STUDENTS at a Noosaville school will be shunning relaxation and downtime these July school holidays to travel on an immersion experience to India.

Nine students and three teachers from St Teresa's Catholic College will set off to the southern Indian district of Trichy this week as part of Operation Rainbow Project, which helps marginalised families and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

"We'll meet children in the schools, perform volunteer work, teach English and overall become immersed in the Indian culture," school captain and mission leader Sacha Alexiou said.

"It's all to do with immersion, so instead of being a tourist and just running around seeing sites and not really caring about the culture, it's that deeper level and you gain an understanding of the people and place."

The 16-year-old expected the experience would bring his knowledge of the world out of a textbook and into real life.

"When you're going to school you can learn through a textbook or out of the mouth of a teacher, but it's a totally different level to go there yourself, to see it with your own eyes and to hear about it," he said. "Going over there it will be that next level that will help us understand the world a lot more and really break stereotypes and gain our own understanding."

The students will leave on Wednesday.