25th November to 6th December 2019

11 students & 2 staff members travelled to Phenom Penh Cambodia with RAW Impact (a non-profit organisation working on projects in Cambodia). The students are given the opportunity to appreciate other cultures and experience some of the difficulties faced by people living in third world countries & learning about significant social justice issues through practical community development projects.

Testimonial by Darcey Wood:

For the 2019 Fairhills Cambodia Trip my highlight was meeting the Khmer people, they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. It’s amazing how positive they are even when they have so little and how they always have a smile on their face even on the hard days, this has really inspired me to become a more positive person.

Something I found challenging was actually seeing how they have to live, if they cannot afford land they have to set their houses up on the water and when the tide rises they have to find somewhere else to live. The ones who can afford land still only live in a small tin house on stilts with holes in their roofs and hardly any food. It’s hard to even imagine living like this.

The way this trip affected me was through the people, especially the children. Everyone was so positive and happy and always wanted to share a smile or laugh. When we played with the kids during our sleep out they found everything funny and all we had to play with was bubbles, it just goes to show you really don’t need anything to find happiness.

Other students should take part in these future trips because it’s a once in a life time experience, you can see photos and hear stories but until you’re there and see it for yourself you haven’t fully experienced it. Helping people in need is something we should all want to do so I encourage you all to join in the next chance you get because looking back I am so grateful for this experience and I believe everyone should see the other side of living!

Day 1

Arrive in Phnom Penh via Hong Kong

Day 2

Cultural day learning about Cambodia's history and Khmer Rouge - emotional visits to S-21 & the Killing Fields, learning of the incredible work of RAW Impact visiting their office. An emotional day giving motivation to build a home for a family in need.

Days 3 to 6

The group worked hard in the heat to build a house for a needy family, the family & Khmer builders also worked along side the group. Expectations were exceeded, students started work each day at 9.30ish in hot sun. Starting with nothing, a bamboo house gradually started to take shape with a hand over to the family the following day. Each day is capped off by a swim in the pool, amazing food and then early to bed - exhausted.

Day 6

The house is finished (as much as the group could do). The floor, roof & walls are all done & the students were proud to pass it on to the family who will live there.

A night in the village. The students went to the local market with $2 per cooking group & bought ingredients for dinner - made dinner with their host families. After dinner - a bucket shower, time with family & playing with local kids before an early night on hard floors under mosquito nets.

Day 7

An early start to head back to Phnom Penh for breakfast and the 150km drive to Kratie in the north for a stay on the Mekong River with beautiful views.

Day 8

Back to work! The group headed out to RAW Impact's Koki Bamboo farm and did a hard day of work planting bamboo. In 5 years time 75 of our bamboo plants will build one house just like what the group built in Taskor. 104 were planted!! The day was finished with a bike ride through a village along the Mekong River.

Final days

We finished our planting of bamboo! There's a job you wouldn't want but as a group we planted 219 plants over the two days. Exhausted but victorious.

A day of travel to Siem Reap and our final day filled with temples - Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm - shopping at the local markets and then our celebration dinner. Just for fun we finished the night with more shopping at the night market.

An amazing experience for our participating students. A big thank you to accompanying teachers Stewart MacCartney & Kirsten Bishop for all their efforts to provide this opportunity.

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