Wendy Slorach meets a deaf two year old boy in a slum area of Tharanga, Cambodia.
STAWELL - Students from Stawell Secondary College will tomorrow take the opportunity to show their appreciation to the people who supported them and made their trip to Cambodia in January possible.
The thank-you will be part of a presentation at the Stawell Town Hall tomorrow night from 7.30pm.
Coordinator Wendy Slorach said it was important that the individuals and organisations who made the trip a success are recognised.
"Stawell and District residents are invited to a special presentation by the students in the Town Hall," she said.
"The students want to share their experiences and they also want to thank the people who helped raise money or donated goods for the water projects and gift boxes."
Ms Slorach said students would be taking the chance to show the people who donated goods and money that it was all worthwhile.
"Without your help we would not have been able to enjoy the wonderful inspirational experiences that participating in this trip afforded us," she said.
"It was the opportunity of a lifetime and we would like to share it with everyone who helped make it possible.
"We appreciate your donations to our fundraising for water projects, your articles for the gift boxes, cakes for our bake sales, donations of goods for our raffle and all the other ways in which you have supported us."
Students went on the 10 day journey to Cambodia instead of attending end of year schoolie celebrations.
In just over a year of fundraising for the aid organisation Samaritan's Purse the students raised $12,000 thanks to the many donations from the wider community.
They were able to hand out 326 gift boxes to children in four orphanages across Cambodia.
Over the duration of the trip students helped teach children hygiene, English and physical education classes along with skills for some of the simple things in life.
"The students had a great time, but at the same time realised the kids they were helping have very little or next to nothing," Ms Slorach said.
The students ranging in year levels 10 to 12 also visited Toul Seing Museum and the Killing Field, a resettlement community and new health centre.
Other items on the itinerary included a visit to the Safe Migration organisation which deals with trafficking of young people, a look at how Cambodian students are educated in the raising of chickens for income, a visit to a future school reconstruction site and visiting communities to construct the bio sand filters.
Individuals and organisations who knitted and sewed or donated toys, sports equipment, clothing, hygiene products, education materials, money or ran fundraising events are encouraged to attend.
The special presentation gets underway from 7.30pm at the Stawell Town Hall.
The presentation by the students who participated in the trip to Cambodia will be followed by a light supper.