The Donnybrook girls, both 19, fundraised to spend two weeks volunteering at a community in Fiji through the Volunteer Eco Students Abroad (VESA) program.

They stayed for a week at a village called Namatakula with a host family, where they worked at the local school helping out with teaching and revamping the school.

They were part of a crew of 46 volunteers from Australia and New Zealand.

It rained a lot that week.

“The rain was cool; the kids were out running in it,” Adriana said.

The girls found the community and the children to be incredibly friendly and welcoming.

“Everyone knows everyone; people would walk past at all hours and have yelling conversations,” Alesha said.

“The kids are so independent and everyone is very self-sufficient.”

Adriana said she’d gone expecting cultural differences and was surprised to see teens still walking around with phones.

Every night they were treated to a free dance at the hall, where everyone drank kava.

On the second week, they were taken on a tour through the islands.

The girls fundraised with a raffle at Christmas and thanked everyone for buying tickets and for their generosity.

They also thanked the Lions Club for sponsoring their trip.

“It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” Alesha said.

“I wish I could have stayed longer; being a part of their culture was so fulfilling,” Adriana said.