Cambodian holiday turns into a life changing experience

WHEN Rouse Hill Grill’d manager Laurina Khadi won the opportunity to visit a Cambodian orphanage for children with HIV, she never imagined it would change her so much.

WHEN Rouse Hill Grill’d manager Laurina Khadi won the opportunity to visit a Cambodian orphanage for children with HIV, she never imagined it would change her so much.

The avid traveller said it wasn’t a cocktails-and-fine-food holiday.

“This was reality,’’ Miss Khadi said. “We were showering in bathrooms that had bugs, beetles, frogs and lizards.

“This opportunity was all thanks to a program Grill’d are passionate about called Local Matters.”

The program supports local community groups and in the spirit of this program Grill’d owner Simon Crowe held a competition for managers to show and share how it has helped the restaurant as well as staff.

Laurina Khadi with some of the orphans from the New Hope for Cambodia Children orphanage

“I have an amazing fun, ­vibrant and young team here at Rouse Hill and we love Local Matters,’’ Miss Khadi said.

“We got together one night and made up a song, rap dance, and created a really cool clip.”

The team were not thinking of winning, but Miss Khadi got the call to say she would be one of the managers to go to Cambodia to spend time at the New Hope for Cambodia Children orphanage.

She said despite living conditions being poor, the orphanage was paradise to the children there.

“It had passion, it had dreams, it had family, it had an unbreakable bond,’’ Miss Khadi said.

Laurina KHadai was assigned to work with the preschoolers and found all the children to be a delight.

She was assigned to help with the preschoolers and found all the children a delight as all they wanted to do was play, learn words, sing and “more than anything have hugs”.

“We introduced them to ‘bull rush’ and they taught us their version of basketball and soccer,’’ Miss Khadi said. “It was a true reminder of what kids without gadgets love doing.”

She said the experience changed her into a much happier and more humble person. “Family is my priority and it reminded me how lucky I am to have them in my life,’’ she said.

“Hearing girls speak of monthly visits from their mum, or parents passing away from HIV, just makes you stop and thank God for what we have.’’