mmg.com.au

A trip to Cambodia with an international charity has given Mooroopna’s Ingrid Mauger a vision to build a school in the South-East Asian country.

Mrs Mauger and her daughter Rosie, 18, joined Christian not-for-profit organisation Samaritan’s Purse on a trip to deliver shoeboxes filled with gifts for children in need.

For as long as Rosie can remember her family has donated gift boxes to the organisation’s Operation Christmas Child.

This year they decided to get further involved and help deliver the gifts.

Deliveries are made year-round because of the quantity donated and the mother and daughter returned from Cambodia last week.

The trip was eye-opening and confronting for both of them.

‘‘The picture that stands out most was when we were in a tiny village,’’ Mrs Mauger said.

‘‘A little girl got her box and looked at her presents, then she asked if she could take the big Samaritan’s Purse packing box to make a wall in her home.’’

But Mrs Mauger said it was also uplifting to see how excited the children were when they got their packages.

The boxes contain an item to love, one to play with, something for personal hygiene and school, an item of clothing and something special.

The pair was shown all the organisation’s projects during the 11-day tour — they visited fish farms, chicken farms, bicycle-loan programs, prisons, schools, hospitals and slums.

Mrs Mauger said seeing the prisons and slums was challenging.

‘‘It was very confronting for Rosie, because there were kids much younger than her (in the prison),’’ she said.

‘‘They call it a discovery tour and I can see why.’’

When they realised a school for more than 300 students could be built for about $130000, several people on the Maugers’ tour decided they would make that happen.

‘‘I’ve started a can collection and will do talks at church and other places,’’ Mrs Mauger said.

‘‘We’ll all do our little bit.’’

For more information about Operation Christmas Child, phone Ingrid Mauger on 58254001.