A FORMER Cirencester College student, who has spent the last four months teaching English to children in the slums of Mumbai, is preparing to head home.

Max Cooke, 27, had to postpone the final year of his degree in Animal Welfare and Behavioural Science until September after coming down with whooping cough.

However, once he’d recovered he decided to put his free time to good use by volunteering for the Oscar Foundation.

The charity, based in Mumbai, encourages slum children to stay in school by linking education and sport.

In October, the foundation's under 14 team will play four schools, including Beaudesert Park School in Minchinhampton, in matches over a 10-day tour.

Max’s job has been to teach the team English ahead of their tour, which will also see them have a training session with coaches at Chelsea FC’s Cobham Training Centre.

“I can honestly say I'm not looking forward to leaving,” he said.

“The kids are such a joy to teach, running up to me before each class to give me a high five and say hello.

“Their progress is also amazing.

“From quiet, single word answers to now having conversations about what they did at the weekend and what they are excited about seeing in the UK.”

Many of the children have never left Mumbai, let alone travelled to a different country. “They're so excited to experience an aeroplane and visit somewhere they've only seen on TV,” said Max, who is a student at Bristol University.

“They are going to gain so much from this trip and be able to tell stories to the whole community.

“They will inspire many other children to work hard and hopefully get the same opportunities.”

Initially, he was staying in a flat outside of the slum where he is teaching, but quickly decided to move into the slum itself where he has been fully accepted into the community.

Max said he is most looking forward to seeing the team interact with children their own age and “realise that they are no different, as many of them put western kids on a pedestal”.

“A number of them, when I have asked ‘what is your dream?’ have answered ‘to be English, Sir’.

“I want them to realise we are all the same regardless of nationality and skin colour.”