From hearing about other volunteers who had travelled to India, Vanuatu, Sri Lanka, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Fiji, Indonesia and beyond with the program before him, Clayton was inspired to do the same.

Through a brief interview process discovering where his skills would best suit, he was assigned to work with one of the program’s trusted partners, Restore One. This not-for-profit organisation is dedicated to developing and empowering impoverished communities in Cambodia, one community at a time, with a focus on improving housing, education, employment and health.

During the semester he was fundraising for the organisation through BBQs, raffles and bake sales, while also advocating and spreading the word about its mission. By the time he travelled to Cambodia, he was already very invested in the project and eager to further help in person.  

From early morning to late night, Clayton and the other volunteers worked on building sport facilities and recreational areas, fitted desks to classrooms and helped teach women health classes at a local school.  

“It was an intense but rewarding experience for our whole group, and we naturally became very close during our stay. I also made some great relationships with the locals who were so appreciative of our work”. 

Already on his way home from Cambodia, he knew he wanted to go back, and did so the following year. This time he stayed with his local friends and worked long days at the same school to build classrooms. 

“Going back again was even more rewarding as I could see that our efforts the previous year was not a one-off thing but part of a long-term effort to develop and empower this impoverished community”. 

Last year he became the 2018 Coordinator for Passports with Purpose and was excited to take on a different approach to help. 

“As the Coordinator I get to help facilitate the experience for other students, but also get to work with the other partnerships we have with Sambhav Nepal in Nepal, Friends of the National Park Foundation in Indonesia and Ba Vi orphanage and disability center in Vietnam”. 

He really enjoyed the role and did not hesitate when he got the opportunity to be the 2019 Coordinator. This year he is aiming to go on another trip to help and see the work of another partner of the program. 

“It would be great to see with my own eyes the work that one of our other long-term partners do too, and I am especially interested in going to Indonesia to help National Park Foundation in their work of protecting the wildlife and its habitat while supporting the local community”. 

Interested in becoming a volunteer with Passports with Purpose? Applications are now open here and closing Feb 26.