Student Sophie Brown is one of 15 who will head to Sri Lanka in September to work with students at a Lasallian school but this is no cushy overseas trip.

The students embarked on a fundraising campaign last term to come up with enough funds to pay for plane tickets and buy supplies for the Sri Lankan school.

Sophie said the plane tickets would be purchased by each student’s family by whatever means they can come up with but the pens, pencils, textas and stationary they hope to bring the children must be obtained by the students.

The group attended the Towac Park Christmas Eve races and set up a stall with face painting to kick off their own fundraising attempts.

“We had a Sri lankan market day at school and a cupcake day where we sold over 1000 cupcakes but we have to raise the rest ourselves,” she said.

“It feels really good to know we’re doing something to help others and something really good to represent the school.”

Sophie said people became apprehensive when she told them of her plans. She said she was not too worried about her safety because the trip would be supervised by the school.

“When people hear of where we are going and the wars and stuff they get worried,” she said.

“But we’ll be safe and everything and it’s just good to know we’ll be making a difference.”

The students will do some teaching while they are in Sri Lanka as well as refurbishing the school.

“We’re also hoping to look at doing something with their school hall because it doesn’t really have a roof or walls,” she said.

“Being only 16 it’s a really good experience but it’s also a really good feeling to think that we might be making a difference.

“It will really help us appreciate how lucky we really are.”