Don Bosco School - Teuk Thla
Site Overview
Located in the vibrant Sangkat Tuek Thla area of Phnom Penh, Don Bosco School Teuk Thla is part of the flourishing Salesian presence in Cambodia, founded by the Salesian Sisters in 1997. Situated within a diverse urban district, the school serves children and youth from underprivileged backgrounds—many living in poverty, broken families, or orphaned—offering a safe, nurturing environment where faith, learning, and personal growth are fostered daily . Volunteers join a dynamic, close-knit community, often participating alongside local staff and Sisters in uplifting programs like sports days, charity concerts, and the engaging “Card Program on Youth Service,” which inspires students to explore social responsibility (donboscocambodia.org).
Volunteers at Teuk Thla are welcomed as mentors, educators, and companions. They support classroom teaching, assist with extracurricular and youth-service programs, and facilitate group activities that build confidence and leadership. Whether helping with arts, recreation, or offering compassionate presence to vulnerable children, volunteers play a key role in bringing Don Bosco’s pedagogy of reason, religion, and loving-kindness to life. This placement offers a deeply rewarding opportunity to contribute in a community-centered Salesian school, grow spiritually, and be part of a meaningful cross-cultural experience in Cambodia’s capital.
Available Ministries
- Education
- Teacher (Primary)
- Teacher (Secondary)
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Social Work
- Youth Centre
Current Volunteers
Ministry Background
The Cambodia presence of the Salesian sisters started with this site in 1993. They have since grown vastly into three facilities in Phnom Penh and other vocational schools, kindergartens, and training centers throughout Cambodia. The students of FTHS are poor youing women mostly from the villages. Majority of our high school students are also poor. A number of these students (80+ between the ages of 6-25 as well as some teachers and staff) stay in our school as boarders. Candidates to the religious life need to learn English very well too to better understand their formation.
Purpose & Objectives
To educate the margenalized youth of Cambodia so that they can become important members of society and help build up the country and the ministry. To teach English to the students of FTHS (Food Technology and Hotel Services), to our high school and elementary students and to the candidates to religious life.
Programs, Activities, & Other Projects
Leadership retreats, plays, and multiple art projects. Other SLMs in the past have worked on surveys and have been the ‘resident photographer’ of the community. The sisters are good at utilizing any skill the SLMs can offer to the benefit of the center. Anything from karate, to dance, to music, art, or even computer skills can benefit the center. Other possible activities are: home visit, Salesian assistance, giving good day and good night talks, dance, musical instruments, choir, Physical Education, drawing, handicraft, leadership training, catechesis, job placements, culinary arts and all other activities for children and youth.
Duties & Responsibilities
The major duties include teaching around 3 to 5 hours of English class per day, assisting/chaperoning the students in between periods, in cleaning, or at lunch times, etc. Other duties include: teaching plays, songs, skits, helping with decorations, assisting at night with the girls as well as on the weekends with cleaning and recreation time. A normal daily schedule for the school is usually from 8-5, with random breaks in between and the customary nap time (SLMs normally don’t have time for this) after lunch. This usually includes about 4 hours of class, 2 hours of assistance, and the rest of the day is spent grading and lesson planning in the teachers’ room until prayer at 5:30pm. After dinner, the volunteers join the recreation of the boarding students. Following recreation, the volunteers are generally free by 7:45 or 8.
Practical Qualifications/Skills Needed
Teacher training would be beneficial here as well as a major in English. learnamericanenglish.org has been a useful resource for former SLMs here. Instruction on how to make lesson plans, and classroom management.
Useful Academic Preparation
teaching experience and any experience working with young people
Special Challenges/Conditions
The center is located in a suburb right outside of the main city of the country. The center is a bit more isolated and outside of the city, but only 10 minutes by the local taxis, or “”tuk tuks””. The income level varies vastly. There are mansions located next to the slums. The area is rapidly developing and soon will become more like the city center. Income is very low. $20 is a lot of money to spend for most of the teachers and students. The needs are mainly emotional support and affirmation for the children and education to help them support their families and rise out of their current economic situation.
Area Information
The center is located in a suburb right outside of the main city of the country. The center is a bit more isolated and outside of the city, but only 10 minutes by the local taxis, or “”tuk tuks””. The income level varies vastly. There are mansions located next to the slums. The area is rapidly developing and soon will become more like the city center. Income is very low. $20 is a lot of money to spend for most of the teachers and students. The needs are mainly emotional support and affirmation for the children and education to help them support their families and rise out of their current economic situation.
Special Challenges & Conditions
There aren’t really any restrictions. It is very hot at times and can be physically demanding, but it really isn’t that bad depending on your tolerance for heat. There is only air conditioning in certain rooms on the compound. This does not include volunteer rooms. The volunteer rooms are exposed to wildlife like lizards, bugs, and sometimes rats. Also, trash and greenery is burned near the volunteer rooms. The smoke enters volunteer rooms, so a warning for those who have smoke allergies. The people are very open about weight and image in general. They will call out people who they deem as ‘overweight’ or make comments about your appearance. Thus, it is important for potential SLMs that would be placed here to have a good self image and comfortable with their appearance.