Cambodia cultural encounter 2025

Reading English books with Cambodian children at a Sunday morning club, sharing laughter at a water park with a large group from a local orphanage, and reflecting on Cambodia’s confronting past, were some of the experiences for 23 Secondary School students who took part in a cultural encounter to the south-east Asian country in December.

During the two weeks they spent in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Kampot, the students gained a deep insight into the culture and complex history of a country shaped by trauma, says Head of Senior College, John Ruge.

“Cambodia is one of those places which delights, intrigues, and confronts you in equal measure. It is a beautiful place, with friendly and incredibly generous people, marred by the Pol Pot regime in the 1970s which left huge gaps in society which are still being rebuilt today.”

The students, accompanied by John Ruge, Teacher in Charge of Te Waka, Kate Taylor and Senior Dean, Dayna Stirling, spent half the trip working alongside NGOs, many of which students had contacted themselves before leaving New Zealand.

“During these experiences the students built genuine connections with local communities and saw first-hand what people are doing on the ground in the charity sector,” reflects John. “It was an eye-opening and humbling experience.”

Among the NGOs was JWOC, a post-secondary training organisation which equips young Cambodians with English and computer skills to prepare them for employment. After the students discovered the charity’s need for equipment, Kate Taylor contacted local IT services company, Cyclone, which donated 20 laptops for the students to take over.

Another highlight was working with ABCs and Rice, an organisation which provides English classes for students alongside rice and fresh vegetables for their families, ensuring the children can attend school without placing extra strain on the survival of their household.

St Andrew’s students also supported a Sunday reading club run by their local tour guide, where more than 80 children gather weekly to read, write book reports, and practise English speaking skills. They also fundraised prior to the trip to sponsor a day at a luxurious water park just out of Phnom Penh for 70 children from a local orphanage, which was an ‘amazing day’, says John.

The students confronted Cambodia’s history through visits to Angkor, the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. John says other highlights included seeing the temples at Angkor at sunrise, enjoying many delicious meals, and ending their journey with rest and recreation on Cambodia’s beautiful southwest coast near Kampot.