About Us
MONO International School began with a simple belief: where a child is born should not decide how far they can go.
In 2017, after more than 20 years working in education, our founder, Mak Sreymao, chose to leave her established career and dedicate her experience to creating new opportunities for children in one of Cambodia’s more remote communities. She started MONO in Thma Bang, Koh Kong Province, where access to quality education and English learning has been limited.
What began with small English and mathematics classes for local children gradually grew into a registered kindergarten and a growing learning community. Today, MONO supports young children and students through kindergarten education, English and mathematics, after-school learning, life skills, leadership, and community activities.
Our mission is not simply to teach lessons. We want children to discover confidence, curiosity, and the belief that their future can be bigger than the place where they were born. We believe education can open doors that children may not yet be able to see.
MONO is located in a peaceful, remote forest community, surrounded by nature and close to the everyday life of local Cambodian families. For volunteers, this is an opportunity to step away from ordinary tourism and experience a different side of Cambodia—living locally, sharing cultures, learning from one another, and becoming part of a small community.
When you volunteer with MONO, you are not just visiting a beautiful, remote place. You are sharing your time, knowledge, and heart with children who may remember your encouragement long after you leave.
Come to teach, share, learn, and inspire—and leave knowing that you became part of MONO’s story.
Program at a glance
Why choose us?
MONO offers more than a volunteer placement. It is a chance to become part of a remote community where your presence can truly matter. Many children here grow up far from the opportunities found in Cambodia’s cities. Meeting people from other countries, discovering new cultures, and hearing new languages can open their eyes to a bigger world. Your time, encouragement, and friendship may become a memory they carry for years.
What makes MONO unique is the connection. You will not simply teach and leave. You will share everyday life with children, teachers, and local families while experiencing Thma Bang’s peaceful forests, mountains, rivers, and countryside.
You may discover something about yourself too—away from busy cities and ordinary tourism, you can slow down, connect with nature, and experience a different way of life.
Your contribution may seem small, but for a child waiting for opportunity, it can begin something much bigger.
Requirements
Volunteers must be 18+ and have the appropriate legal permission to stay and volunteer in Cambodia, with valid travel documents and compliance with local laws.
At MONO, volunteers are expected to follow the school schedule and guidelines, respect students, staff, families, local culture, and community, and dress appropriately and respectfully at school.
Good English communication is required; upper-intermediate is preferred. Teaching experience is helpful but not required. Useful skills include English, tutoring, arts and crafts, sports, reading, creative activities, and working with children.
We provide simple local Cambodian meals. If you have allergies or important dietary needs, please let us know in advance so we can consider them and discuss what is possible before confirming your stay.
Couples, friends, and families may be considered depending on availability and accommodation.
Volunteer experience
A typical day at MONO is a relaxed mix of teaching, community life, and personal time.
-Morning: Volunteers usually join kindergarten for about 1–2 hours, helping with simple English, songs, art, exercise, alphabet, handwriting, and other activities. Afterward, everyone has lunch and a long midday break to rest or enjoy personal time.
Afternoon: Volunteers usually spend around 2 hours with older students, supporting English lessons and conversation. A local teacher works alongside them.
Evening: Volunteers may spend another 1–2 flexible hours with our older youth, who enjoy practicing English, making friends, and sharing cultures with people from other countries.
After school, we often prepare dinner, tidy up, and share a meal together. Evenings are relaxed, with time to chat, rest, or enjoy personal time.
€123 per week
Enjoy a peaceful stay in our welcoming school and family community, surrounded by the beautiful nature of rural Koh Kong. Depending on availability and preference, volunteers may stay in a private room, shared room, or our spacious shared sleeping area for friends and volunteers who enjoy staying together.
Private rooms include a comfortable mattress, pillow, mosquito net, and storage space. Our large shared area has a clean, smooth floor and a warm, nicely decorated atmosphere for sleeping, relaxing, reading, or working together.
To make your stay comfortable, we provide toilet and shower facilities, basic supplies, Wi-Fi, electricity, running water, and laundry. A bicycle or motorbike may be available for suitable local transportation.
We normally host up to 3 volunteers, depending on availability.
Enjoy three meals a day as part of everyday life at MONO. Breakfast is simple, fresh, and self-service, with items such as eggs, bread, coffee, tea, and milk. Volunteers can also experience a lovely part of village life by visiting a local breakfast shop, where villagers meet, chat, and greet each other before starting their day; these personal meals are at the volunteer’s own cost.
Lunch and dinner are freshly prepared Cambodian-style family meals, usually with rice, vegetables, soup, and local dishes. Sometimes, volunteers and staff can visit a local shop together, choose ingredients, and cook a favorite meal from their own country. Cooking and sharing food together is a fun part of cultural exchange and community life.
Weekend meals are also provided when volunteers stay with us. Please tell us in advance about any food allergies or important dietary needs so we can consider them before confirming your stay.
Thma Bang and Koh Kong offer an unforgettable escape into nature. MONO is surrounded by green forests, mountains, clouds, rivers and waterfalls, with fresh air and a peaceful rural atmosphere far from busy city life.
In your free time, explore the village by bicycle, visit local farms and families, enjoy waterfalls, go swimming or fishing, relax at cafés and small resorts, or simply walk, read and enjoy the scenery. During fruit seasons, discover local produce such as durian, banana, avocado and other seasonal fruits.
Volunteers can also enjoy everyday community life, meet local people, learn about Cambodian culture, and share their own culture and experiences with teachers, families and friends in the community.
For adventure lovers, the wider Koh Kong area offers hiking, trekking, camping, kayaking, wildlife experiences and nature exploration. The province also opens to the sea, with beautiful beaches, islands, mangrove forests and coastal communities where you can swim, relax, enjoy seafood, or join boat trips.
Whether you seek adventure or quiet moments, your free time can be a chance to breathe, explore, meet local people and experience the natural beauty and peaceful way of life of Cambodia.
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