Have you ever been to Siem Reap, Cambodia? Well, I hadn’t – until I signed up for a volunteer trip to help build homes for Cambodian families in need. I’ll never forget the weight of the wood we hauled, the sensation of red dust sprinkled all over my face and arms by the end of a long workday … and most importantly, I’ll never forget how it felt to make a difference alongside my peers.

I came with a team of Salesforce volunteers in March 2016 and needless to say, our days volunteering were not typical workdays. We’re used to sitting in front of computer screens, not piling wood and hammering nails. Yet there we were, in the midst of constructing house #68 for Volunteer Building Cambodia, a non-governmental organization that seeks to improve living conditions for poor Cambodian families. Several local builders helped with the heavy-duty construction, but we definitely got down and dirty to do our part.

Yes, this trip involved a lot of hard work – but it was also fun. We were constantly learning and experiencing new things, challenging ourselves in different (and sometimes uncomfortable) ways, and forging stronger connections to both our mission and to each other. We’re fortunate to work at Salesforce, where we have seven paid days off every year to volunteer, and to have the opportunity to travel the world in order to make a difference. It’s an awesome benefit to take advantage of.

Are you thinking about volunteering abroad? Here are three things to consider.

Partner with an organization that has a mission that means something to you.

Before you sign up for a volunteer trip, do a little homework. Make sure your field partner truly benefits their community, and that the organization will be able to define the right scope of work in order to enable you and your fellow volunteers to make a meaningful contribution in the short span of time you are on site. In our research, we learned that VBC chooses families for its housing projects very carefully, consults with the head of the village as well as family neighbors, conducts regular impact assessment surveys, and monitors the families after houses are built.

Your involvement will make a difference.

When you make the effort to volunteer thoughtfully and respectfully, your time and energy will be a useful contribution to the cause of an organization. In Cambodia, we may not have been the most experienced builders, but we built a house, and our presence was crucial to helping VBC’s mission scale. It’s important to remember that it’s not just our donations, but also our labor that makes an impact. And the way the new house owners looked at the house we built, the way their faces lit up – that precious moment is simply indescribable.

Volunteering abroad can help provide you with a new level of cultural awareness and understanding, and a sense of global responsibility.

When I set out on our journey to Cambodia, I wasn’t very familiar with its culture – but that all changed when I came face-to-face with the harsh reality of the country’s poverty and brutal history. These days, it’s easy to become desensitized to images of poverty and grief. Working in a developing country not only makes you more humble, but also etches a searing reminder of the vastly different realities we live in. After this experience, I felt profoundly grateful for things I often used to take for granted, and I am more motivated than ever to share this newfound cultural understanding with others and continue giving back.

Since 2011, more than 120 Salesforce APAC employees have been involved in Volunteer Building Cambodia. Our team has helped build 13 houses, one school, and one visitor center. In 2015, we donated a combined amount of $20,000 in Champion Grants, which was used to build a warehouse. Thanks to this warehouse, the VBC team has now been able to significantly lower the cost of building each house. Learn more about how Salesforce.org is making a difference here.

Interested in joining the #SalesforceOhana and giving back in a big way? Find opportunities at salesforce.com/careers.