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Annelise

Student Participant in the Cambodia Trip

I have always been interested in social justice, but life pressures had distracted me from this. Our trip to Cambodia reminded me of my true, intrinsic passions and reunited me with myself after years of identity struggle and allowed me an opportunity to break out of the 'middle-class bubble'. It reminded me of my goal to work in a job that revolves around social issues, and I have researched related university courses as a result. I have learnt to share the stories of my experiences during the trip, and I feel as though I have more to contribute to discussions revolving around a range of issues, such as human rights and global warming.

Imagine choosing your career path on what it might do for your community, rather than for what you might get out of it.

So instead of working for things like a great salary, status, or a company car, you work to improve literacy, start a project for unemployed teens, engage in ecological issues, or share the gospel cross-culturally.

That’s probably a bit different from how career choices are typically made in Melbourne, but students at Donvale Christian College are challenged to pursue values-based life paths and engage in their global community through cross-cultural exposure trips to Cambodia or student exchange to Germany.

Visiting Cambodia

Cross-Cultural Exposure Trips

Working alongside World Vision in rural Cambodia, Donvale's Cross-Cultural Exposure Trips are an exciting opportunity for student development. Through enduring partnerships with local organisations, students are given the opportunity to experience the world as they never have before. They volunteer in local schools, see development projects firsthand, meet local people and learn local history, and come away with a new perspective on where their God-given talents might lead.

Secondary students can also improve their German language and cultural studies through our well established exchange with Gymnasium St Michael in Paderborn, Germany. We receive students from Germany during our September – October holiday period for four weeks, when our students are still in Year 9. Then, in Year 10, our staff and students head to Germany the following March to complete the exchange.

Exchange programs teach young people to be thinkers for life. The immersion in language and culture for even a short time is enormously enriching.