I'm Jenny, a Senior Specialist in Global Talent Development for nearly three years. As part of my role, I have organized onboarding programs such as the Kickoff Training and virtual Onboarding Day. During these sessions, I regularly introduce new colleagues to the B&Me program — which inspired me to apply for a Social Fellowship myself.

I decided to divide my three-month Fellowship to focus on two important areas: education and sustainability — both essential for creating long-term impact.

1. Empowering children through English education – Cambodia

For the first two months, I volunteered with the Dream Big Association in Cambodia, collaborating with local NGOs like the Cristina English School in Bakong, near Siem Reap, which provides free English lessons to children in a rural area. To sustain this offering, the school relies on voluntary international support.

I taught English to children of all levels — from young kids to young adults — and even to local teachers. Most of the time, I was supported by other volunteers or local teachers. It was helpful to have the local teachers add explanations in their native language, which inspired me to start learning Khmer to help the children understand better. We taught at a local public school in the mornings, with about 30 students per class, and held smaller classes in the evenings at the Cristina School. The school consists of four classrooms located behind the public school director's house, where we volunteers lived during our stay. Between classes, we planned the lessons - selecting engaging topics that catered to the students' needs, such as emotions, hobbies, and the grammar needed to write and speak in full sentences.

Along with other international volunteers, I created various teaching materials such as worksheets, flashcards, games and songs. Children often arrived early to play and connect — highlighting the school's role as a safe and welcoming hub. It was incredibly rewarding to contribute to a project that not only values education but also fosters a sense of community like a big family.

The school operates entirely on donations, and every contribution helps to keep it open and continue offering free English education to Cambodian children — so they can keep dreaming big. On Fundraiser by Dream Big Association, you can see what has already been achieved through donations and what their goals are for 2025. If you'd like to learn more about Cristina School, visit their website Cambodia ⋆ Dream Big Association or Instagram Dream Big Cambodia (@dreambigcambodia).

Sometimes I noticed litter in the school grounds and nearby fields. Wanting to keep our school clean, I regularly picked up trash, and the children naturally joined in. For me, teaching isn't just about language skills but also about raising environmental awareness.

2. Combating plastic waste through sustainable education – Indonesia

In the third month, I joined Get Plastic, an Indonesian NGO based in Abiansemal, Bali. Indonesia is the second-largest producer of plastic waste globally, and Get Plastic addresses this issue from multiple angles with the vision: No Plastic Goes to Waste.

They developed a pyrolysis machine that converts 1 kg of plastic waste into 1 liter of fuel and they focus on sustainable education to tackle the root of the problem. To effectively implement their mission, Get Plastic collaborates with local communities across various Indonesian provinces. Their Learning Center plays a key role, welcoming not only curious visitors but, more importantly, potential partners.

Given my professional background, I was invited to develop a Train-the-Trainer program. Ensuring a strong presentation on the part of the NGO is essential for raising awareness about plastic waste and building trust with potential collaborators. I helped the team articulate their roles within the organization and created bilingual educational materials — including FAQs, process guides and visual aids. I developed these resources not only for internal team use but also for visitors, to provide long-term support in the Learning Center.

During my time there, they also launched Get the Shop, a social enterprise to help fund the NGO's work. I supported the preparations, including creative designing the shop interior and mapping the locations of Get Plastic machines across Indonesia. We also ran workshops during the launch to demonstrate our commitment to circular economy and sustainable innovation. We created decorative items from carbon residue, a byproduct of the pyrolysis process, showcasing how waste can be transformed into something meaningful and beautiful — clearly supporting their mission to process plastic waste into something valuable.

Currently, they are fundraising to produce and donate 100 pairs of shoes made from black carbon, a 100% waste-derived alternative to leather, to underprivileged children. Learn more about the project and donate here.

If you're interested in learning more about the NGO, I highly recommend visiting the website Get Plastic Foundation - No Plastic Goes To Waste and following them on Instagram or TikTok for daily updates.

Conclusion

This Social Fellowship was more than just volunteering — it was about working side by side with inspiring people to promote education and environmental awareness. I'm deeply grateful for the chance to learn from local communities and contribute to meaningful causes. Volunteering isn't just about giving — it's about learning, connecting and building a better future together. As Dimas, the founder of Get Plastic, said to me: "A little help can have a big impact." And I couldn't agree more. Let's keep dreaming big, learning globally and acting locally. Helping makes happy!