JPC girls choose volunteering over Leavers’
25 October 2019
John Paul College students Shannon King and Paige Fox were this week closing in on the finish line in their efforts to raise $1000 for a very special overseas trip.
While the vast majority of their friends will soon embark on a traditional Leavers’ Week, Shannon and Paige will celebrate the official end-of-school year with a volunteer trip to Cambodia.
Shannon said the pair’s experiences abroad in the childcare field would be a very special way to remember their Leavers’ experience.
“We’ve always had people telling us how meaningful a volunteering experience can be and we actually want to remember our Leavers’ experience,” she said.
“This is a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity for us to provoke change for the good in other people’s lives.”
On the timing of the trip, Shannon said:
“We just wanted to make sure it was at the same time as Leavers’, and in the end, it worked out to be the only time this year that we did have time to actually go.
“Funnily enough, it happens to be monsoon season in Cambodia, so that should be fun.
“Originally, we were planning on going to Samoa.
“But through the IVHQ (International Volunteering Head Quarters), Cambodia was easier to go to and childcare most reflected what we wanted to do.
“Childcare is also where we feel we can be most beneficial.
“We also have a friend who went to Cambodia and she was able to give us guidance which made it more appealing.”
Paige said she looked forward to the experience of both girls travelling overseas.
“It should be an adventure,” she said.
“We have both been to Bali once, but we doubt that can really compare.
“From what we’ve already heard, people always leave volunteering experiences feeling changed and more appreciative of the things they have.
“Also, by us going to Cambodia, it gives a little bit of guidance for future leavers at our school who don’t necessarily want to experience Leavers’ but still want to do something.”
But they also agreed that being away from family and friends would be a struggle at times.
A GoFundMe page, Kalgoorlie Girls Volunteer Cambodia, had this week already raised nearly $800.
