Internships Details

About the Organization

Trailblazer Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)3 in April 2004. Since then, the foundation has run highly successful programs in rural villages of Cambodia. These programs are guided by our Mission:

By providing training and appropriate technology, we empower rural villagers to create self sustaining programs. Our focus includes water projects, school construction, and community based development in order to foster healthy families, sufficient food and sustainable incomes.

We strive to preserve the cultural integrity of the villages we work in by using a participatory model of community-based development. This model allows the villagers to identify their needs and empowers them to work in partnership with us to find sustainable solutions to their most pressing needs.

Using a model of participatory community-based development, Chris and Scott Coats, founders of Trailblazer Foundation, began working in partnership with the people of Sras and surrounding region to improve their living conditions and achieve sustainable economic development. In the last five years, Trailblazer’s work in Siem Reap Province has resulted in access to clean water through the installation of 160 wells and 1,500 bio-sand water filters, construction of three elementary schools, vocational training opportunities, establishment of 5 micro-businesses and village-run self-sustaining bank funds. Learn more at the Trailblazer Foundation website.

Job Description

POSITION #1 AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANT

The Agricultural Assistant Intern will work alongside Khmer staff in assisting rural villagers establish new vegetable gardens and improve existing gardens in the countryside surrounding Siem Reap. Possible duties include assisting in the training of drip irrigation use/installation, developing sustainable use of bio-fertilizers and organic pesticides, assisting in marketing of crops, testing crop growth at Trailblazer Test Garden and conducting formal monitoring reports. Crops grown in the past include cucumber, lettuce, bitter melon, chili pepper, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tomato, brassica, kale, pumpkin, potato, water spinach, long bean, aubergine, coriander and onion in addition to various tropical fruit trees.

POSITION #2 DATA ANALYST

The Data Analyst intern will conduct field surveys pertaining to one of Trailblazer’s current village-based projects. In addition to logging data for general record, the intern is also asked to write a formal monitoring report on one of these projects. This report should highlight project strengths and weaknesses and offer practical suggestions for improvement. Possible subjects for monitoring include water sanitation, well-drilling, agriculture, animal husbandry, microfinance and small business development. Intern may also be asked to assist in GPS data recording and geographical mapping. Some training will be provided on the specific mapping programs used in the office.

# of Positions per term

1 for each position

Start Dates

Flexible, beginning in Spring 2010

Duration of Internship

3-6 months (Length of stay is dependent on time of year and/or position of intern).

Qualifications

Academic Background

For theAGRICULTURAL ASSISTANT position:

An ideal candidate is one who is knowledgeable about practical agricultural matters and able to offer helpful ideas and suggestions to Khmer staff. Applicant should be working towards a degree in agriculture and be familiar with methods of successfully growing crops on a small but sustainable scale. Applicant should be familiar with various fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation methods, all of which would need to be replicated by villagers with minimal resources. Applicant should be familiar with tropical (monsoon) climate and able to manipulate conditions to the advantage of the project. Furthermore, applicant should have strong knowledge of statistical analysis and data collection in order to develop a formal monitoring report.

Master’s degree candidates are preferable to Bachelor’s candidates, but both are acceptable and encouraged to apply.

For the DATA ANALYST position:

An ideal candidate is one who is able to fully understand the project, develop an appropriately conducive monitoring survey, properly analyze data and translate findings to practical suggestions for improvement. Applicant should be able to describe how his/her degree is related to any particular project. Applicant should have completed courses in statistics and/or calculus and be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of data analysis. Appliccants pursuing degrees in economics, science or mathematics/statistics may have the skills relevant to a current Trailblazer project (see Job Description above). The degree must employ statistical analysis of operations as a crucial and regular practice. Applicant must have completed courses in statistics and/or calculus.

Preferred: Applicant should be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of data analysis. He/She should be able to think critically in order to determine trends and suggest appropriate means of improvement. Furthermore, the applicant should have excellent writing skills and be able to articulately describe data. (Application requires a writing sample describing the relationship between the applicant’s degree and an appropriate project, any past examples of in-depth analysis, and why he/she would make a strong candidate.)

Both Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree candidates are encouraged to apply.

Skills/Experience

Applicants must be flexible, patient, motivated, self-directed and culturally sensitive. He/She must be familiar with the events of Cambodia’s turbulent past. He/She must be capable of overcoming setbacks and frustrations typical of working in a developing country, and also be able to work well in both field and office environments.

Language Ability

Applicant must be fluent in English. Application does not require proficiency of Khmer language, but such skill would improve the applicant’s chance of selection. Contact information for an experienced and inexpensive language teacher as well as a Khmer language workbook for beginners can be provided on arrival.

Other Requirements

Internship Costs

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	$1200
Visa Fees	$25 per month ($75 per term)
Recommended Immunizations	$400-$500 In addition to the recommended routine vaccinations, the following vaccinations are recommended for Cambodia: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalytis, rabies, as well as anti-malaria medication/prevention measures. Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. See the Center for Disease Control for more information.

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	$90
Food	$400
Local Transportation	$30 (bicycle provided, so cost is outside of work)
Recreation	$90
Personal Expenses	$30

Compensation

None.

Additional Expense Information

An orientation meeting will be conducted upon arrival. Trailblazer will provide a workspace and computer (with all required software already installed) at the field office in Siem Reap, as well as use of a motorbike for accessing rural villages. Intern will also be provided with a Cambodian phone and SIM card.

Housing, a bicycle for local transport and a telephone will be negotiable (pending funding from donor agencies). Trailblazer will assist with putting the intern in touch with suitable housing arrangements. They know several names/locations/prices of available guest houses and apartment complexes.

Additional Information

The dress code is casual (t-shirt and shorts) at the Field Office, but Cambodia is a conservative country. We ask that interns (particularly female) keep this in mind when packing. For trips out to the field we must strongly discourage sleeveless shirts for men and shorts above the knee for women. When visiting village communities, long shorts or pants and a light-weight collared shirt are preferable for both sexes.

Siem Riep and Surrounding area:

Cambodia is a beautiful place with a proud culture and a troubled past. For foreigners, two very different aspects of its history seem to capture the most attention.

The unfading splendor of the Angkor Empire attracts millions of tourists every year. Many ancient temples of the empire survive in the forests and countryside surrounding Siem Reap. From the Angkor Wat, the largest religious complex on earth, to the intricate carvings of temples like Banteay Srei, visitors have to opportunity to see some of the most impressive structures ever created by human hands.

Diametrically opposed to the beauty of Angkor, the horror the Khmer Rouge genocide from 1975-1979 displayed just how brutal humans can be. The Khmer Rouge were ruthless in establishing their power and routinely executed innocent men, women and children. Throughout this period and the proceeding civil war, much of the existing infrastructure of the country was destroyed and most members of religious communities, citizens with ties to the previous government, and the intelligentsia were systematically exterminated. The Khmer Rouge maintained a firm presence in the country until as recently as the late ‘90s. Contemporary Cambodia is trying to rebound from this destruction, but many aspects of development are hindered by petty corruption.

Suggested websites on Angkor: http://www.historyangkor.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor http://www.travel-cambodia.com/cam-travel-info/history_angkor.htm

Suggested reading on Khmer Rouge: The Gate by Francois Bizot River of Time by Jon Swain

Suggested newspapers: The Cambodia Daily The Phnom Penh Post