Lechlade teenager to help Vietnamese orphans (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Lechlade teenager Ben Woodard will be performing at the Victoria Inn in Eastleach to raise money for Travel to Teach

1:30pm Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News By Ian Craig

A TEENAGER from Lechlade is swapping a Cotswolds pub for a Vietnamese orphanage as part of his gap year.

Ben Woodard will be travelling to Hoi An in the Quang Nam province of Vietnam in March to teach orphans aged between five and 10 English and other skills.

The 18 year old, who works at the Victoria Inn in Eastleach, said he was set to spend three weeks at the orphanage and would celebrate his 19th birthday there before spending 16 weeks travelling around Southeast Asia.

“My gap year is an excellent time to do something different,” he said. “It’s a great way to give something back rather than bumming around on a beach.”

Ben, who has secured a place at Sheffield Hallam University to study Product Design in September, will also be giving a live saxophone performance at the Victoria Inn on February 8, starting at 7.30pm.

All money raised will go towards the Travel to Teach charity to be used for showers and beds for Vietnamese orphans.