They’ve been selling chocolates, washing cars and mowing lawns, scraping together every last dollar to put towards a trip to East Timor.
A group of year 9-12 Springwood High students will head to East Timor in late June, under the guidance of geography and commerce teacher Richard Engel, to help build a medical centre in the remote mountain village of Lebuton.
The two-week trip costs each student $3000, with almost $1000 going towards construction costs for the medical centre.
This is Rosie Wittrien’s second trip to East Timor. Last year she was part of the Springwood High crew that helped build a hospitality training centre for students.
“Last time I wanted a challenge,” she said. “It was a fun experience.”
“It’s really rewarding helping others.”
For many of this year’s group of 20 students, they’ve wanted to join the trip for several years.
“I was really interested in year 7,” said year 10 student Mara Lee-Griswold.
“I’ve always been interested in building and helping lower communities. It’s always been a passion of mine.”
“I have never done building work before,” said year 9 student Laila Chesterman.
“I’m interested in the charity side of it. It’s not just a good experience for me but also being able to actively help people.”
The students will having nothing but the bare necessities for the trip, the boys pitching tents and the girls sleeping in the church hall.
The medical centre will be built from besser blocks and wood, set on a concrete slab. It will be manned once a week by a nurse and a doctor, and will be well-used in the village which isn’t easily accessible.
“Most of the people couldn’t get into town for medical attention,”Mr Engel said.
“East Timor has got to be the poorest of Australia’s neighbours.”
“The abject poverty most [Blue Mountains] kids have never seen.”