Girl Guide Shannon Thomas, who works in Ross, has just returned from a life-changing trip to Vietnam. The 18-year-old was one of only 13 youngsters to make the trip to Vietnam with the Girlguiding Midlands organisation and was the only representative from this area in the group.

Shannon joined the organisation as a Rainbow at the age of four, became a Brownie and from there naturally progressed into Girlguiding, the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK with over 100,000 dedicated volunteers,

The group of volunteers from all over the Midlands spent their time in Vietnam schools teaching English to the children as well as helping the teachers to teach English themselves.

“We were based in an area called Ha Long Bay, a small shanty town with a population of around 12,000.” Said Shannon. “Everyone was really poor and had very little for themselves but they always made sure that we were well looked after and well fed!”

“The project was totally in line with one the key Girlguiding messages - ‘We change as the lives of girls change’. Said Shannon. “It was a total culture shock and a life changing experience and I can’t wait to go back to continue my work there at some time in the future.”