During the first week of summer vacation, ten students and two teachers embarked on a meaningful trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The purpose of this Habitat for Humanity trip was primarily to work alongside Habitat staff, local workers, and a future home-owner family, consisting of a widow and six young children, to help build a more stable shelter. This helped us to gain a deeper understanding of the world around us and how impactful our work can be.

The build started off by cementing, followed by carrying and laying bricks, creating the foundation of the house. As the days went on, we were assigned new, more challenging tasks. This included shoveling sand or gravel, sweeping floors, carrying heavy buckets of various materials, and many other jobs. We were moving at a faster pace than what had been predicted, progressing the build at a rapid rate. Unfortunately, our working periods were often cut short due to intense and frequent thunderstorms and rain preventing us from working further. Although the build was difficult due to the sweltering heat, grueling physical work, and unpredictable weather patterns, we were able to push through, completing our target and achieving a satisfying result. Seeing the homeowner working alongside us made it all worth it.

Overall, the trip has been an invaluable learning experience for all of us, granting us insight into housing insecurity and making us feel more appreciative and grateful for what we have. We encourage the Saint Maur community to find out more about Habitat for Humanity and to get involved if they get the chance. Do not hesitate to ask us any questions when you see us around, on campus!