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Cambodia

Four questions to ask yourself when volunteering long-term abroad

Cambodia

How to be an Ethical Traveller

Cambodia

This is why we say ‘no’ to foreign volunteers

Taking it to the next level
Cambodia, Human and Hope Association

Taking it to the next level

In September 2011 at age 25, I packed up my most of my belongings and drove them to my parents’ house. The remaining items; some clothing, toiletries and my beloved laptop, stayed with me. I was off to Siem Reap, Cambodia. A land far from my comfort zone, where I was sure I was going to change the world by undertaking the role of Volunteer Coordinator at a day centre for former street children. However, that wasn’t going to be the case. I had been falsely sold the message that voluntourism ...
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Dangerous Encounters in Phnom Penh
Cambodia, Travel

Dangerous Encounters in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, and I don’t like it one bit. It is notoriously dangerous, and although many foreigners love it and call it home, I tend to avoid it like the plague. In August 2014 when my friend, Andrea, came to visit, we ventured to Phnom Penh. She treated us to a lovely hotel room, and we spent our days shopping for fabric for Human and Hope Association’s sewing business and sightseeing. We were driven around in a purple tuk-tuk that had mesh on the sides to prevent ...
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Where to Shop Ethically in Siem Reap
Cambodia, Ethical Shopping, Featured

Where to Shop Ethically in Siem Reap

When visiting Siem Reap, you won’t be short on places to buy souvenirs. The question is, where have those souvenirs been made? According to the Angkor Handicraft Association, around 80% of souvenirs sold in Siem Reap are imported from neighbouring countries. I, for one, prefer to buy local and support fair wages and working conditions. I know I am not the only one, so I have composed a list of where to shop ethically in Siem Reap so you can ensure you are not just taking home quality ...
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ABOUT SALLY

Sally Hetherington OAM lived in Cambodia from 2011 – 2017, building up Human and Hope Association, a grassroots community centre. She voluntarily made herself redundant so the organisation could be entirely Khmer-run. Sally is passionate about sustainable development and empowerment in developing countries and raises awareness about the negative consequences of voluntourism.

Sally’s manifesto, ‘It’s Not About Me’, was published by Elephant House Press in 2019.

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  • Gorgeous building.
  • Click on the link in my bio to order your signed copy. . . . When Sally Hetherington was 25, she packed up all her belongings and bought a one-way ticket to Cambodia, determined to make a difference. But when she got there, the situation on the ground was grave. Sally had been told that the role she came to play in managing short-term volunteers was crucial to sustainable development. However, what she saw was disempowered staff, children with attachment issues, and an unhealthy ‘white saviour’ syndrome. Sally knew she had to make a big change. So she started at the core, the community. Sally set about to develop a community centre with a team of Cambodians, with the end goal of making herself redundant. Sticking to her belief of local empowerment in a country filled with voluntourists was tough. Despite the countless obstacles she faced living in a community with a culture significantly different to hers, she was able to form insurmountable relationships and learn first-hand of the struggles of poverty faced by community members in the outskirts of rural Siem Reap. This manifesto has five years of stories that will make you laugh, cry and challenge your preconceived beliefs about the best way to help people in developing countries. It is a must-read for those who want to make a positive change through ethical and sustainable development.
  • A delicious dinner for @seyla_thoeun’s birthday. 🍚
  • The Winter issue of Good Mag is out today, and I’m a contributing author. Have a read of the article then click on the link in my bio to purchase a copy of my book! #itsnotaboutme #endvoluntourism #voluntourism #author
  • Watching ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ when it’s raining outside = the perfect Sunday. #lazysunday
  • Want to learn about my journey in #Cambodia discovering that #voluntourism is a problem and not a solution? Then but my new book, ‘It’s Not About Me’. The link is in my bio. #endvoluntourism #itsnotaboutme
  • Instagram Image
  • 🍂 🍂 🍂
  • To order a copy of my book, click on the link in my bio. #endvoluntourism #itsnotaboutme #cambodia #queensbirthdayhonours
  • I splurged and treated myself to a candle from @duskaustralia as a congratulations for my OAM. What an honour. Thank you to everyone for your kind words of congratulations and support.
  • It’s such a priveledge to be on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list as a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia for my contribution to the international community. 🇰🇭🇦🇺❤️ @humanandhope
  • Still looks like Autumn 🍂

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