Many tourists want to make a difference...think about it because in Siem Reap you have the opportunity.

There's something unsettling about seeing tourists tramping through a heritage area, and taking their photos of colourful locals, and many visitors want a more reciprocal experience: of meeting locals on their own terms and giving, not just taking.

Cambodia offers many opportunities for this kind of deeper experience, and while the concept of Voluntourism runs on that knife-edge between tokenism and making a real difference, it is making a really positive difference to a number of organisations including orphanages, schools and micro-finance enterprise promotion.

This traveller writes from the perspective of helping a particular school - Savong's School, which was established by locals to provide free language education to local children in order that they get employment opportunities in the burgeoning tourism sector: the only major employer in town. The school has been supported, and visited by people from all over the world and the best endorsement of the foreign visitors is that they are welcomed by the students for providing real language practice. Savong's School is just one of several schools in the area, and they accept volunteers either on a short-term (a couple of days) basis, or on a longer term basis. There's a thirst for real teaching skills to learn English (try teaching it to learn what a hard language it is!) Japanese and Thai.

Orphanages are also crying out for volunteers, and other visitors might like to add their experiences and organisations here. One to check out is Angkor Orphanage Siem Reap Provinciale.

The difference between tokenism and making a long term difference occurs after you leave for home. To be honest, some visitors seem to treat their day or two as a photo opportunity (though everyone enjoys the one on one contact,) but some visitors are touched by the experience more dramatically. Behind many organisations in Siem Reap, orphanages, support organisations for children, schools are dedicated people from better-off countries who stay in contact and help by offering ongoing support.

Students at Savong's School. Really excellent young people to share your knowledge with.

Some of these organisations work on more formal lines. One example is i to i a good Australian based organisation that handles Meaningful Travel on a global basis. Another is WLS which also really focuses on long-stay volunteering, and offering a range of experiences. These organisations often ask for you to fund your stay: after all they need a sustainable model, and they offer good programs.

The Cambodia experience can, in this way, provide something  much more profound for today's tourist. Consider  visiting a not-for-profit organisation, to contribute time, to hear the stories and to connect at this deeper level - not just for the duration, but as a personal commitment. A common reflection, ironically, is that the more you give, the more you get back. That's not something you can say about a visit to Vegas.

 Another opportunity to help comes through the Cambodia Orphan Fund an NGO based at 235 Phum Taphol Road (opposite Baca Villa guest house). They run a large professional volunteer programme and are always looking for volunteers to help in orphanages, schools and community projects. They work with the well know orphanage coso and are currently preparing a children's village on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Volunteers are welcome for a minimum of only a day! So if your heading to Siem Reap give it a go. Try and book in advance. www.volunteercof.org