Isaac Erbacher, a year 12 student from Kooringal High School, was one of 12 delegates picked to attend the 2018 Pacific Project.

“I was really in my element working with the children, teaching the children English and playing with them,” he said. 

“Even though there was a language barrier, we overcame it by singing and dancing together.”

Isaac said he and the other delegates struggled at first with the culture shock. 

“The sanitary conditions were poor,” he said.

“We put our different lifestyles aside and embraced it.” 

A highlight of the trip was on the first night at the accommodation, running around with the children.

“It’s experiences like that I will take to my grave and money can’t buy,” he said.

“Hopping in Land Rovers and travelling through the mountains was also awe-inspiring.” 

Isaac said while some might look down on the conditions, people shouldn’t judge.

“They are some of the happiest people I have ever met and they make the most of what they have,” he said. 

“I now really think about not taking these things for granted now.

“If they are so happy we shouldn’t be so quick to judge.”

Isaac already knows he is keen to continue travelling and working with children, even maybe with the United Nations again. 

“I recently joined the PCYC youth committee which will involve a few projects,” he said,

“I plan to travel to American and work in a summer camp with kids next years, because I love working with them.

“The world is my oyster really.”