDT, 1001fountaines, and CWDCC. Transfer of funds from city (where language school operates) to rural development projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free Volunteer Program |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Student Tuition - US$110/semester |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Volunteer House - US$725/semester |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Volunteer in Cambodia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Volunteer in Cambodia operates Conversations With Foreigners (CWF), a social enterprise English language school in Phnom Penh offering a 3-month ESL teaching placement where international volunteer teachers deliver conversational English classes to Cambodian students. The organization also generates revenue from volunteer house accommodation and channels 60% of profits to rural development partners including CRDT, 1001fountaines, and CWDCC.
Product overview
Volunteer in Cambodia operates Conversations With Foreigners (CWF), a social enterprise English language school offering conversational English courses. The core offering is a 3-month ESL Teaching Placement where international volunteers teach localized English to Cambodian students. The program includes a Teacher Training Program with weekly workshops, classroom observations, and peer reviews. Supporting services include Khmer Language Courses, Teaching Resources, and Volunteer House Accommodation. CWF operates two campuses in Phnom Penh (Tuol Tom Pong and Tuol Kork) and has developed a Cambodia-centric curriculum. Revenue from student tuition funds rural development projects through partner organizations like CRDT.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conversations With Foreigners (CWF) Conversational English Courses Conversational English courses offered at two Phnom Penh campuses, taught by international volunteers using a Cambodia-centric curriculum. Targeted at Cambodian learners aged 13-60 from high school students to professionals seeking speaking and listening practice with native English speakers. Charged at US$110 per semester (11 weeks, approximately 700 contact hours).
- 3-Month ESL Teaching Placement A 3-month volunteer English teaching placement for native English-speaking volunteers from around the world. Includes 10-day cultural orientation, Khmer language lessons, teaching workshops, classroom observations, and peer reviews. Volunteers teach approximately 180 hours. Free for volunteers; participants cover their own flight, visa, insurance, and living costs.
- Volunteer House Accommodation Managed volunteer accommodation for up to 12 volunteers in twin-share rooms with ensuite bathrooms, weekday meals, internet, desktop PC, bicycle use, cable TV, and security. Priced at US$725 per semester covering the 3-month placement duration.
- CamTEFL Certificate Course CamTEFL-accredited Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate course created in 2008 by Neal Evans for aspiring international and local teachers seeking formal TEFL qualification.
- Young Learner's Program English language program specifically designed for young learners, implemented at both Tuol Tom Pong and Tuol Kork campuses as part of CWF's broader course offerings.
Quantifiable outcome
- US$153K+ raised for development partners since 2006
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Volunteer in Cambodia
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Volunteer in Cambodia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Volunteer in Cambodia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 1001fountainescoreProvides clean drinking water to poor rural families through water kiosks. CWF supported over 5,000 schoolchildren through 1001fountaines in 2017, securing their access to clean and safe drinking water for an entire school year.
- CWDCC (Children and Women Development Center in Cambodia)coreLocal NGO based in Kampot Province registered with Ministry of Interior since 2005. Works on eco-tourism development, mangrove reforestation, and education access for fishing communities. CWDCC has 18 staff members (10 women) led by Executive Director Phou Teng.
- ASA (The Organic Farm)minorWholesale distributor of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) based in Phnom Penh. Provides better supply chain from farmers of organic fruits and vegetables to consumers through organic shops. VIC participates in ASA's business to promote local and safe agricultural products and reduce pollution.
- NGO Education PartnershipminorNGO organization working with Ministry of Education to improve and streamline best practices in education throughout Cambodia. Volunteer in Cambodia (and CWF) joined this partnership to positively impact Cambodia's education system.
- CRDT (Cambodian Rural Development Team)corePrimary development partner receiving profit donations from CWF. CRDT implements rural development projects including clean water access, biodigesters, agriculture, and income generation programs in rural Cambodia. CWF has donated over $153K to CRDT since 2006. Volunteers visit CRDT project sites during orientation.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Volunteer in Cambodia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Global Volunteers: Nonprofit volunteer organization focused on community development through teaching and service projects. Similar dual-purpose model of educational engagement plus community impact, though operates in different countries.
Broad incumbents
- Projects Abroad: Established international volunteer organization with teaching placements in Cambodia and many other countries. Larger, more comprehensive service portfolio but similar model of placing international volunteers in teaching roles overseas.
- i-to-i TEFL: Long-established TEFL certification and volunteer placement organization. Vertical comparison because CWF also offers CamTEFL certification and teaches English in Cambodia.
Direct peers
- GoEco: Volunteer abroad organization offering teaching placements in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. Similar target market of international volunteers seeking meaningful teaching experiences abroad.
- International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): Global volunteer placement organization offering affordable volunteer programs across 40+ countries including Cambodia. Both organizations source international volunteers for teaching placements in developing countries and are positioned as ethical, low-cost voluntourism alternatives.
- Love Volunteers: International volunteer organization offering affordable teaching placements in Cambodia and other developing countries. Direct competitor for prospective ESL volunteer teachers in the same destination market.
- Volunteer Forever: Online platform that aggregates volunteer abroad programs including ESL teaching in Cambodia. Comparable as a discovery and matching channel for prospective Cambodia volunteer teachers.
Others
- 1001fountaines: Beneficiary partner of Volunteer in Cambodia providing clean drinking water in Cambodia. Illustrates the development partner ecosystem that CWF's profits help fund, representing the broader Cambodian social enterprise landscape.
- CRDT (Cambodian Rural Development Team): Primary development partner of Volunteer in Cambodia. While not a direct competitor, CRDT represents the rural development organization that receives profit-sharing funds, illustrating the kind of NGO partnership structure CWF operates within.
Regional players
- Maximo Nivel: Latin America-focused volunteer and ESL teaching organization offering TEFL certification and volunteer placements. Comparable model of combining TEFL training with volunteer teaching abroad, though geographically focused on Central/South America.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Volunteer in Cambodia social profiles
Digital presenceVolunteer in Cambodia compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Volunteer in Cambodia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Volunteer in Cambodia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Volunteer in Cambodia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Volunteer in Cambodia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Volunteer in Cambodia
What does Volunteer in Cambodia do?
Volunteer in Cambodia operates Conversations With Foreigners (CWF), a social enterprise English language school in Phnom Penh offering a 3-month ESL teaching placement where international volunteer teachers deliver conversational English classes to Cambodian students. The organization also generates revenue from volunteer house accommodation and channels 60% of profits to rural development partners including CRDT, 1001fountaines, and CWDCC.
Is Volunteer in Cambodia a public or private company?
Volunteer in Cambodia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Volunteer in Cambodia founded?
Volunteer in Cambodia was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Volunteer in Cambodia based?
Volunteer in Cambodia is headquartered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in the Asia region.
How does Volunteer in Cambodia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Student Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are volunteer Accommodation and profit Donations to Rural Development.
Who are Volunteer in Cambodia's main competitors?
Global Volunteers is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Projects Abroad and i-to-i TEFL. Direct peers are GoEco, International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), Love Volunteers and Volunteer Forever. Others are 1001fountaines and CRDT (Cambodian Rural Development Team). Maximo Nivel is listed as a regional player.
Does Volunteer in Cambodia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Volunteer in Cambodia.
What industry is Volunteer in Cambodia in?
Volunteer in Cambodia's product category is Language Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAGAD, Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs, with a secondary code of EDAIAFAE, Unpaid/Volunteer-Linked Work Placement Programs. Its NAICS code is 611630 and its SIC code is 8200.