Gold Residential Experience - Cambodia 2025

During the recent holiday break, 40 Year 11 students and eight dedicated Stella staff members embarked on a powerful and life-changing adventure to Cambodia as part of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Residential Project. This immersive experience saw the girls volunteering across four village primary schools and the Happy Days English School, where they taught English, played games, and shared music and dance in both English and Khmer.

Prior to departure, the students demonstrated exceptional commitment and community spirit through their tireless fundraising efforts. Their generosity and determination enabled them to purchase 68 bicycles, which were donated to local students in each of the primary schools—transforming daily one-hour walks into a more accessible and safer journey to school. In addition, they supplied 250 tote-style backpacks filled with stationery, books, playdough, clothing, and reusable sanitary products for older female students, helping to support continued education and wellbeing. In total, the group transported over 550kg of donations to families in need.

Alongside their service work, the girls embraced the opportunity to explore the beauty, history and resilience of Cambodia. They visited the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor Wat and the surrounding complex, learned to prepare traditional Khmer dishes in a hands-on cooking class, and delved into the incredible work of Apopo and their landmine-detecting hero rats. A highlight for many was spending the day at the Kalen Elephant Sanctuary, where they were able to walk alongside and care for rescued elephants in an ethical and respectful environment. The adventure continued as they mountain biked through the jungle trails and lush rice paddies of Siem Reap—soaking in the landscape and connecting with the rhythm of Cambodian rural life.

Throughout the tour, the girls threw themselves wholeheartedly into every moment—whether it was running classroom activities, sharing meals with secondary students, or dancing the night away after an inspiring performance at the Cambodian Share Circus. The bonds formed between the Stella students and the local community were genuine and deep, with many students describing the experience as one of the most moving and eye-opening of their lives.

This experience encouraged students to step outside of their comfort zones, connect across cultures, and reflect on their own opportunities with gratitude and newfound purpose. They have returned with a powerful sense of responsibility and a passion for making a difference, not only within their local community but in the world beyond. Their next mission? Leading the charge in Stella’s upcoming 'Beach 2 Beach' charity fun run to continue raising funds for our Cambodian partner schools.

A heartfelt thank you to the Stella staff who supported the girls on this journey, and to Mike and Suzanne Pawley, whose extraordinary work through the Happy Days Charity has made this ten-year partnership with our College so meaningful. Finally, congratulations to our 2025 Gold Award students, whose energy, compassion, and courage made them incredible ambassadors for Stella—shining examples of what it means to lead with heart.

Linda Silburn
Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator