Lattitude Volunteers China
Wembley twins Raajul and Rushabh Shah, 19, have recently returned from China, where they took part in Lattitude Global Volunteering projects.
Raajul and Rushabh, from Wembley, spent 5 months teaching English in schools in the Yunnan Province of China, in between completing their A Levels and starting university. The volunteering brother and sister are both going to study Medicine in the autumn and decided this would be their only chance to take a 5 month break.
Rushabh explains “I never once thought about just going backpacking for my gap year. My sister and I always wanted to do some volunteer work, and Lattitude provided a secure way of seeing another part of the world, whilst volunteering and making a difference.”
The twins wanted to use their time off to travel abroad and ‘give something back’, so they applied to Reading based charity, Lattitude. They were lucky enough to be accepted onto teaching placements in the same town, so they were able to share the experience together.
When they first arrived in China, the volunteers completed a training course to prepare them for their teaching roles in local schools, which was a challenge in itself. “It was hard to teach English to the school children at first. But then I learnt more and started to introduce flash cards and games, so it became easier” says Raajul. “I would recommend Lattitude Global Volunteering projects to people wanting to take a gap year and make a difference. You may not change the world, but you can do your bit”.
Located in the same town, but teaching in different schools, the experience shared was one that neither twin would change. As Raajul heads to Birmingham University and Rushabh to Bristol University in September, they feel prepared for university life, having lived in an environment far beyond their comfort zone. They have both gained life skills and independence from their experience, which will contribute to their futures, especially in their careers.
Lattitude Global Volunteering offers numerous placements, such as teaching, environmental healthcare and community projects, in various countries around the world. For applicants who may not be able to raise the funds themselves, there are several bursary and funding schemes available through Lattitude. To find out more details about the charity, and all upcoming events, visit http://www.lattitude.org.uk or call 0118 959 4914
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