YEAR 9 students at Redlands College will embark on a school camp with a difference this year, jetting off to Vanuatu to become global citizens.
The project, run in partnership with Youth with a Mission, will see groups of 16 students staying just outside Vanuatu's capital Port Vila for two weeks.
Students would undertake activities around culture, community service and sightseeing.
They will also run after school activities for local students from.
A three-year trial of the Vila Project will begin in mid-2019, and Redlands College director of student wellbeing Joel Erkkila said he hoped it would become permanent addition to the program.
Mr Erkkila said the program aimed to develop students' intercultural skills, instill sustainable practices and broaden their worldviews.
"It is hoped that the various challenges the students will face, such as living cross-culturally, living in community (and) undertaking various activities that stretch them socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically will help them see beyond themselves and their own perspectives," he said.
He hoped the experience would help students develop the skills and motivation to change their own communities.
The project will also help students unplug from social media, with mobile phone use restricted on the trip.
Mr Erkkila said the school had been in search of a way to make the lessons learned on year 9 camp more impactful for students.
"We first thought of a longer outdoor (education) type camp, similar to what other schools run," he said.
"However we were also mindful of how important global citizenship is becoming for our students and decided to explore the possibilities of combining both activities.
"We spent a lot of time over the last 12 months thinking, investigating, planning and negotiating and came up with a proposal for a three year trial working with (YWAM)."
Mr Erkkila said volunteers from the school community were currently constructing a purpose-built accommodation and meeting space, set to be ready for the first student trip in late June.
"This building is a joint effort between our partner organisation, local workers and teams of skilled works from the school community going over to help," he said.
"We are currently on track with two more work teams leaving in the next couple of weeks and will hopefully have the facility completed before the first students arrive on June 24 this year."
He said Vanuatu had been chosen because of its close proximity for travel, safety, existing school contacts and potential for cultural exposure.
"The cultural and social dynamic in Vanuatu provides excellent global exposure and learning experiences for this particular age group," he said.
