[An Australian girl] Making a big difference in Cambodia

By LAURA LITTLE
http://www.wyndhamweekly.com.au
Jan. 29, 2013, 

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  Reaching out: Samantha Windsor helped a charity in Cambodia. Picture: Cathy Jackson

FEW 19-year-olds can say they've helped build a house, but Wyndham Vale's Samantha Windsor has done just that.

The La Trobe University health science student recently returned from two weeks in Cambodia, where she volunteered with Reach Out volunteers.

The organisation helps communities in Cambodia, South Africa and Peru by building houses and classrooms and providing clean water.

It also creates refuges for endangered animals.

Ms Windsor spent a week at a refuge for abused elephants, where she helped plant crops and feed and wash the elephants.

She then travelled to a village where she helped build a house to accommodate children who live far away from their school.

Ms Windsor described the trip as an eye-opening experience.

"I didn't know much about Cambodia before I went except that it was a poor area.

"On our drive out to the village we saw some really poor places."

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Ms Windsor, who admits to having done no manual labour before volunteering, said building was hard work, with volunteers asked to dig holes, carry sand, timber and paint.

"I was nervous about building the house but it was rewarding."

Ms Windsor said volunteering with Reach Out had inspired her to consider a career helping others.