Ivanhoe Grammar School Service Project Trip to Cambodia 2025: Overseas School Service Project Trip to Cambodia
The Ivanhoe Grammar School Service Project Trip to Cambodia in 2025 continued a proud 21-year Overseas School Service Project Trip to Cambodia tradition of service and cultural immersion, offering students a profound experience of growth, connection, and understanding. From the bustling streets of Phnom Penh to the serene villages around Siem Reap, the students engaged in a diverse range of activities, leaving a lasting positive impact on the communities they encountered. The overall trip logistics managements are arranged by our SAM INSPIRE event and travel management agency in Cambodia.
Day by Day Reflections Edited from the Trip Facebook Page: Ivanhoe Grammar School Cambodia Service Project
Friday, June 27, 2025: A Humid Welcome
The journey began with an early start, a 5:30 AM wake-up, and a rush to the airport. After a seven-hour flight to Singapore, a quick change into Cambodian attire, and another flight, the students landed in Cambodia. The immediate embrace of the country’s humidity was a stark contrast to their departure, mingling with nerves and excitement. The day concluded with a welcoming dinner on a hotel rooftop, setting the tone for the adventure ahead.
Saturday, June 28, 2025: Heartwarming Connections at ISF
Despite initial exhaustion, the day took a heartwarming turn upon arrival at the Indochina Starfish Foundation (ISF). The children’s singing guard of honor and vibrant smiles instantly re-energized the group. Students spent two hours engaging in icebreaker games, basic English tests, singing, and dancing, providing the children with a joyful schooling experience. Traditional games like “duck duck goose” further bonded the groups, making goodbyes incredibly difficult. The day ended with a well-deserved dinner at a riverside restaurant.
Sunday, June 29, 2025: Cultural Immersion and Confronting History
An early 6 AM start kicked off a day packed with diverse activities. After breakfast, Team 2 returned to ISF for a friendly soccer match, witnessing the pure joy on the children’s faces despite the early heat. The group then split, with some reading to children and others engaging in a confronting cleanup in a “graveyard” community, an eye-opening experience that highlighted their own privilege. Later, more interactions with younger students involved singing, dancing, and laughter, making goodbyes even harder. Team 1 had an unforgettable day starting with a traditional Cambodian dance performance and a quick dance class, trying on Cambodian skirts. They then toured the Royal Palace, learning about Cambodian religion and royalty with the help of Cambodian student volunteers.
The latter half of the day brought a heavier and more reflective tone as both teams visited the S-21 Genocide Museum, formerly the Tuol Sleng secondary school and then a Khmer Rouge prison. This was a confronting experience, learning about the horrors and brutality endured by thousands. The journey continued to Choeung Ek, “The Killing Fields,” where mass graves and the “Killing tree” served as stark reminders of the Khmer Rouge’s atrocities. These visits provided crucial insight into Cambodia’s traumatic past and reinforced a sense of gratitude for their own privileges.
The day concluded with a celebratory dinner on a boat on the Mekong River, joined by Cambodian students and locals, complete with karaoke and singing battles.
Monday, June 30, 2025: Journey to Siem Reap and Village Preparations
The teams departed Phnom Penh for a six-hour bus ride to Siem Reap. Along the way, they stopped at a silver market to observe jewelry making and had a unique experience holding and even eating spiders at a service station, which reportedly tasted “a bit like chicken”. Upon arriving in Siem Reap, they checked into their hotel and took full advantage of the amenities, including a huge pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and gym. A thunderstorm prompted a retreat to their rooms, and the day ended with dinner with Mr. Foley, featuring Western food, and preparations for the upcoming village stay.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025: Samrong Village Immersion
Team 1 traveled to Samrong village, home of the AKC school, and celebrated Mr. Fox’s birthday. A village tour revealed a lifestyle vastly different from their own, including holding baby chickens and seeing large pigs. After a delicious Cambodian lunch, students assisted with bricklaying, concrete making, and toilet building. They then taught students aged 2-12, navigating language barriers but forming new friendships. The day ended with a yummy dinner featuring local dishes and a brown sugar mochi. A special birthday celebration for Mr. Fox, surrounded by locals, highlighted his significant contributions to the program.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025: Village Life and Roluos School Grand Opening
Team 3 awoke to the sounds of roosters and barking dogs, facing challenges with creepy crawlies affecting sleep. After a delicious breakfast provided by the Rolous village community (Roots Organization), work began on digging, lifting, flattening surfaces, and sorting books for the grand opening of the new school provided by Ivanhoe Grammar. The official opening included guest speakers, praises in both English and Cambodian, Mr. Foley’s grand entrance, a red ribbon cutting, and a blessing by monks. Students also learned about and participated in tree planting, and even tried rice farming after some watermelon picking. The day concluded with a visit to a local market, displaying fresh fruit and seafood, and a dinner of fried tempura vegetables and chicken wings, followed by coconut rice. Heavy rain led to a challenging walk back through floods.
Team 2 also woke early to roosters in the village. After breakfast, they walked to the school to teach the children, engaging in activities like throwing foam planes and drawing with chalk. After lunch, a rotation of teaching and bush cooking lessons allowed many to make a traditional rice dessert. Some students visited a local cow farm and a crab farm. The day ended with relaxation in hammocks as rain cooled things down, and an early bedtime due to heat, tiredness, and wetness.
Thursday, July 3, 2025: Farewell to the Villages
Woken by rain and roosters, the teams were eager to start their last day in the village. They spent the day hanging out and teaching the energetic children who had already formed strong bonds. At 3 PM, the bus arrived, and everyone was excited for showers and air conditioning. Despite initial nervousness about village life, the three days were made the most of, providing an eye-opening and memorable experience that they will always remember and cherish.
