Most teenagers spend their school holidays relaxing with friends or on social media, but a group of dedicated students at John Tonkin College volunteered their time teaching English in Cambodian schools.
The year 11 and 12 tourism students and four teachers spent 10 nights in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in November and December last year.
They assisted those less fortunate in care schools with donations and taught English to children at Honour Village.
Student Katie Macleod said they focused on trying to incorporate Australian culture into their lessons.
"We read them Australian books and did colouring in activities," she said.
"Everyone just seemed so happy, very appreciative of the little things."
Kiarne Brewis said the students were "adorable".
"They came out to play during recess with us and they loved to play," she said.
"They loved to make sandcastles in the sandpit.
"They were so happy, they loved us so much."
The students also toured the historical sites of the Khmer Rouge era and learnt about the atrocities of Pol Pot genocide in the 1970s and 1980s.
They also had the opportunity to visit other attractions including Angkor Wat, ride a mountain bike through local villages and take a hot air balloon over rice fields.
Teacher Conor Gregory said the students gained a lot from the "cultural learning curve".
"It was the first time out of the country for a lot of the students," he said.
"So much of the history is sad and a lot of what we did was very full on but all the people we met were so happy.
"The students worked so hard - they wrote out lesson plans before the classes, gathered donations and went to the markets."
Teacher Mark Tilbury, who has chaperoned the trips since they started seven years ago, described the experience as "eye opening and challenging" for the students.
"It was very emotional which is why we take the older students plus it's an extension of the civil rights they learn in year 10," he said.
"It's not a school camp but it's also not a family holiday - it's designed to help these guys be independent and mature.
"Pnom Penh is quite focused on the atrocities but then its a bit more uplifting by the end of the tour in Siem Reap, where we learn about the educational assistance. It's finding the good out of a bad situation."