From motorcycles to field visits, project updates, and the unexpected rescue of a kitten: get a glimpse into a day in the life of Jehane, a civic service volunteer with Planète Enfants & Développement in Phnom Penh, Cambodia!
🌅 7:45 a.m. – Wake up in Boeng Tumpun
I wake up in my apartment in the Boeng Tumpun neighborhood. My cat is already up and demanding all my attention! I take a few minutes to wake up slowly before getting ready for the day.
I haven't had breakfast yet: as usual, I'll eat something once I get to the office.
🏍️ 8:20 a.m. – Off to the office
I hop on my motorcycle to head to the office. Right from the start of the ride, Phnom Penh is bustling with activity: heavy traffic, street vendors, the smell of food wafting from street stalls… a daily immersion in the city’s energy.
💻 8:40 a.m. – Start of the workday
Once you arrive, the first thing you must do is take off your shoes! Here, they’re always left outside the offices.
I then sit down at my desk with my breakfast for the day: homemade chia seed pudding with a few bananas on the side.
I spend the morning working on project communications: I’m preparing posts for the Facebook page and working on a presentation slideshow. Between writing, formatting, and checking in with the team, time flies by.
🍛 12:00 p.m. – Lunch with coworkers
I'm meeting up with Alice, who is also doing civic service on the HaLI project (home renovation), for lunch.
It’s a nice opportunity to discuss our assignments, share our experiences in the field, and recharge a bit before the rest of the day.
🏘️ 1:00 p.m. – Field visit to Sen Sok
We hop back on the motorcycle and head toward Sen Sok, north of Phnom Penh. Today, we’re going to visit several residents we met a few months ago as part of the HaLI project.
The goal is to monitor changes in their situation, assess the impact of the renovations that have been completed, and gather their feedback on the project.
🎤 2:00 p.m. – Collect testimonials
We meet a local resident who tells us about the changes brought about by the renovation of her home.
These exchanges are always valuable: they provide a concrete understanding of the impact of our actions and give real meaning to the work we do every day.
🐱 4:00 p.m. – An impromptu rescue mission
As we were leaving, I noticed a tiny abandoned kitten hidden in the middle of a pile of trash. I couldn’t just ignore it. I decide to take it straight to the vet for an initial checkup. After the visit, a friend agrees to foster it temporarily until a local animal rescue organization can take it in. An unexpected way to end the afternoon, but well worth the detour!
🍕 7:00 p.m. – Birthday party with friends
To wrap up the day, I'm meeting up with some friends to celebrate a birthday over pizza.
It’s a chance to get together, experience the city in a different way, and unwind after a day full of new encounters and exciting moments.
🌙 10:00 p.m. – Things have calmed down
I'm heading home for a well-deserved night's rest. Between office work, field visits, and a surprise rescue, this day perfectly sums up the variety of experiences I've had during my civic service in Cambodia.
A big thank you to Jehane for sharing her daily life in Phnom Penh and for her dedication to Planète Enfants & Développement’s projects in Cambodia!
