A group of 35 students from Hennessy Catholic College have recently returned from a ten-day cultural immersion trip to Cambodia an experience filled with service, gratitude, and lasting impact for both the students and the communities they visited.
Supported by seven teachers including Jess McInerny, the group embarked on an ambitious journey that saw them not only learn about international cultures and histories but actively contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable families in rural Cambodia.
“It was a big, brief, wild 10 days,” Ms McInerny laughed. “We built two floating houses one for a family of seven, another for a family of five on the Kampong Luong River, where traditional land farming isn’t possible because of the floating village lifestyle. The families there earn on average $3 a week, so these homes are life-changing.”
The floating houses were built over three days with funds raised by the students throughout the year. Beyond this, the students also constructed floating gardens using additional wood they purchased while on the ground. These gardens, designed to float alongside the homes, allow families to grow their vegetables an important step toward food security in this flood-prone region.
For many of the students, the experience was more than just building homes. It was about connection and continuity. The Hennessy group revisited homes built by previous student groups between 2015 and 2018. “It was pretty special,” said Ms McInerny. “Some students had photos with the same families their older siblings built homes for years earlier. The homes were immaculate like they hadn’t aged a day. We shared photos with the families of when their homes were first built. They were amazed at how much their children had grown.”
The immersion trip also included visits to local schools and an orphanage in Phnom Penh. The group provided a year’s worth of school supplies purchased with a modest $250 budget and spent time running English language lessons, storytelling sessions, dancing, and singing.
“The school visit was one of the most joyful parts,” Jess shared. “We learned some Khmer, and they practised their English with us. The students engaged, and it was a true exchange of culture.” Backed by generous fundraising from the Young and wider Hilltops community, the group was able to do even more. They pooled funds to purchase essential food supplies rice, salt, sugar, soy sauce, and fish sauce which were distributed to 179 families, providing each household with enough food for two months.
“It’s amazing what they achieved,” Ms McInerny said. “They didn’t just give money; they were part of the process of shopping in the local markets, calculating quantities, negotiating with vendors. One student said, ‘Miss if I give you five more dollars, we can buy an extra pump and another soccer ball’ That summed up the generosity and drive they showed.”
Students were divided into teams, each responsible for buying supplies: hygiene products, school items, food, and house-hold goods. The experience of managing funds and logistics in an unfamiliar environment gave them a new appreciation for community service and international development.
“I made it clear to them that this is your effort, your impact. From the sausage sizzles to the raffle tickets, everything they raised translated directly into these tangible results,” Jess explained. “Seeing the out-come transformed their understanding. It wasn’t just charity it was participation.”
Perhaps one of the most humbling aspects of the trip was the overnight stay in the village where the homes were being built. Students were welcomed with open arms often at the expense of the villagers’ comfort.
“The families gave up their own homes so we could sleep indoors,” Jess reflected. “They slept outside, under the house, just so we could be comfortable. That generosity was overwhelming for many of the students.” Beyond the physical aid and cultural exchange, the immersion trip offered deep personal growth for the students. Many returned with changed perspectives, new-found gratitude, and a broader understanding of the world and its place in it.
“It’s incredible to see how much some of the students transform,” Jess said. “It’s not just about giving, it’s about learning, reflecting, and being changed by what you’ve seen.” The Cambodia Immersion Program has become a significant part of the Hennessy Catholic College culture. Run every two years, it not only engages students in global citizenship but brings together the Hilltops community in support of a cause much bigger than themselves.
“The community support is phenomenal,” said Jess. “Local churches, sporting clubs, the Mercy Associates of Young they all contribute. Some people still donate even though their kids went on the trip years ago. It’s not just a student initiative anymore it’s a Hilltops effort.”
That sense of collective impact resonates across Young. As Jess pointed out, the experience wouldn’t be possible without the local community’s heart, generosity, and ongoing support. “We’re incredibly lucky to live in a place where people genuinely care and get behind something like this. Fundraising for these trips isn’t just about the money it’s about unity, commitment, and belief in young people doing good in the world.”
While the students have returned to their routines in Young, the impact of their efforts lives on in the floating homes of Cambodia, in the classrooms of Phnom Penh, and in the memories and hearts of those they met and those who helped get them there.”
– Liam Stuart
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