They're working hard to be physically prepared but just how emotionally affected they'll be meeting children in a South East Asian orphanage is unknown territory.

Fourteen Massey High School teens are fundraising for a trip to Thailand and Cambodia in December when they'll trek the jungle, soak up the culture in remote villages and volunteer at an orphanage.

The trip is part of the World Challenge, a worldwide movement using international expeditions to teach life and leadership skills.

The concept was an easy sell for year 13 students Ruby Soole, William Silk and Scott Farley.

"I wanted to do it as soon as I saw it. I saw what other schools had done and knew there'd be different projects and tasks so I was excited to do it," Ruby says.

"I'd been to Australia before and I definitely felt like getting out and about so I was on board straight away."

Scott says he wanted a new experience.

"I lead Random Acts of Kindness at this school so I thought this was a good opportunity to do that for people overseas," he says.

William says while the team has started physically preparing for the humid climate and jungle terrain, the experience at the orphanage could be overwhelming.

"I don't think anything can prepare us for what we'll face at the orphanage. We'll take it as it comes though and definitely make the most of it."

All budding travellers are in year 12 and 13 and once they touch down in Thailand they'll be given the task of co-ordinating each day's events, organising everything from what they're doing, where they're going and how they're going to get there.

As well as doing a bit of sightseeing in the more populated areas, students will go on a week-long trek through the jungle stopping at remote villages to meet locals and get a first hand taste of South East Asian culture.

The main focus of the trip will be the orphanage visit in the north of Cambodia.

The students will add a teaching element to their visit and they're hoping to undertake a building project while there.

Teacher and co-ordinator Laura Swan says students are also compiling a list of equipment they'll be able to leave behind to assist the orphanage staff.

"It was a good opportunity for students to really go out and experience the world and get a feel for what's really going on out there, since we can be a little isolated in New Zealand," Ms Swan says.

The trip will cost each student about $7000 so, as well as paying their own way, they're looking for fundraising.

They regularly hold bake sales at the school and they've already held a movie night.

The team is set to run another movie night on August 1 and quiz nights.

Extra money will go towards assisting the orphanage they'll visit.

Go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/WorldChallengeMasseyHigh to see how you can donate or go to facebook.com/WorldChallengeMasseyHighSchool2012 to see upcoming fundraising events.

- © Fairfax NZ News