On one biting cold November evening in Korea, 10 students from Xavier Jesuit School Cambodia stood on the stage of Seoul Arts Centre to perform in front of over 500 Koreans. It was the first time for the students to participate in the annual Benefactors’ Concert in Korea organised by Joy of Sharing Korea, the fundraising entity of Jesuit Mission Korea, to thank the many benefactors of the school.

This day finally came after more than six months of preparation, not only in singing and performing, but in learning to converse in Korean and English, familiarising themselves with Korean customs, and making passports for the first time! All this would have made being up on stage daunting, not to mention having to perform after professional artists’ performances. However, they performed as they had practised and showed themselves as they are. The energy they exuded was warm and uplifting, and was felt by all in the concert hall. The whole event was a huge success.

With the help of the Jesuits in Korea, the students were also able to experience many of their firsts and make unforgettable memories. They saw and touched snow for the first time and experienced riding plane, subways and rollercoasters for the first time! But most of all, they left with fond memories of all the kindness they had received and the friends they made along the way.