The school has been running a Vietnam-Cambodia service expedition for 13 years with a focus on repairing schools, building homes and learning about cultural differences.

Gabby Leslie, who has been overseas twice, said she expected to experience a culture shock.

“I’m taking hair brushes and sports gear with me to give to people in the villages,” she said.

“I’m hoping to learn something in the two weeks we are there and have some fun.”

Jesse Heslehurst said he looked forward to escaping winter for a while to experience an Asian summer.

“I’m hoping to be challenged, and I’m expecting that to happen when we visit the orphanages.”

Ailsa Schreurs said her first trip to a developing country would be interesting.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the [former Viet Cong] tunnels in Vietnam and very interested in learning and gaining a wider perspective.”

Molly Adams said she had never been overseas.

“It’s very exciting and I’m really looking forward to going to local markets, meeting the children and families within the villages we will visit.

Tania Stevenson said her older sister was lucky enough to do the same trip when she was at school.

“The program changed her in positive ways. She said she no longer took certain things for granted,” she said.

“I hope the trip will do the same for me and I’m also really looking forward to trying new foods.”

The trip will visit Ho Chi Minh City, travel via boat along the Mekong Delta where participants will repair a primary school, see the War Remnants Museum and in Cambodia visit Siem Reap and nearby Angkor Wat as well as other areas of the country distributing donated goods and build houses for local villagers.

NAC teacher and trip co-ordinator Felicity Reynolds said the focus of the trip was to teach the students to become “service hearted”.

“The hope is they will come home to have a greater appreciation for what they have here in the beautiful Shoalhaven,” she said.

“They will be using their skills and talents to help others.”