Four young Katoomba High School students will spend part of their Christmas holidays in a remote village in Thailand, helping the local people with a community project.
They could be doing anything from creating a garden to digging a well or making desks for school classrooms - whatever the villagers need to be done.
The four 16-year-olds - Trixy Greig, and Milo, Tallai and Kalang Morrison-Jones - will be combining holiday adventure and volunteering in their four-week trip to Thailand and also Cambodia.
They are meeting up with five other students, from Newcastle, on their World Challenge experience.
The World Challenge company takes students to various destinations around the world, to broaden their knowledge and horizons, and to learn teamwork and other skills, all while helping local residents.
Trixy said she originally planned to go to Africa to help build an orphanage but was pleased to be taking the Thailand trip.
"I've always wanted to go to an Asian country because of all the traditions they have," she said.
Tallai said: "We want to be able to experience and contribute to a different culture."
The four have all raised $6,200 each for the trip. Part of that they can use to buy useful items to give to the villagers. Trixy and Tallai framed photographs they had taken and sold them at markets. They also made felt toys for sale.
Kalang saved his money from his job at a restaurant while Milo was paid to referee soccer matches during the winter - "but there were a few rainy weeks so I lost a bit of money".
