France & Cambodia: the 12ᵉ Journée du Volontariat Français celebrates collective action for the environment

Rarely has a day so embodied the spirit of solidarity, exchange and innovation at the heart of the Franco-Cambodian community. On 11 October 2025, the Institut français du Cambodge will open its doors to the 12ᵉ edition of the Journée du Volontariat Français (JVF), orchestrated by France Volontaires Cambodge. This 2025 edition puts the spotlight on the contribution of international exchange and solidarity volunteering to major environmental challenges, in deep resonance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A unifying event in support of the SDGs

France Volontaires, the historic operator of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and a benchmark for solidarity mobility, has been building a dynamic bridge between France and Cambodia for nearly fifteen years. The Espace Volontariats in Phnom Penh, the first of its kind to open in Asia in 2011, illustrates the vitality of this network deployed through 23 similar schemes around the world. Every year, the FWD brings together several thousand citizens - volunteers, institutions, NGOs, businesses, students and local partners - weaving a mosaic of commitments in the service of the common good.

On the agenda for this emblematic day: association stands, interactive workshops on the SDGs, a high-level round table discussing the role of volunteering in tackling climate change, an official ceremony and cocktail reception, as well as a photo exhibition showcasing the inspiring journeys of Cambodian and French volunteers working hand in hand for a more sustainable world.

Cambodia, the crossroads of international volunteering

In 2024, Cambodia is set to become Asia's leading host country for international volunteering, with more than 200 volunteers involved in the VSI (Volontariat de Solidarité Internationale) and SCI (Service Civique International) programmes.

These volunteers, driven by exemplary dedication, work tirelessly within associations and public institutions dedicated to children, education, vocational training, community development and the environment.

The dynamic of reciprocity is also accelerating: since 2016, young Cambodians have been joining France on similar missions, consolidating a fruitful intercultural dialogue where everyone learns, shares and grows through contact with the other. The year 2024 marks a turning point, with as many Cambodian volunteers sent as between 2016 and 2023 combined - a feat made possible by the growth of the V-JOP and REVER programmes.

Diversity of commitment, a driving force for social innovation

Over the years, France Volontaires has developed two major schemes: the International Civic Service (for 16-25 year olds, open to all, no qualifications required, 6 to 12 months) and the International Solidarity Volunteering (from 18 years old, 12 to 24 months, for qualified profiles). As well as ‘giving of themselves’, volunteers contribute their specialist skills to vital missions, such as promoting the French language, supporting vulnerable children or raising funds for innovative initiatives.

In this laboratory of initiatives, Cambodian and French associations - supported by the French embassy, the Institut français and numerous partners - form an ecosystem in which mutual aid nurtures creativity and resilience in the face of global change.

Towards national and international recognition

The French law of 4 August 2021 enshrines international volunteering as an essential lever of solidarity-based development policy. This institutional recognition gives France Volontaires a mission of general interest, supported by public funding and a partnership approach with partner civil societies and governments.

The impact is tangible: in 2024, 137 young people chose the VSC, 92 the VSI, and gender parity is growing - 67% of volunteers are women, testifying to the constant effort to make this adventure inclusive and universal. Cambodian regions such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Ratanakiri are reaping the full benefits of this influx of new energy, which is transforming the region in a lasting way.

A festive and committed programme

October 11, 2025 promises to be a day of rare excitement: a major citizen quiz, an NGO village, sporting events, traditional Cambodian dances, cocktails and a concert will punctuate a day designed as a veritable ‘laboratory of commitment’. Institutional figures and experts, as well as anonymous enthusiasts, will testify to the transformative power of volunteering.

The public is invited to immerse itself in this collective dynamic, to talk to the project leaders and to discover, at the turn of a stand or a photograph, the thousand and one ways of taking action for the environment.

At a time when the world is questioning the meaning of individual and collective action in the face of ecological crises, the JVF 2025 demonstrates, through the power of examples, that volunteering remains a powerful lever for changing the world, step by step, together. Cambodia, the link between French passions and local commitment, will be the living stage.