We are delighted to announce the official opening of our new veterinary training centre in Cambodia. On 23rd October 2026 our international team were joined by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) for an opening ceremony and tour of the new International Training Centre (ITC).
Based in Phnom Penh on the RUA campus, the purpose-built facility includes an intake area, preparation room, surgery and recovery area, several kennel blocks, a lecture theatre, a function room and a community area.
Setting the standard of care
Working with the Cambodian government and RUA, we will now use the centre to train every veterinary student in Cambodia. Our new ITC will offer world-class surgical training courses, focusing on sterilisation, with the aim to develop confidence and provide hands-on practical training for participants. This new facility will enable us to expand our capacity to deliver high-quality training.
The centre will become a hub for training veterinary professionals and students in Cambodia, as well as provide opportunities for international vets. This will strengthen local capacity within Cambodia, building surgical expertise and enabling in-country vets to transform animal welfare in their communities.
The centre has already delivered 20 training courses, trained more than 90 Cambodian students and treated over 1,000 dogs.
Our CEO and founder, Luke Gamble, said:
"Thanks to our work with the Cambodian government and the Royal University of Agriculture, every vet student in Cambodia will now come through our training programme. That’s the next generation of Cambodian vets upskilled, and this centre gives us a permanent home to keep building on sustainable projects in the country and entire region.”
Why Cambodia?
Although the situation is improving, animal welfare is still in its infancy in Cambodia. Veterinary knowledge and training are limited, as well as access to care, which has resulted in millions of animals suffering. There is also a lack of understanding about how to care for animals, which has resulted in high rates of abuse and neglect.
In 2024, our partner charity, Animal Rescue Cambodia, became part of WVS and since then, we have been working to change this situation. We have a veterinary clinic in Phnom Penh, offering accessible veterinary care to communities across the city. Our new ITC will enable us to help animals into the future, ensuring that when an animal is in need, a trained vet is able to provide them with expert care.
Protecting communities
The centre officially opened in the first week of our fourth-mass Mission Rabies vaccination campaign in Cambodia. Over the two-week campaign 334 teams, formed by Cambodia veterinary students and international volunteers, moved door to door to vaccinate as many dogs as possible – with the goal of vaccinating 200,000 dogs. Thanks to our incredible supporters, we exceeded our target, vaccinating 218,446 dogs against rabies.
With infected dog bites being the main cause of rabies deaths in people, it’s estimated that around 600,000 people are bitten by dogs every year in Cambodia. Mass vaccination campaigns are proven to be the most effective way of stopping rabies at the source and preventing it from spreading to humans. These campaigns save the lives of animals and people.
Alongside vaccinating against rabies, our teams have also been providing care for sick or injured animals through our treatment teams and clinics in Phnom Penh. Our teams provided care to 808 animals in need and completed 166 special surgeries.
Are you a vet or student looking to gain some practical experience?
Join us at our new ITC in Cambodia to receive supervised, hands-on surgical training. 2027 dates are open for applications! Discover more and apply.
