The historic temples of Angkor, built in the 12th century, are the most important tourist site of Cambodia and still a religious centre. Due to warfare and more recently to pollution, the site is unfortunately endangered. The region is visited by over two million tourists per year, creating a vivid cultural interface, an enormous economical buzz and a speedy infrastructural development.

The “Royal Angkor Foundation” (RAF) was founded in 1992 with the purpose of facilitating, safeguarding and developing the historical site of Angkor. RAF is run on a voluntary basis, its activities are predominantly project-based and cover a wide range of areas such as scientific activities, education and cultural heritage protection. It promotes the understanding and cooperation between local and foreign stakeholders.

The GLEN interns are involved in environmental education activities in a local high school. Participants teach, facilitate and supervise the next “environmental protection” course. Topics are composting (biological cycle), waste management and nature protection. Possible tasks - besides teaching - include developing creative “green” activities, organising study tours and conducting intercultural activities.

The internship is composed of different phases. During the first month, the GLEN participants train teachers and students in two parallel classes. This phase is followed by a week of joint assessment and evaluation of results and a joint amendment of the curriculum. During the following months, new training courses are conducted by the trained teachers and supervised by the volunteers. In this phase, team building methods and creative activities connected to the topic of the internship should be implemented. Study visits and field trips are also necessary to explain and experience eco-friendly living. The last two weeks of the internship are reserved for a joint action project (such as an exhibition) implemented by all participants of both training courses.

RAF expects the participants to have a good command of English and experience in teaching and working with children and the ability to work under instructions as part of a team. They should also have a good understanding of today’s global green issues and questions around sustainable living.
A basic understanding of ecological footprint, composting and waste management is required.

The scheduled time for the internship is September to November 2010.

Proposed by: Andras Martoni (RAF, GLEN participant 2006)