I noticed them in the airport, a group of black t-shirted young people evidently comfortable in one another's company. As I took my seat on the plane Jess Blyth, 17, welcomed me cheerily and said she was on her way to Vietnam.

 She was one of 14 Kavanagh College students and their companions from Dunedin flying to Ho Chi Minh city via Auckland and Singapore.

Jess explained:

"The trip is an expression of one of the values of our school. They're respect, service, justice and truth. This trip is about service. We're spending three weeks in Vietmam and Cambodia and during that time we're helping to build a children's play ground.

The group will be away for three weeks during which time they will trek for three days in Dalat, work on a six day project in Siem Reap in Vietnam and visit Angkor Wat and other places in Cambodia.

"We've fundraised for 18 months and now we're on our way. The construction materials for our project will be bought in-country."

What brought the group together? Sarah McArley wanted to go to Vietnam and contacted Antipodeans Abroad, a company that organises overseas volunteer projects for secondary school students. Jess said:

"I was captured by the promotional video they showed at the beginning. I've travelled before but not to an Asian country - or a third world country. Kavanagh students are pretty close to each other and our fundraising together kept our group motivated.

"We're from a Catholic school where catholic character is important. I'm not Catholic but the school values are mine too."  

The Kavanagh group included Joe Greensmith-West and Briana George, both aged 16 and Logan Griffin, 18, who intends to study computer science.

Congratulations Kavanagh students - your service in God's mission will increase understanding and friendship in our world. We're proud of you.