2023 Yearbook

CAMBODIA IMMERSION

A group of 40 Year 11 and 12 students and 5 staff members, left Young on Sunday 25th June at 1:30 am. The group travelled to Vietnam where we spent a day learning about the history and impact of war on the country. We visited and went through sections of war tunnels, some brave students made it the entire way while others disembarked early. After flying to Siem Reap, we learnt about Cambodia's culture, heritage and history as we explored some of the most amazing temples of the world in the Angkor Wat complex. We rode push bikes around the temples, some brave athletes continued the adventure further than the scheduled trip, while others battled to stay on the bikes, some even sliding to miss the monkeys. We also went to the local markets and prepared for our coming days in the village. This year, we built two houses in a floating village where for 6 months of the year the river rises and the houses that do not float are destroyed, forcing families to live in boats or seek alternative arrangements which are often unsafe. The average income in the local village we stayed in was $4.70 a week, with the majority of the individuals in the community being fishermen, who survive on the fish to feed their families and sell to other locals. Through the fundraising efforts, we were able to provide 400 families in the village with rice and food goods and donate school supplies to the local school. The second half of the immersion experience was spent in the capital Phnom Penh. An eventful stop at the Spider Village provided an opportunity to try fried tarantulas, cockroaches and crickets. While in the city, we also joined local exercise groups, immersing ourselves in the local culture and sharing our traditional dances with them. Students witnessed the violence and destruction of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime through their visit to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which is at the site of security prison 21. This provided insight into the ongoing poverty and trauma facing Cambodians today.

The group also visited the Sisters of Mercy Orphanage on the last morning where students were able to play games with the children and assist with housekeeping duties.

It was an unmissable experience and the most inspiring 9 days!

Upon our return to Australia, the students shared their experiences with the College community at a school assembly. A number of students also met with the Mercy Associates ladies who have consistently supported the trip, providing a donation to the Orphanage.

Hennessy would like to thank the communities and businesses of Young, Cootamundra, Harden, Boorowa and Grenfell for their continual support of this incredible and life-changing program.

A huge thanks to the Ms Jen Hayes and Mrs Jessica McInerney who have been the organisers of the Immersion trip. The many hours of dedicated administration work has improved the lives of our students and the communities which the have visited.