From teaching the English language to investigating ancient temples, Kennedy Baptist College’s latest Cambodia Mission Trip was a great opportunity for students to learn about themselves and about a fascinating culture.
After arriving in Phnom Penh, our students used their weekend to explore the city, with staff guiding them through activities and travelling through local street markets to get a literal taste of the culture. Our students also made sure to try and understand the long and varied history of Cambodia, including the more tragic events of the late 20th century, with visits to important memorials and museums.
An awareness of Cambodian culture allowed our students to excel at their roles for the week ahead, leading lessons at Transform Cambodia’s centre for ‘Kennedy Kids’. While focusing on their task of teaching, our students consistently showed compassion and empathy, getting to know the Transform students and showing an interest in their way of life and social traditions. It’s fair to say that our students learnt a bit about themselves in this process and showed great growth from the days spent at the Transform Cambodia Centre.
Taking a break from teaching, our group spent the weekend in Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor Wat. The bus ride to and from the temple complexes gave everyone a chance to reflect on the week and prepare themselves for the remaining activities with Transform’s ‘Kennedy Kids’. It also gave them the opportunity to hold and eat spiders during a stopover at a small town! Then, after nearly two weeks spent together learning, teaching and exploring, our students arrived back home in Perth, certainly changed after the experience.
The growth that we see from our students on Trips and Tours such as this one is sure to be carried into their everyday lives. We know that they will continue to bring a positive influence to our College and we thank them for their courage in stepping out into this space of service.
A big thank you for the support of each student’s families and to the staff on this trip: Mr Jordan, Mrs Godsall, Mrs Russell, and Mr Austen. The willingness of our staff to volunteer their holidays and ability in making the Cambodia Mission Trip such a success is a reflection on their dedication to improving the lives of our students.
Those interested in future trips can find out more details on our Trips and Tours page.
