Libertyville High School is taking caring to a whole new level, as seven students are taking flight this June to Cambodia. From June 6-14, these students will be spending their time to help a program called Caring for Cambodia.
Caring for Cambodia is a non-profit, non-governmental, charitable organization. Not only is Caring for Cambodia an official organization but here at Libertyville High School, it is also an extracurricular club, sponsored by Mrs.Tiffany Owens, a science teacher. It provides a free education for over 6,400 impoverished children. Caring for Cambodia mentions on their website how they hope that every child that goes through its program leaves with skills to maintain a job and live a happy, healthy life.
Sophomore Morgan Paul will be one of the seven students taking on the adventures to Cambodia.
Libertyville students like Paul are traveling to help get Caring for Cambodia one step closer to their goal.
“Our goal is to secure a better, brighter future for the children…we go to a school and do service there and clean up,” explained Paul.
There are numerous things these students, and for some, their accompanied parent, must do to prepare for their travels. Paul mentioned how there are many medical shots she and others have to receive beforehand. She jokingly mentioned how she does not want to get any sort of disease on her travels halfway across the world.
Children in Cambodia gather to eat together.
Besides the medical preparations for the trip, students have been putting together fundraisers to help themselves pay for their pricey flight costs of around $2,000. The trip overall totals to about $3,000.
Another sophomore, Taylor Underwood, is going on the trip as well and has been finding creative ways to raise her own money.
“Since the trip is so expensive, I decided to do a fundraiser at this new pizza place called Ganelles. Half the money made that night was donated to my trip. I also babysat a lot to raise the money,” stated Underwood.
Paul has also come up with her own ways to make money to take her overseas.
“I raised $2,000. I organized a 5K run around my neighborhood and a lot of people participated as well as donated on my Go Fund Me. This an account on a website that allows people to donate money,” explained Paul.
The preparations for this trip may be exhausting; however, helping impoverished children will be worth the work and wait.
“I’m most excited to get to see the different culture and interact with people there and help build schools for the kids. This will definitely be one of the coolest experiences and I’m so excited to help the cause!” stated Underwood.
