Stories
Wangaratta High School, Victoria, Australia
A Victorian government school that restructured student leadership, and took 24 students to Peru for fifteen days on a trip ‘…with a purpose’.
Student leadership, restructured
The changes in the structure of the prefect team, the introduction of more leadership opportunities for senior students and the trip to Peru ‘…with a purpose’ have all had a positive impact on the culture of the school.
Harry Hildebrand
Peru, 2026: fifteen days, coast to Andes to Amazon
In June and July 2026, 24 students and four staff travelled from Lima to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, stayed with families in the Andean community of Ccorccor at 3,860 metres, spent three nights in the Amazon near Puerto Maldonado, and finished on the coast in Chincha, building two homes alongside two families.
Every student kept an X-Factor-Ed journal. Student group leaders ran the evening reflections. The months of fundraising beforehand, from a trivia night to local businesses, brought the families and the wider Wangaratta community in with them.
In the school’s own words
“It was the people they met”
Every destination offered something different, but it was the people they met and the communities that welcomed them that shaped the experience in ways that will stay with them for years to come.
Amy Noble, teacher, Wangaratta High School (Education in Focus, 5 August 2026)
Rather than simply visiting well-known destinations students were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in local communities, experience different ways of life and learn directly from the people who call Peru home.
Amy Noble, teacher, Wangaratta High School
Two homes, built with the families… not for them
Before: January 2026, six months before the build. Lizeth Anton shows us the makeshift house her family was living in and talks about their life. In Spanish.
The Chincha project is the program’s philosophy made physical. The two families had already taken down their straw huts and built their own concrete slabs, with the support of a local concreter employed by Harry. On day one, students and families built the 24 wall panels together, finishing just on dark. On day two they raised the walls, fitted the windows, put the roofs on, painted murals, hung the doors and held an inauguration with the families and their neighbours.
In Chincha the focus shifted from learning about communities to working alongside them. The families had already invested in the project by contributing towards the concrete slabs and worked shoulder to shoulder with our students throughout the build.
Amy Noble, teacher, Wangaratta High School
Today has to be one of my personal favourite days, not because it was the most fun or freeing, but to see the fruits of our efforts coming into realisation. Building a house was like nothing we had done before and it brought us closer together as a team.
Atticus, student, Wangaratta High School
When [the new owner] burst into tears, I realised how important the house was!
Oscar, student, Wangaratta High School
Time-lapse of day two of the build, when the walls, windows and roofs went on, filmed on site.
In the family’s own words, two months on
Lizeth Anton, who now lives in one of the two houses, filmed this tour of her home herself and sent it to the students. She shows the kitchen, the bedrooms, the door a neighbour gave her, and the small shop she has been able to start from the front of the house. It is in Spanish; the translation is underneath.
“So here we go, Mr Harry and Australian friends — this is my little house. As you can see out the front, thanks to you I’ve been able to start a business selling ice creams, jellies and soft drinks, and thank God it’s going very well. Here I’ve made my little kitchen, with a few things we still have to buy, but we’re getting there bit by bit. This is the bedroom they made for me… and here is my children’s room. And that’s my little house.”
Lizeth Anton, Chincha, September 2026 (translated from Spanish)
“That’s the end of our tour, showing you how we’re looking after the house and filling it little by little so we can keep growing. We’re very grateful to our Australian friends and to Mr Harry — and so are our children.” Then one of the children: “Thank you very much to our Australian friends for building us this house. Thanks to you we have our own room.”
The family in Chincha, September 2026 (translated from Spanish)
Published with the family’s permission.
The journal: unpacking it every night
Students always benefit so much more from experiences if they take the time to ‘unpack’ them by writing a journal, and when they are guided to consider different perspectives and applications for these experiences, and the learning that comes with them, in the future.
Harry Hildebrand, from the trip blog
Halfway through the trip, students used their journals for a mid-point questionnaire and set goals for the second week. On the last night, every student wrote a gratitude letter to someone who had made the trip possible. Some wrote more than one.
What the students said
It changed my perspective and gave me a greater appreciation for the resilience and kindness of the Peruvian people. Building two homes alongside an amazing team was something I’ll never forget.
Isaac, student, Wangaratta High School
Harry’s local knowledge made the journey even more meaningful. It was an unforgettable trip filled with new friendships, cultural experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
Lillian, student, Wangaratta High School
My favourite part of the day was exploring the Machu Picchu ruins with our guide, who not only taught us about the rich history of the place but gave us powerful insights on how to view life and the importance of great leadership.
Jack, student, Wangaratta High School
I will never complain about not having something… ever again.
Gus, at the final reflection in Lima
What the parents said
While the students travelled, Harry wrote the trip up every day for the families at home. These are from the parents’ group chat.
Some things you just can’t teach out of a classroom or a text book.
Parent, Wangaratta High School Peru trip 2026
Their eyes are being opened, and they’re having ears to hear the drum beat of others’ hearts.
Parent, Wangaratta High School Peru trip 2026
A valuable life-long learning experience… and no doubt your empathy and encouragement to continue to look for positives if feeling tired, hungry, low and homesick.
Parent, Wangaratta High School Peru trip 2026
Harry, your blogs and the way you have been able to draw us in with you all, to constantly include us as part of the experience, has been nothing short of exceptional storytelling.
Parent, Wangaratta High School Peru trip 2026
What Harry said
These 24 amazing young people have returned to Australia with the capability and desire to make a positive impact on their families and all of the people they come into contact with in their school, their local community AND in the world. Mark my words!
Harry Hildebrand, July 2026
Wangaratta High School and X-Factor-Ed have agreed a second trip for 2028. The school is happy to act as a referee; ask us for details.
Where the positive impact community project began: schools working together in Latin America
In 2019, 86 students from eight Lima schools spent three days in Matucana designing projects with the local community. In October 2022 the program grew to 16 schools from across Latin America over five days. Its success led to an invitation to present the positive impact community project at COP28 in Dubai, in December 2023. Harry calls it the pinnacle: schools collaborating, not just doing something in-house.
Start with a conversation.
Tell us about your school. Harry reads every enquiry himself and will reply personally.