This summer, I'll be completing my Speech and Language Therapy MSc at City, University of London, and I've been selected to take part in the City Cambodia Project 2019. The aim of the project is to develop services for and improve the quality of life of people with speech, language, communication and swallowing needs. Alongside a small team of newly qualified SLTs, I will be volunteering in Phnom Penh for three months.

There have been huge developments in Cambodia's healthcare services recently, but Speech and Language Therapy is not yet an established profession. This leaves a vast gap in the availability of services and support for those in need, impacting on their health, attainment and social and emotional well-being.

The project has been running since 2007. Through developing and maintaining links with services in Phnom Penh, each year a team is able to visit and deliver vital training and education to staff and families. Recently, this has also involved teaching a module on the first Speech and Language Therapy course at Paññāsāstra University and developing students’ clinical skills through observations and workshops. On top of this, graduates have been working with local charities and NGOs to maximise their outreach. Our hope for the future is that the combined efforts of the teams and local professionals will lead to Speech and Language Therapy becoming an established and self-sustaining profession.

Our team will be working across multiple settings to develop the knowledge and skills of local speech advisors in assessing, treating and providing advice regarding speech, hearing and feeding difficulties. We will also be working with interpreters to provide communication and feeding advice to families in the community.

The cost for volunteers is around £3000. I am hoping to fund as much as I can through work and by applying for volunteering grants, but would really appreciate your support. Any amount you can spare will go towards my work out there and have a lasting impact on local communities.

Please get in touch if you have any questions. Thank you so much!