{"id":24774,"date":"2026-05-27T09:20:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smilinggecko.ch\/?page_id=24774"},"modified":"2026-05-27T09:51:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:51:59","slug":"helping_hands","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smilinggecko.ch\/en\/helping_hands\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Hands"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Social impact, cultural exchange and personal development: become a \u2018Helping Hand\u2019 at the Smiling Gecko Campus in Cambodia.<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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What are the Helping Hands?\u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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First, let\u2019s start by clarifying what ‘Helping Hands’ is not. It is not a holiday package and it\u2019s not a platform for finding paid employment abroad.<\/strong><\/p>

What it is, however, is a unique opportunity to play an active role in a well-established development project for a limited time. The Smiling Gecko Campus in rural Cambodia offers an inspiring, welcoming and safe environment. It\u2019s perfect for anyone eager to contribute meaningfully while also growing personally.<\/p>

Whether you join us for just a week or deicide to stay longer, you\u2019ll have the chance to make a real impact. That said, we do encourage longer stays as it takes a little time to fully settle into a new climate and culture, and the experience becomes all the richer for it.<\/p>

We\u2019d be delighted to discuss your plans with you and answer any questions you may have. We have already answered the most important questions right here on this website. Enjoy reading!<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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What qualifications do you need to be a Helping Hand?\n\u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Working on campus can be physically and mentally demanding, but also incredibly rewarding. Daytime temperatures can reach up to 40\u00b0C, combined with high humidity and you\u2019ll be immersed in a new culture and language throughout your stay.<\/p>

The most important thing is definitely a willingness to embrace the country’s unique characteristics. Life at the Smiling Gecko campus can be dynamic and sometimes unpredictable, as processes cannot always be planned in detail. If you enjoy flexibility and discovering new ways of doing things, you\u2019ll feel right at home here.<\/p>

You don\u2019t need a background in agriculture or a related field to join us. However, a basic knowledge of English is essential, as communication with the local teams is exclusively in English. Being able to connect with the people around you will make your experience far more meaningful and enjoyable.<\/p>

We encourage you to be honest with yourself about what you are looking for, this will ensure your time on campus will be fulfilling and memorable.<\/p>

You can find further information in the FAQs<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Agriculture<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Smiling Gecko Campus covers 30 hectares of farmland, where 45 different types of crops are grown. Typical tasks include harvesting fruit and vegetables, sowing seeds, and maintaining the fields.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Animal Husbandry<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chickens and fish are farmed on campus for use as food sources for the campus community, also live fish are sold to farmers in the surrounding area. Typical tasks for Helping Hands here include feeding the animals and monitoring the facilities.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Campus Kitchen \u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Working in the campus canteen involves preparing meals for our staff and schoolchildren, as well as producing baked goods and meat products for domestic sale.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Infrastructure \u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The term ‘infrastructure’ encompasses all areas of work relating to the maintenance and upkeep of the campus. This includes simple building repairs, greenhouse maintenance and path upkeep, for example.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Joinery Workshop \u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the joinery workshop, we manufacture and repair furniture for the campus, as well as producing handicrafts to sell locally. For example, Helping Hands can produce pepper mills or chopping boards here.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sewing Workshop \u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the sewing workshop, our staff\u2019s clothing and school uniforms are mended, and commissioned work for the Farmhouse is produced. The machines used here are ideally suited to Helping Hands.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Metal Workshop \u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The metal workshop is where the floating structures for our fish farm are built. Agricultural equipment is also repaired and serviced here. Helping Hands work here would mainly be a supporting role.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Farmhouse Resort \u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At the resort, Helping Hands work in housekeeping and in our restaurants, among other roles. Assignments in the kitchen are also possible. In addition, there are also opportunities to work at reception.\n<\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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What you can expect on campus\n\n\u200b<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Days on campus tend to start and finish relatively early. This rhythm is shaped by the climate, as physical work is best carried out during the cooler hours of the day.<\/p>

The three daily meals are a special highlight of campus life. They offer an opportunity for Helping Hands and all the other staff members to come together, sharing food, experiences and a sense of community.<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here\u2019s what a typical day on campus might look like:<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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