Some of the best experiences in my work happen when generosity comes full circle. This past year, I had the privilege of taking one of the Stober Group’s staff members, Meghan, on a journey halfway around the world to Cambodia. She didn’t win a contest in the traditional sense—she earned it through exceptional volunteerism, the kind of steady, consistent effort that rarely makes headlines but changes lives every day. We wanted to honour that, and in true Stober fashion, we didn’t just give her a plaque or a pat on the back. We invited her into an experience that would open her eyes to philanthropy on a global scale.

I’ve learned that sometimes, the greatest reward you can give someone who lives generously is to place them in a setting where generosity is the only language spoken. And for that, we partnered with HOPE International Development Agency.

HOPE’s work in Cambodia is both simple and profound. They help provide access to clean water, sustainable livelihoods, and community development in some of the most marginalized regions of the country. It isn’t charity in the old sense of the word; it’s empowerment, dignity, and partnership. It’s about walking alongside people, not in front of them.

When Meghan and I landed in Cambodia, I watched her eyes take in everything. The traffic that moved like a living organism, the mix of colours and sounds in the markets, the sheer energy of a country both beautiful and complex. Traveling for the first time in a developing context is like stepping into another dimension. The way you define “need,” “want,” and “enough” changes almost instantly. I’d experienced this shift before, but watching Megan go through it reminded me of my own first encounters years ago.

Out in the villages, where HOPE International has spent decades building trust, Meghan got to see what philanthropy looks like when it’s lived out in real time. We met families who now had access to clean water for the first time in their lives. We visited schools where children could study instead of fetching buckets of water all day. We saw gardens producing food where once there was only dry soil. For Megan, every stop was an education; for me, it was a chance to relive the joy of discovering that impact is best measured in faces, not spreadsheets.

What struck me most was Meghan’s humility. She didn’t walk into these spaces as a tourist or even as an honoured guest. She came as a learner. She asked questions, laughed with kids, and let the experience change her. At night we would talk about what we’d seen. She confessed that she hadn’t realized how much could be accomplished with so little, or how joy could be found in the midst of material poverty. These reflections weren’t just her own; they were lessons that ripple outward into her work, her family, and her community back home.

For me, the trip reinforced something I deeply believe: philanthropy is most powerful when it’s experiential. Megan could have read about HOPE International, watched a video, or seen a slideshow. None of that would have compared to sitting in a circle with Cambodian mothers who had been trained to grow food for their families, or to watching a child drink clean water from a pump for the very first time. These are the kinds of moments that etch themselves into your soul.

We also made space for the cultural side of Cambodia. We visited temples that have stood for centuries, reminders of resilience and history. We ate meals prepared by locals and listened to their stories. We stood in places where the country’s painful past was still evident, a sobering reminder of why organizations like HOPE International matter so much. It wasn’t just about aid—it was about healing, empowerment, and building a future.

When we returned to Canada, Meghan carried with her not just memories but a sense of responsibility. She had seen with her own eyes how generosity travels. A life lived generously in Kelowna had opened a door to experience generosity in Cambodia. And that experience, in turn, would shape the way she continued to serve her community at home.

For me, that’s what makes these trips worth it. It’s not about a photo op or checking off a box on a corporate social responsibility list. It’s about transformation—first in us, and then through us. By giving Meghan this opportunity, the Stober Group wasn’t just rewarding her; they were investing in a ripple effect that will extend for years to come.

I believe that when philanthropy is personal and immersive, it stops being just about “what we give” and becomes more about “who we become.” Meghan’s journey to Cambodia was proof of that. She came home not just with stories, but with a deeper understanding of the power of generosity—and the knowledge that she is now a storyteller for the people she met. That’s how philanthropy multiplies.