Photo Gallery: In Phnom Penh, France Volunteers Day 2025 celebrates collective commitment and eco-citizenship
- Photographe
- Oct 13
- 2 min read
On Saturday 11 October 2025, the 12ᵉ Journée du Volontariat Français (French Volunteering Day) at the Institut français du Cambodge brought together a passionate audience to celebrate the many faces of solidarity-based commitment.
A meeting at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals
This year's theme, ‘The contribution of international volunteering for exchange and solidarity to environmental issues’, focused on raising awareness of climate change, responsible resource management and education for eco-citizenship.
Conferences, association stands, educational workshops and round tables punctuated the day, inviting citizens, students and institutional players to reflect together on the practical implications of local and international voluntary action.
A day of exchange and discovery
From the very first hours, the aisles of the Institut français du Cambodge were transformed into a teeming village of associations, where NGOs, institutions and committed companies presented their initiatives.
A photographic exhibition recounted the inspiring journeys of Cambodian and French volunteers working side by side, while a major citizen quiz and sporting and cultural activities punctuated a day of conviviality and intercultural dialogue.
In the evening, an official ceremony and a festive cocktail party brought participants together for moments of shared emotion, further strengthening the community spirit that characterises this annual event.
France Volontaires, a key player in international solidarity
Created by the French government, France Volontaires acts as a bridgehead for international volunteering, via a network of 23 Espaces Volontariats around the world. Cambodia occupies a pioneering position: its Volunteer Space, opened in Phnom Penh in 2011, was the first in Asia.
This scheme supports both local host structures and French volunteers, while promoting reciprocal exchanges by sending a growing number of young Cambodians on assignments in France.
Through its two main statutes - Volontariat de Solidarité Internationale (VSI) and Service civique international (SCI) - France Volontaires promotes interculturality and the transfer of skills in key areas such as education, health, community development and environmental conservation.
Cambodia, a regional hub for volunteering
With more than 200 international volunteers mobilised in 2024, Cambodia has established itself as the leading host country in Asia, confirming its position as a laboratory for solidarity initiatives.
This dynamism is based on a dense network of associations and exemplary cooperation between public bodies, local NGOs and French institutions. The provinces of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Ratanakiri are the focus of most of these initiatives, with volunteers playing an active role in the Kingdom's social and environmental transformation.
The spirit of a committed new generation
The day also highlighted an underlying trend: the rise of a plural, inclusive and feminised generation of volunteers, 67% of whom are now women.
By sharing know-how, learning from each other and taking concrete action, France Volunteers Day is much more than just an event: it is a genuine laboratory for commitment, a catalyst for civic initiatives and a living bridge between France and Cambodia.
In this year 2025, the message of France Volontaires resounds with force: to commit oneself is to act together for a more sustainable and united world.
Comments