A Hay River teenager is working hard to make his international travel dreams a reality. 

In April 2025, 14-year-old Donavin Rodger-Evans aims join his classmates at Diamond Jenness Secondary School on a plane to Hawaii, and after a visit to the American island state, continue on to Australia and New Zealand. 

The trip is expected to cost nearly $10,000 when the flights, accommodation, and bus rides to and from Edmonton are factored in. 

Rodgers-Evans works as a cashier at Super A Foods, a Hay River grocery store, and also helps his father deliver groceries to residents. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 like it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t keeps me busy.SA国际影视传媒� 

While his part-time job has been his main source of savings, he also recently organized a 50-50 draw to help cover the costs of his trip. 

Tickets were $2 a pop, and he ultimately sold SA国际影视传媒渕ore than expected.SA国际影视传媒� 

SA国际影视传媒淚t went really awesome because a lot of people bought tickets,SA国际影视传媒� he said after school on May 21. SA国际影视传媒淚 ended up making $800. The winner got $400, but they donated $250 to the fundraiser.SA国际影视传媒� 

The big trip is being organized by Jacquie Richards, an educational assistant at the school. It is not the first trip Richards has been involved in. She has previously helped students, including Rodger-EvansSA国际影视传媒� older cousin, visit other countries like Italy and Greece. 

Rodger-Evans said his cousinSA国际影视传媒檚 trip was life-changing experience, and he hopes for a similar experience himself. 

SA国际影视传媒淚t changed her world and opened her mind right up,SA国际影视传媒� he said, noting that another cousin will be joining him on the trip to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping that will happen for my [other] cousin and I. 

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping it changes me to be more open minded and make more friends.SA国际影视传媒� 

Rodger-Evans said he is most excited to visit Australia. He and his peers will spend time on the countrySA国际影视传媒檚 east coast. 

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 mostly excited for Australia,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been hearing that itSA国际影视传媒檚 like a really warm Canada there, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited to meet new people. 

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 mainly excited to go to the coastline and go to the beach,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 excited to go the [Sydney] Opera House [too].SA国际影视传媒� 

Rodger-Evans already has his passport, and is working on obtaining the necessary visas for his trips. Once that is done, and his fundraising is completed, it will just be a matter of making the long journey to Hawaii and on to Australia and New Zealand. 

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 aware that the flights might be uncomfortable SA国际影视传媒� he plans to watch Netflix on his iPad to beat the boredom SA国际影视传媒� and acknowledged that jet lag is a possibility. However, all of the hard-work and long flights will be justified when he steps off his plane into the Hawaiian sunlight. 

SA国际影视传媒淔or me it feels like ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to a completely new place thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not even part of the North American continent,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t will probably be jaw-dropping for me because ISA国际影视传媒檝e never been out of the country. ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited to see a new culture.SA国际影视传媒