After a year of preparation, seven students and five adults from St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic School, Carnarvon, embarked on a journey earlier this year that would open their eyes and hearts.
The destination was Cambodia, specifically the nation’s capital, Phnom Penh, and the tourism city of Siem Reap.
In Phnom Penh, with its frenetic, seemingly chaotic traffic, the travellers were exposed to the recent history of the region, focusing on what the Khmer people refer to as The Terrible Times, the era of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.
This involved a full day spent at S-21 (the Genocide Museum) and one of the Killing Fields (Choeung-Ek).
After a brief stay in this vibrant city, the group embarked upon an arduous and uncomfortable eight hour road trip along flood damaged roads to Siem Reap. It was in this region that their real work began.
Over the course of the year leading up to departing from Cambodia, the travellers organised a series of events to raise funds that were then used for projects on arrival in Cambodia. A total of more than $7000 was raised which included individual donations.
These funds were put to good work supporting a number of projects and organisations, including the construction of five wells in the rural areas around Siem Reap, financial support for Home of Joy, a refuge for displaced children run by the Missionary Sisters of Charity, financial support for two years for a Khmer teacher at Smiling Hearts Association Cambodia (SHAC), supporting the work of Mr Aki Ra through the Landmine Museum and school removing live ammunition that still litters the Cambodian countryside; and helping those injured by this weaponry.
Not only did the students contribute funds towards these various projects, they also rolled up their sleeves and helped with the day-to-day tasks at Home of Joy, setting up temporary school rooms for the Smiling Hearts Association and using hand drilling methods to build (sink) wells in villages in the Siem Reap Provinces.
St Mary’s Star of the Sea Teacher Kate Chilvers explained that this is the second year that the school has undertaken this journey.
She went on to say that those who participated in the trip felt privileged to be associated with all who willingly gave their time and effort to others who needed a helping hand.
Article and photos courtesy The Sower Newsletter, Geraldton.