What is the value for my organisation and staff in going to Cambodia?

It is a question I have often often asked by chief executives and managers. They can see the undoubted value to the Khmer staff and organisations in Cambodia. What is sometimes not appreciated is the value to their home organisation and their own staff. 

A detailed qualitative evaluation from the three trainers who went to work with TACC in Cambodia in January 2026 was undertaken. A summary is given below.It details the impact on the UK trainers, the benefits to the sending organisation (Daisy Chain)  as well as to the Khmer trainees.

Impact of Autism Training Delivered in Cambodia - Summary Impact on Trainers

• Boosted confidence and affirmed the value of trainers' contributions.

• Developed confidence in navigating unpredictability, including shifting schedules, language barriers, and varied levels of prior knowledge.

• Strengthened adaptability, resilience, and ability to adjust content in real time.

• Previous experience allowed trainers to prepare using tiered explanations, culturally relevant examples, and builtin reflection time.

• Delivering the Zones of Regulation workshop enhanced skills in designing creative, emotionally engaging training that transcends language and cultural differences.

• Witnessing the immediate implementation of strategies reinforced the effectiveness of interactive, hands-on learning.

• Developed greater self-awareness

• Understanding of the importance of pace, working as a team and accepting support from colleagues.

• Understanding that structure, rehearsal, and clear role alignment are essential in time-restricted training environments.

  
  

Overall, the missions strengthened confidence, cultural sensitivity, teamwork skills, and reflective practice.

Benefits to Daisy Chain

• Development of creative methods of delivery to enhance Daisy Chain’s training offer. Improved balance between structure and creativity supports high quality delivery across programmes.

• Strengthened cultural awareness enhances the organisation’s ability to work respectfully and effectively in diverse contexts.

• Experience in building sustainable relationships with partner organisations aligns with Daisy Chain’s commitment to longterm impact.

• Increased resilience and reflective practice contribute to Daisy Chain’s culture of continuous improvement.

• Reinforced the ethos of the organisation as a compassionate and highly skilled.

Impact on the Trainees

• Trainees showed significant progression in their understanding of autism, moving from uncertainty to confident use of accurate terminology.

• Their questions evolved from general behaviour management to reflective, case=specific discussions, demonstrating deeper conceptual understanding.

• Staff began independently applying frameworks to real scenarios, identifying triggers and suggesting proactive strategies.

• Practical activities increased confidence, with participants proposing visual supports, environmental changes, and communication adaptations.

• The Zones of Regulation workshop had an immediate impact, with teachers implementing the system in classrooms within days.

• Observations confirmed that trainees were using the strategies confidently and appropriately with students.

• A trainee from the previous year reported longterm improvements in confidence and practice, showing sustained impact.

• Trainees expressed genuine gratitude, creating a strong sense of unity and shared purpose across cultures.

• A noticeable shift occurred from viewing children as “difficult” to recognising unmet needs and differences in processing.

• The training fostered ongoing relationships and continuity, building a supportive learning community beyond the two week mission.

As someone who has worked regularly in Cambodia for over 35 years while practicing medicine in the UK I would argue that working in a humanitarian capacity in a a low income country such as Cambodia ,and where the quality of government services require enhancing, should be viewed as valuable personal and professional development for the individuals which adds to the resilience and compassionate ethos of the sending organisation. 

Dr. Edwin Pugh. Director TACC.