Jane Anderson is swapping her day job as a merchant sales manager at Crown Paint for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to help underprivileged children in a remote area of Vietnam as part of a voluntary education programme.
Ms Anderson, of Stirlingshire, will visit Lao Cai, where she’ll help teach young people aged between 9 and 12 in a programme organised by the Hempel Foundation. The Hempel Foundation, owner of the Hempel Group – Crown Paints parent company – supports projects around the globe improving the education of children in need.
Ms Anderson’s adventure will take her deep into the remote northwest mountains - close to the border with China – as part of a team of seven volunteers. There, she’ll use her expertise as a Duke of Edinburgh Award assessor and leader to teach geography along with arts and crafts, music and language skills. She will also introduce the children to Scottish country dancing as well as the game of rounders.
“I really enjoy volunteering, both with the Duke of Edinburgh Award and, more recently, with the Girl Guides in my local village, and I’m looking forward to taking the skills I’ve learned to Vietnam,” said Ms Anderson.
“Our role is to give the children a glimpse of life beyond the mountains and share stories, games and activities from our own country with them. In return, the youngsters will teach us their local dances and cook local food with us.”
Ms Anderson has been overwhelmed by the support of her customers, as well as friends and family, who have donated a range of clothing and sporting goods for her to take for the children, with companies including Apex Decor, Buildbase, Crown Decorating Centres, Jewson, MKM Timber, McNairs and Paint Shed all supporting the cause.
