Special Education Teacher/Behavioral Therapist

Opportunities

A Christian man in Cambodia has a young son with Down Syndrome. The man’s brother lives in the United States and has been saying, “Send me your son so he can receive the best education here!” The man began to cry. He wants what is best for his son, and what is best for his son is in the United States. But the man said, “No. I will keep my son here because I want to show our people that we can love our children with Down Syndrome and we can teach and take care of them.” The truth is that society and the Cambodian education system—both government schools and private schools—are not equipped or trained to teach or handle children with special needs such as autism and ADHD.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a degree (or degree in progress) or concentration, as well as some experience in special education. They should also have a warm, friendly disposition and good people skills, including the ability to communicate well with school staff and student families

Length of Service

• Mid-term: one month to one year
• Long-term: two or more years

Ministry Description

Partner with local private schools—some Christian, some not—to work with students in individual settings during the school hour. The position will be volunteer, not paid by the school.

Language Requirements

Those coming 3-12 months will be required to take a short “Kickstart to Khmer” language class. Longer-term missionaries will enroll in full-time language study at the beginning of their term.

Quick Facts

• Cambodia has an estimated population of 16.49 million, up from the official 2008 census population of 13.38 million.
• According to the Cambodian Intellectual Disability and Autism Network, there were 54,838 disabled students last year who attended schools nationwide.
• The demographics of the country are heavily influenced by the civil war and later genocide. As a result, 50% of the population is under 22 years old.