Cambodia & Voluntary work: Morgane Levasseur, a young Frenchwoman committed to Kep Children
- Editorial team
- Oct 13
- 4 min read
At the age of 25, Morgane Levasseur embodies the dynamic, committed young people working to promote solidarity and commitment in Cambodia. Originally from the Paris region, she arrived in Cambodia a year and a half ago to get involved with the Kep Children association.
In this interview, Morgane tells us about her career, her experience in the field, the challenges she's faced and her life in Cambodia.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
My name is Morgane Levasseur, I'm 25 years old and I come from the Paris region. My university career initially focused on managing socio-cultural projects, before I specialised in public health, with a master's degree in prevention and health promotion. I arrived in Cambodia about a year and a half ago to join Kep Children. I started with ten months' civic service, helping to promote activities on social networks and working with local educators.
I then had the opportunity to extend my commitment via an international solidarity volunteer scheme, still with Kep Children, with broader remits such as fundraising, project development, partnerships and communications management.
What is a typical day like at Kep Children?
We all get together at 7.30am, which is also the time when we welcome the children, especially the nursery school children, who are brought in by tuktuk. This makes life easier for the families, who can go about their business.
As soon as they arrive, we take a moment to welcome them, see how they're doing and if they're missing anything. After that, we have a briefing with the director and my civic service colleague to plan the day, before starting our respective tasks.
Personally, I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, dealing with emails as we have several partners and volunteers in France who often work with time differences. I also take regular breaks to check that the children's afternoon tea is going well and to keep in touch with the team.
How much time do you have left on this project?
The contract is for one year and is renewable. I've chosen to extend it for six months, so I've got about ten months left before I finish at the end of July.
What are your prospects after this assignment?
I'd like to return to France to continue my training in public health. This field is particularly close to my heart. I'd like to work on local health projects in France before perhaps going back to work on international or local projects, particularly related to agriculture and education.
What were your first impressions of Cambodia and the working environment?
What jumped out at me was the total absence of procrastination. Here, everything is done by the minute. As soon as you have an idea, you put it into action quickly. In my previous jobs, I was used to taking a long time and getting a lot of approvals, but here it's very different.
This means I have to be adaptable, flexible, always available and have the energy to take action on the ground every day.
It's very rewarding to see projects evolve so quickly.
What have been the major challenges?
The language barrier was a real challenge. In our team of nine employees at Kep Children, only the director speaks English, and all the others communicate mainly in Khmer. So we had to learn the language to communicate easily with everyone.
What do you do outside work?
I'm discovering a lot of Cambodia. There are several French-speaking associations, which allows me to keep in touch with the local French community and meet other associations. I'm also making friends with the young Khmer people involved, many of whom speak English. The setting is very green, and we often go for walks in the countryside and enjoy the sunsets.
I've discovered a very affordable gym, which is great for keeping fit. I also go cycling and, above all, I love cooking, especially fusing French and Cambodian flavours, learning to use Khmer condiments in my French recipes. It's a great culinary adventure.
Any last words?
We have a civic service post to fill from January 2026. So I'm looking for my future colleague to continue this great work!
About KEPCHILDREN: a commitment to education and the future of children in Kep
Since it was set up in 2012, KEPCHILDREN's mission has been to facilitate access to education for the most disadvantaged children in the village of Kep, in southern Cambodia. This Franco-Cambodian association supports nearly 70 children every day, working in close partnership with the local state school, as well as the Educating Smiling Children nursery school and the Chomka Dong high school, around ten kilometres from the village.
KEPCHILDREN goes beyond simply providing schooling, adopting a global approach aimed at improving the living conditions of the children and their families. In addition to providing school equipment, uniforms and shoes, which are distributed twice a year, the association also offers support classes in Khmer, maths and English. The youngest children, aged 3 to 6, benefit from a morning kindergarten. In terms of health, KEPCHILDREN organises an annual dental check-up, reimburses medical expenses and provides a shower area on its premises.
Means of transport are also an important issue; the association provides bicycles for older children and tuk-tuk transport for kindergarteners, with assistance in financing motorbikes available for teenagers pursuing higher education. Personalised socio-educational assistance helps families to improve their overall well-being, including economic, social and health support. Food distribution includes 10 kg of rice per month per child, with one meal a day for nursery school children and two meals a week for older children.
The children's cultural development is encouraged by recreational outings, Khmer boxing lessons, mini-camps and a weekly day-care centre. KEPCHILDREN's philosophy is based on ‘working together’, rejecting any form of assistance, and insisting on individualised support tailored to each family's situation. Each child and his or her family sign a moral contract guaranteeing school attendance, the basis of a committed partnership.
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