Next summer 16 lucky girls from Woodford County High School will be jetting off to Cambodia, located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia, for a life changing experience.
 

I spoke to one of the girls in the team, Zofia Duffy, who was eager to give me a closer insight into the exciting expedition.
 

Have you ever been to Cambodia before?
No I’ve never been and I don’t know much about the country, but we’ve been learning about it in our planning sessions, and we are having a night dedicated to learning about the culture. I know it’s quite an unexplored part of globe, pretty exciting.
 

Have you any concerns about living in a country so different to the UK for 3 weeks?
It’s so different to our pink and fluffy county, there’s a lot more crime out there especially with drugs, apparently punishment is the death penalty if you get caught with them! They also have a big issue with selling women on the streets; I mean that’s just the sort of stuff you read about in magazines, I can’t believe I’ll be out there in the actual scene of the outrageous acts.
Although I think I’m most concerned about catching malaria. I know the number of cases is high in Cambodia, but we’ll be getting our jabs soon, so shouldn’t be too much of a worry.
 

What will you be doing there?
Well there’s three phases to the trip. The expedition phase, where we’ll be trekking through the jungle. The community phase, that’s when we help out the locals, we’re building a water purifying system for the disadvantaged village. And lastly the relaxation phase, so we get to experience different aspects of the culture, including kayaking, canoeing, biking, visiting the markets, even seeing dolphins!

Where will you be staying?
Everywhere and anywhere! Youth hostels, hotels, village huts, even camping in the jungle (I’ll definitely be sleeping with my bug spray those nights).
During the community and relaxation phase we’ll be staying in the two main cities of Cambodia; Phnom Penh, which is the capital city, and Siem Reap.

Do you think you’ll be able to manage without your everyday luxuries?
My hair straighteners! I don’t know how I’m going to cope without them, and my hair products!
 

(After a moment of panic)
 

Well it’s certainly a challenge, but I’m willing to accept it.  I suppose it should be quite refreshing to be without my phone glued to my hand 24/7. Although I will have to get used to not listening to my IPod every day.
 

What are you most looking forward to on the trip?
Probably biking through the rainforest and seeing dolphins. I’m keen to try the food there as well that should be interesting. And generally spending time with the group and getting to know each other better.

Oh and shopping! We’ll make time for shopping of course, at least that’s one thing we can say our summer had in common with the girls back home.

How are you raising the money to pay for it?
I have been teaching piano and babysitting, I think I’m doing quite well on my own so far I’ve raised £600.

Lastly, what made you want to go on this trip? And what are you most hoping to get out of it?
I really wanted to step out of my Essex bubble and into the real world. The opportunity to give back to the wider community was just too great to turn down, and I know this is going to be a life changing experience, I can’t wait.