Instead of cocktails and lazy days, the pair spent just under a month volunteering with an IVHQ program for special needs children at an orphanage in Cambodia.

“It was pretty overwhelming,” says criminal justice student, Phoebe Garnham. 

“Our duties involved feeding, bathing, cleaning their teeth and general hygiene,” says Sophie, who is currently studying nursing. 

“For me, I think our role was a mix between childcare work and nursing,” she says. 

The Singleton duo spent the first two days at a privileged day care centre where the parents paid a fee per day for the service. However the majority of their stay was at the National Borey for Infant and Children, a government funded orphanage for HIV infected and special needs children and adults.

“The organisation was government funded, however they are only given very limited funds to run the services. NBIC is heavily reliant on volunteer funding,” Sophie tells The Argus.

“I think it was really interesting that we were able to start at a privileged day care centre and then move to an orphanage that in contrast was lacking resources. So we really got to see both sides,” Phoebe says. 

Sophie worked predominantly with children who were physically disabled while Phoebe worked in a department with children who were both mentally and physically impaired. 

“To see what the children have and their resources was pretty disheartening. A lot of the children I worked with had severe cerebral palsy and malnutrition,” Sophie says. 

“Some children had homemade wheelchairs made from old bicycles and materials they found.”

Despite both having experience with special needs children as well as visiting third world countries, the disparity in resources, hygiene and overall quality of life of those in Cambodia was overwhelming. 

“It was very different, even things that I never would have expected to be different, like nappies,” Phoebe tells The Argus.

“We have nappies in Australia. Over there they use a triangle bandana and a folded tee shirt on the inside for lining. They’re washed and reused throughout the orphanage.”

“Even little things like they share  toothbrushes and for sanitiser we used methylated spirits. As a nurse, I thought that was pretty interesting,” says Sophie. 

The pair were able to take 60 children on an excursion to a resort as well as taking bags of rice, paper and pens, clothing and old sleeping bags to a Cambodian slum village. 

Despite the differences, the most adored aspect of the experience for both women was the ability to work with the children and help them with everyday activities that are often taken for granted. 

“My favourite part of the trip was the children and just being able to work with them for as long as we did. In Cambodia, their aim really is education,” says Sophie.

“Out of everything we did, the hardest part was leaving the children knowing once we left it will be the same for them every day. They didn’t have parents to pick them up at the end of the day, and I guess not knowing what the future holds for them is very hard,” says Phoebe.

Both Phoebe and Sophie say they would definitely volunteer again, and would like to one day return to NBIC to work with the children for a second time. 

“I would definitely go back and do it again,” says Sophie. 

“I hope that we can inspire others to volunteer as well.”