International Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Internships

Intern abroad in Cambodia There is a real shortage of skilled physical and occupational therapists in Cambodia. If you’re currently training with at least one year of experience, recently qualified, or on a career break, you’ll provide valuable treatment to babies, children, and adults with a wide range of physical problems.

The experiences you’ll have on physical or occupational therapy internship abroad will give you a greater understanding of how professionals in the fields work in a developing country while providing valuable experience overseas.

Interning Abroad on a Physical Therapy Internship

All Physical Therapy interns in Cambodia must have completed at least one year of related studies or training by the time they join this project.

Interning abroad in Cambodia Interns with a year or more experience, but who are not yet fully qualified, work at the National Baby and Children’s Center. Interns who are fully qualified and can commit to at least two months on the project work at the Veterans International Center.

The National Baby and Children’s Center in Phnom Penh is home to over one hundred babies and children and the majority of them are physically or mentally disabled.

The Center was established in 1980 to receive orphans and abandoned children from the city and other provinces. The children at the center are very vulnerable and require constant care. It is important for volunteers to have a positive attitude and a real willingness to help children with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities.

The physical therapy department has scheduled children to spend quality time in the physical therapy room as often as possible. Each child has different needs: some are learning to walk while others suffer from muscular problems. Other children need to have their joints massaged regularly to maintain their physical health. Extra assistance from interns with these tasks will allow more children to use the room and get treatment on a regular basis.

The physical therapy room is relatively well equipped and includes cushions, balls, mats, and specialized chairs.

The Veterans International Kien Khleang Center in Phnom Penh is one of three physical rehabilitation centers that Veterans International operates in Cambodia. Veterans International has been working with landmine victims and people with disabilities since 1991.

Physical Therapy interns work alongside one of the local physical therapists and assist children and adults with a variety of conditions including landmine victims, people who have suffered from polio, people with cerebral palsy, and children with club feet. Depending on your level of knowledge and experience you may be given your own patients to work with.

The center has an outdoor undercover treatment area where patients can practice walking up steps and on a variety of surfaces.

Interning Abroad on an Occupational Therapy Internship

All Occupational Therapy volunteers in Cambodia must have completed at least one year of related studies or training by the time they join this project.

Internships abroad in CambodiaVolunteers who are fully qualified and can commit to at least two months on the project work at the Veterans International Center.

Volunteers at the National Baby and Children’s Center in Phnom Penh work with the over one hundred babies and children at the center that have a variety of physical or mental disabilities.

The Center is home to orphans and abandoned children from the city and other provinces. The children at the center are very vulnerable and require constant care. It is important for volunteers to have a positive attitude and a real willingness to help children with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities.

Occupational Therapy volunteers can get involved in a wide range of work including developing and running a new sensory program, training the caregivers and teachers at the center, and developing assessment forms. There may also be the opportunity to present your work to other NGOs and join meetings of the Disability Action Council.

Fully qualified Occupational Therapy volunteers at the Veterans International Center work alongside the local staff to assist the patients in becoming independent in their daily lives. The center has a traditional Cambodian house on the premises so the residents can get used to some of the potential challenges they may face when they return home. Depending on your level of knowledge and experience you may be given your own patients to work with after your first few weeks.

The work at the center is geared toward providing disabled adults and children with the mobility to participate in community activities. The workshop at the center is run by mostly disabled staff who make the wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs used by many of the patients. There are also teams of technical staff and physical and occupational therapists who treat the patients once they have had artificial limbs fitted for sampling.

Most new patients who come to the center for an artificial limb will stay at the center for at least two weeks so they can receive treatment from the physical and occupational therapists to make sure they are able to return to school or work as normal.