Cambodia Immersion

On Sunday 28 September at 6.45am, 50 SCEGGS students from Years 10 and 11 and another 10 staff embarked on a most memorable immersion to Cambodia, where we had the privilege to learn about culture, community, and construct four different homes for four amazing families. The way there consisted of an eight-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh Airport and then a rush to our next fifty-minute flight to Siem Reap. These flights immediately set the atmosphere for how the trip would go. Girls from the two years spread across the seats, having chats with each other and the teachers, watching movies together, colouring in, and hardly sleeping. After a long but fun journey, we arrived at Siem Reap Airport and were picked up by two massive buses, then taken back to the hotel, where we were kindly greeted by the friendly and helpful staff. After some dinner, we headed to our rooms, unpacked, and went to bed.

The next day was full of learning about Cambodian culture and history and exploring the city. We visited a rat training centre and learnt how specially trained Tanzanian rats are used to sniff out landmines that were planted during the Vietnam War. These “HeroRATs” have an incredible sense of smell and are light enough not to trigger the explosives. They move across the ground, signalling to their handlers when they detect the scent of TNT, helping to make former war zones safe again for local communities.

At lunchtime, we headed to another authentic Cambodian restaurant and subsequently explored a vibrant artisan market, where we were fortunate to watch the specialist artists at work. We saw craftspeople demonstrating the skill required to create traditional Cambodian sculptures, textiles, and crafts. That evening, our first meeting with the Habitat for Humanity team provided a powerful and moving introduction to our future work. We learned more about the families we were building homes for and the profound, life-changing impact we would be making on their community. We also had the pleasure of meeting the dedicated local staff who make missions like these possible. All that learning and planning certainly worked up an appetite. We wrapped up just in time for another delicious Cambodian dinner.

Our Habitat for Humanity build began with a moment we will never forget. After an early start, we travelled for about an hour through the Cambodian countryside, filled with anticipation and a little excitement. As our buses pulled up, we were greeted with radiant smiles and beautiful flowers from the families we had come to support. The warmth and gratitude in their welcome instantly reminded us why we were there.

After a moving Welcome Ceremony, we rolled up our sleeves and began building. The heat was intense, but the spirit among our group was even stronger. Each shovel of dirt and brick laid, brought us closer together, and by the end of that first day, the sense of satisfaction and purpose was overwhelming. We couldn’t wait to return the next morning and keep going.

Unfortunately, midway through the build, several students fell ill with influenza and needed medical care. It was disheartening for the whole SCEGGS team, as it meant we had to scale back some activities to protect the families and ensure everyone’s wellbeing. Yet, the resilience we had learned onsite helped us adapt. We supported one another, stayed positive, and made the most of every moment.

Fourteen students were able to attend the emotional handover ceremony on Day 5 of the build, where we presented the nearly finished homes to the families. Watching their joy and gratitude was very moving, a powerful reminder of how small acts of service can make a lasting difference to people.

Beyond the building work, our days were filled with rich cultural experiences like exploring local markets, visiting Angkor Wat, sampling new foods, and watching traditional performances of dance and music. Each moment helped us understand Cambodia’s vibrant culture and history further.

This immersion was life-changing—an experience that opened our eyes to community, compassion, and understanding our place in the world. We returned home inspired, humbled, and united by the belief that when people come together, they can build far more than just houses—they can build hope for the future.

Finlay Simmons
Year 11 Student