Mornings at Brisbane Boys’ College come with their own soundtrack – old-school tunes, laughter, and the unmistakable grinding of the coffee machine. Around the Coffee for Cambodia station, boys gather in a scene that feels as much about community as it does about coffee.
For 14 years, Coffee for Cambodia has been a cornerstone of a community that connects BBC boys to each other, their teachers, and students half a world away.
What began in 2011 as a modest fundraising initiative has evolved into one of the College’s most popular service activities, attracting interest from over 100 students in Years 9 to 12 who dedicate their time to serving coffee to staff and hot chocolates to students four mornings a week, with all proceeds supporting a partner school community in Cambodia.
A cup of coffee, a world of difference
In 2012, Maths teacher Mr David Biggs inherited a coffee machine, but it was his own journey to Cambodia that sparked Coffee for Cambodia.
In 2011, he was part of a group of four teachers who joined a Brisbane-based charity, Harvest Cambodia, sending teachers to Cambodia to assist local teachers at a new school.
“The land for Stepping Stones School in Kok Thnot village had been donated by a villager, and funds were raised in 2010 to build the first classroom,” Mr Biggs says.
“We were part of the second group to go, and everything just fell into place from there.”
The money raised through the BBC coffee cart – now $4,000 per term – funds everything from classroom supplies to house construction in the Kok Thnot Village. The effects throughout the entire community have been profound.
“Education has completely changed the village. When the school started, no-one had been to university. Now over 50 have graduated from university,” Mr Biggs says.
Finding a home away from home in Cambodia
Every two years a group of BBC students travel to Cambodia to help build houses and connect directly with the community.
“Cambodia was an incredible experience,” Year 12 student Finn Clair, who visited in December 2024, says.
“Seeing the school and the community we helped support over the last five years was really special.”
Between helping build two homes and sitting in on a lively English lesson, Finn found himself on the soccer field with local students – a reminder of shared joy and experiences across cultures.
Mr Biggs has witnessed how these tours create lasting bonds between the two cultures.
“In 2014, we ran our first student tour with 12 boys and built houses for families chosen by the local community. We’ve run six tours since and we’ll do another next year,” he says.
“The best part about going to Cambodia is the relationships. It almost feels like a second home to me – we stay with the same families, we’re driven by the same drivers and we’re taught by staff who’ve been there since the start. It’s very special.”
When two Cambodian staff members visited BBC last year to celebrate ten years since the first student tour, the College held a community night in their honour. 35 Old Collegians returned to say hello, a moment Mr Biggs describes as a powerful reminder that the bond between BBC and Cambodia truly goes both ways.
Learning life skills one cup at a time
The mechanics of Coffee for Cambodia are straightforward, but the skills students develop go beyond the barista machine.
“My role, like all younger students, started at the hot chocolate station,” Finn says.
“Then in Year 10, with the help of a senior student I was taught how to make coffee, froth milk and take orders from customers. Now my current role as a senior student is to lead and help train other boys in the skills they need to keep the business going.”
For Year 11 student Dhugal Mills, the appeal lies in connection.
“It’s an hour a day where I get to be working alongside boys from other year levels, different teachers, and learn skills like working as a team to make and sell coffees and mentoring the younger students,” he says.
The program has grown so popular that it’s now a much-anticipated opportunity for boys in Years 9–12. When it became an official school activity, more than 100 students applied, and the strong demand continues each year. With so much enthusiasm, there’s even hope the program might expand in the future.
The program’s impact on the boys resonates with BBC staff as well. While Associate Chaplain Mr Tom McPherson enjoys his regular coffee, it’s the morning camaraderie he values most.
“I often get my coffee and then spend about half an hour chatting to different students and staff as they wait,” he says.
“I’m really proud of the way it provides hope for the students at Stepping Stones School and the way in which young men of the College develop their skills and abilities within this service activity.”
Reflecting on the future, Mr Biggs hopes the program will endure well beyond his time at the helm.
“There are enough boys and enough interest for it to carry on. We’ve built something that has made a lasting impact, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”