By Estelle Fu, Story and Content Producer

Earlier this year, I travelled to Cambodia, spending most of my time in Kampot, for my first field trip with Caritas Australia. Even now, it still feels strange how much such a short trip stayed with me after coming home.

Cambodia is a country with a long and complex history, but also one filled with resilience and strong community spirit. During the trip, we visited communities supported through Caritas Australia's programs and met people whose lives have been impacted through disability inclusion and community development initiatives. Before this trip, most of my understanding of these programs came from reports, project updates, and statistics on a screen. Being there in person made everything feel much more real.

Before leaving, I was honestly pretty nervous. It was my first trip with Caritas Australia and my first time doing this kind of work in the field. Most of my thoughts before the trip were about practical things like camera gear, filming schedules, interviews, batteries, backups, and making sure nothing went wrong.

But once we arrived in Kampot, my focus slowly changed.

Of course, there were long filming days, travelling between communities in the heat, carrying equipment around, and trying to capture moments naturally without interrupting them too much. But the things I remember most now are actually the quieter moments in between.

The conversations during long drives. Sitting quietly after interviews. Sharing meals after a long day of filming. Simply observing daily life happening around us.

One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Reaksmey, a young man supported by our Inclusive Education in Kampot project, whose story we had travelled to Cambodia to document. He is deaf but through the support of the project, he was able to learn sign language for the first time and can now communicate with others.l Although we came from very different backgrounds, it was remarkable how much of his personality, humour, and resilience came through during our time together.

I do not want to share too much here, as we will be telling his full story as part of next year’s Project Compassion, but hearing about his journey and seeing the life he has built for himself was incredibly moving.

It was also a privilege to meet our local partners Epic Arts and learn more about the work they do within their communities. Epic Arts have been working with young people with disabilities in Kampot for more than 20 years. Their dedication and close connection to the people they support were clear in every conversation. Seeing their work firsthand helped me better understand how lasting change happens and the important role local organisations play in making that possible.

Sometimes it is hard to fully grasp the impact of our work when we are sitting behind a desk. Most of the time, we see programs like Project Compassion through reports, updates, numbers, and statistics. But being there in person and seeing the impact with my own eyes felt completely different.

It made me stop and think about what my work actually means and why stories like Reaksmey's matter. Behind every statistic is a real person, a real family, and a life that has been changed. Meeting Reaksmey helped me connect those numbers to a human story, and reminded me why it is so important that these stories are told.

As the person often standing behind the camera, I usually get very focused on technical things and trying to get the "right" shot. But during this trip, I found myself lowering the camera more often just to listen and take everything in.

It reminded me that storytelling is about much more than creating something visually beautiful. It is about recognising the dignity of every person and telling their story with care, compassion, and respect. The people we meet are not defined by their challenges, and it is important that we portray their experiences fairly and accurately, while also recognising their strength and resilience.

This trip reminded me that good storytelling starts with listening. It is about building trust, honouring people's experiences, and helping their voices be heard.

What I also loved about Cambodia was that even during difficult conversations and long days, there was still so much warmth and humour everywhere. People laughed together, shared meals, and carried on with daily life. Those small moments made the whole experience feel incredibly human.

When I returned home, I realised I had brought back more than just footage and photos. I came back with a deeper understanding of the people behind the stories and a renewed appreciation for the purpose behind my work.

For my first trip with Caritas Australia, Cambodia taught me a great deal about storytelling, connection, and the impact that can happen when communities are supported to thrive.

It was only a week, but it is an experience I will carry with me for a long time.