Every Newington parent wants their child to become the best version of themselves, ready to make a positive contribution to society and the future. Experiencing different countries, cultures and challenges plays a part. 

The first time seven years ago Newington Year 10 and 11 students visited Tbeng Primary School, near Siem Reap in Cambodia, they helped build a covered outside eating area. Still in daily use, it has been repurposed as a classroom to keep students dry throughout the rainy seasons.  

In 2023, under the continued guidance of Head of History and Legal Studies, Mr Peter Laurence, Newington students returned to Tbeng Primary (pictured above).

Before the tour, students undertook significant fundraising and raised enough to construct a library at the school as well as providing all its books, furniture and electronic equipment.  

Once they arrived in the previously war-torn country, they worked side by side with locals on construction of the library, braving the tropical sun and monsoonal humidity. While there, they also built a large vegetable garden for students at the school. The clip below shows Tbeng primary students in the library our students helped build three years ago.

Next month, 31 Newington students from Year 10 and Year 11, return to Tbeng Primary. Their job this time is to help construct more than 100 metres of safety fencing around the school. According to a 2023 report by World Bank Cambodia, floods pose a recurrent threat to Cambodia’s educational sector and have significant impact on the learning outcomes of its young people. 

‘It’s an important project and one our students are committed to,’ says Mr Laurence, who along with Head of Library and Information Services, Ms Munns, will once again lead the service learning and historical trip. 

‘Staff at Tbeng explained how fencing around the school is the most pressing concern, because during the wet season all the mud and detritus from the surrounding rice fields and countryside is washed into the school.’ 

Earlier this year, the travelling students raised more than $23,000 through a fun run. This will cover the cost of the fencing, says Mr Laurence. He is also hopeful it will help another student from the adjoining secondary school to attend university.  

In 2023, fundraising efforts helped a young graduate, who our Newington students met when she was in Year 11 at Tbeng secondary, to go to university in the capital, Phnom Penh. She is now in her third year studying pharmacy. 

‘While our students have raised funds for these projects and will directly participate in their construction, the Tbeng community has full autonomy over them,’ explains Mr Laurence. 

‘The community identifies what areas of need Newington students can help with, and what is in the best social, economic and cultural interests of locals. Working on these projects also provides business and employment opportunities for the community.’

These experiences leave an indelible impression on our visiting students, says Mr Laurence. 

‘Meeting the children from Tbeng gives huge perspective, and while it is true we help build things that are urgently needed by their school community, our students get so much out of the experience – understanding and appreciation for starters. 

‘We all leave with changed insights and understandings from Tbeng, and the people of Cambodia and Vietnam. Meeting other people and learning how others live in our global world are experiences that never leave you.’ 

These four days are part of a wider historical trip to Cambodia and neighbouring Vietnam in June. Other high points will include a bike tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Temples, a date with some incredible African rats rained by charity APOPO to detected unexploded landmines, and in Vietnam, a subterranean visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels used by communist forces during the Vietnam war.  

Newington’s service learning program encourages students to consider their individual roles and responsibilities in caring for others to become good global citizens.  

Other service-learning Newington students engage with include:  

• Volunteering at a number of local charities such as the Exodus Foundation’s Loaves and Fishes Kitchen and Dessert Van, the Asylum Seeker Centre and participating in programs such as Sleep Rough campaign for the Oasis Foundation and the Red Shield Appeal for The Salvation Army.

• House participation with local inner west charities that support women and children leaving family violence, people facing homelessness, and new migrants.

• Service learning in our Prep schools with local cooking charities and aged care visits.

• Other service learning trips to Central Australia, Nepal, Tonga and Cambodia and Vietnam.

• Term long stays at Eungai Creek, the site of Newington’s social service immersion and outdoor education program on NSW’s Mid North Coast which include cultural, social and outdoor experiences that spark personal growth and connection with local communities.

• Alongside its extensive cultural and wellbeing programs and co-curricular offerings, Newington students excel academically. In 2025, three Newington HSC students came first in their subject to achieve First in State in the HSC in 2025. Another seven achieved State rankings, and nine were named All-round HSC Achievers.

• In the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, which Newington is one of only two GPS schools in NSW to offer, four students achieved a perfect score of 45/45 and another five achieved 44/45.  

To make a tax-free donation to the Tbeng school community in Cambodia click here. All donations will directly go toward sponsoring students from Tbeng and surrounding villages to go to university.

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