Volunteer Build a House

Our goal is to raise $4,900 dollars to build a VTAC house project. Once we raise funds for the materials of house, water well and toilet facilities that we can build a house for rural family in the village.

No building experience is needed. Our local architects and volunteer coordinators look after you every step of the way. You don’t need to do anything that you are not comfortable with.

Volunteers do the actual house building with the guidance of professional construction workers. You will measure, chisel and hammer, saw the wood, nail the wall and floorboards down and make the stairs, windows and doors.

It is a great experience for a group of friends, school group wanting to learn, or a family looking for a holiday that will make a difference.

Day 1: You have arrived in Siem Reap

When you arrive we will pick you up at the airport and take you strait to your hotel. The rest of the day you are free to relax and explore exciting Siem Reap. In the evening you can head down to Pub Street or the Night Market where you will find food and shopping.

Day 2: Start to build the house

We will pick you up from your hotel at 7:00am after your breakfast head to the countryside at the building site. At the building site you will be introduced to the family and our architect. Volunteers will help to saw and chisel the support beams and cut floorboards and wall boards to size. We will enjoy our lunch at a local restaurant. We finish by 4:00pm and take you back to your homestay.

Day 3: Continue to build the house

We will pick you up from your homestay at 7:00am after your breakfast. At the building site volunteers will help put the support beams together and raise the frame of the house. This is an exciting day and you will see the house start to take structure.

Floor boards will be laid and volunteers will start constructing the stairs. We will enjoy our lunch at a local restaurant. We finish by 4:00pm and take you back to your homestay.

Day 4: Continue to build the house

We will pick you up from your homestay at 7:00am after your breakfast. The roof will be finished when we arrive at the building site so volunteers will start to nail the wall boards to the frame, and build the door and the windows. We will enjoy our lunch at a local restaurant. We finish by 4:00pm and take you back to your homestay.

Day 5:  Putting the signboard of donor name on the wall

We will pick you up from your homestay at 7:00am after your breakfast. Volunteers will finish nailing any wall boards not completed the previous day. The shutters will be made and attached. 

Each house has a signboard of the donors name on the wall near the door (which we’ll ask you to sign). We will enjoy  our lunch at a local restaurant. We finish by 4:00pm and take you back to your homestay.

Day 6: Final day for building the house & celebrating the house blessing ceremony

We will pick you up from your homestay at 7:00am after your breakfast. This is on the final day the family will provide a house blessing ceremony before they move into a new house, and we will give the family with keys. The house blessing ceremony is performed by local Buddhist monks.

Volunteers are welcome to join the family and villagers in the ceremony which includes walking around the house three times to symbolize birth, life and death. A meal is provided to all those people who attend. After the blessing ceremony we will take you to visit at local pagoda and then we will back to your hotel.

Day 7: Siem Reap International Airport

After breakfast this morning, you will be picked up and transferred from your homestay in the village to the departure flight Siem Reap Airport. We wish you the best of luck for your flights!

Please note: Transportation services can be arranged by via your own tour operator, or VTAC is happy to organize transportation for you from Siem Reap to the building projects at the countryside by Minivan, or Taxi car.