Friday, July 4, 2025: Community Engagement and Reflection
Team 2 visited a medical facility to donate eyeglasses to the elderly. Observing their excitement and noting their resemblance to their own family members back home was a moving experience. A bumpy but enjoyable tractor ride through paddy fields led to a fishing spot, where local residents attempted to teach them how to cast nets, resulting in one big catch. After lunch, they returned to the school for teaching, sweating through their shirts and becoming covered in chalk and stickers. Despite language barriers, connections formed through laughter and dancing with younger students, highlighting the universality of the human condition and the ease of empathy.
Saturday, July 5, 2025: Rest, Markets, and Massages
Team 3 enjoyed a well-deserved sleep-in, feeling energized for their rest day. Some joined Mr. Heuser for an early morning walk through bustling streets, while others were serenaded with “Happy Birthday”. After breakfast, they departed for the Psah Chas markets, exploring stalls and bargaining for items. Lunch at Sister Srey, an Australian-owned cafe employing those facing hardships and providing educational opportunities, allowed them to give back to the community. Relaxation at the hotel pool followed, with flips and “vibey times”. Some went to another market, while the more adventurous sought massages from visually impaired masseuses, a surprising and relaxing experience that also supported the community. Dinner at Spoons, a social enterprise providing hospitality training, was a great meal, ending with a birthday cake and another tuk-tuk ride home.
Sunday, July 6, 2025: Football, Artisans, and Mine-Sniffing Rats
Continuing a long tradition, all Teams participated in the Happy Football Cambodia tournament, the Village Cup, coaching children from various rural villages. After celebrating wins, they visited Artisans of Angkor to tour a gallery and workshop of talented Cambodian artists. A quick stop at a grocery store provided a taste of home and a chance to buy unique snacks. The day’s highlight for many was a visit to Apopo, where they learned about and held giant mine-sniffing rats, gaining insight into their fascinating abilities in clearing landmines from the Cambodian Civil War. The eventful day concluded with a big buffet dinner featuring all three groups, special guests, and organizers, along with traditional Cambodian dancing.
Monday, July 7, 2025: Teaching, Murals, and Night Markets
Team 2 focused on their teaching roles, demonstrating enthusiasm and adaptability. Over lunch with staff from 48 Couleurs, they discussed the importance of English education for employment and connection to the outside world. Their teaching experience at 48 Couleurs was unique, with skilled English-speaking students challenging them to adapt lesson plans. Connections were formed through trading stickers and playing games despite language barriers. The highlight was mural painting, covering over 100m of wall with designs by their art teachers, creating a beautiful and collaborative addition to the school. Dinner at Dreams Training Restaurant, a social enterprise, provided well-prepared food and fantastic service. The intriguing night market offered opportunities to find rare items and good deals, a special location for meeting friends and reflecting by the river.
Team 1 embarked on an incredible journey to experience the Cambodian countryside and Angkor Wat, the “eighth wonder of the world,” along with other temples. An early departure led to a 25 km bike ride to Bayon Temple. Despite challenging muddy conditions from previous rain, the scenery was breathtaking. The sheer scale and intricate carvings of Bayon Temple were shocking. The second temple, Ta Prohm, with its distinctive overgrown trees and moss, became a favorite. After lunch, they arrived at the largest and most anticipated temple, Angkor Wat, whose ostentatious scale and fairytale-like design, surrounded by a moat, truly impressed them. The long and challenging day ended with a delightful dinner at Spoons.
Tuesday, July 8, 2025: Floating Villages and Silk Production
The day started with a visit to the floating villages, revealing surprising living conditions on houseboats, adapted to the significant rise in river water levels. Many residents were Vietnamese, migrating illegally due to the Vietnam War, leading to their inability to own land and their reliance on river life. They visited a shop with crocodiles, frogs, and other unique animals, an insightful trip followed by lunch at the Eco Village. Next was the Angkor Silkworm Farm, providing a unique perspective on silk production from cocoon to fine string, used for various fabrics. The evening included a refreshing swim, relaxation, and dinner out, followed by a visit to the Siem Reap night market.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025: Final Teaching and Village Celebration
The final day in Cambodia was primarily dedicated to teaching. Groups went to either 48 Couleurs or Nimol, engaging with students of varying ages and English proficiency. At 48 Couleurs, they started by painting a mural along their fence. At Nimol, they taught Grade 6 students, had lunch at Roots (Team 3’s village), met more students, and finished by teaching Grade 3s. Both groups worked together, making lessons fun and educational with assistance from the supportive teacher, Nimol. The experience of teaching at less fortunate schools highlighted the intelligence and joy of the children and fostered immense gratitude. A fun bus ride back to AKC for the village celebration dinner marked a bittersweet farewell. The night was filled with great food, vibes, music, and dancing in the mud, ending with tearful goodbyes but also immense joy and gratitude for the memories and bonds formed. The students expressed deep appreciation for the parents, teachers, and organizers who make the trip possible each year.
Thursday, July 10, 2025: Departure
All three teams departed Cambodia by flight, returning home to Australia.
This Ivanhoe Grammar School Service Project Trip to Cambodia 2025 and Overseas School Service Project Trip to Cambodia was a truly transformative experience for the students of Ivanhoe Grammar School. They returned with countless memories, stronger bonds, and a deeper appreciation for the world and their place in it, having made a tangible impact on the lives of others.
Fore more detailed trip posts and pictures, check their official trip Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/CambodiaServiceProject
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