AN 18-YEAR-old Girl Guide had a life changing experience when she travelled to Vietnam.

Shannon Thomas from Hereford was one of 13 youngsters to make the trip to Vietnam with the Girlguiding Midlands organisation.

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

They were based in an area called Ha Long Bay, a small town with a population of around 12,000.

Shannon said: "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’.

"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."