Henry Gilham joined our project at Villas Royal in Dongguan in summer 2017. Please read on to view his feedback:

Could you please tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments of the trip?

I enjoyed going on the field trips and seeing parts of the country that I otherwise would never had seen. I enjoyed the meals and learning about the food and the culture of China. Meeting Tom the teacher at the school and becoming friends with him over the course of my teaching was also very enjoyable.

Which were the highlights of the lessons, cultural excursions and outdoor activities?

In the lessons, I enjoyed seeing the children make progress throughout the weeks. Also the way they had fun while learning and were excited to see me each day was extremely rewarding and made the entire experience more enjoyable for me.

How would you say the overall experience has benefited you?

The experience has made me see a whole new culture in a way that I never thought I would. It has made me more understanding of people and how similar people are. I found a joy of teaching that I was unsure I had and how rewarding it is to help children learn.

What was the best thing about your experience in China?

The best thing for me was making new friends with the people I met – the teachers from all different countries with whom think I could remain life-long friends. As we experienced new things together in China I think it allowed us to create bonds that we wouldn’t have made anywhere else.

Would you recommend participating to a friend and if so why?

I would recommend it to a friend because it is a great way to gain new experiences, to meet knew people and to make a difference by teaching children and having a part in their future.