Students from NPTC Group of Colleges are embarking on an exciting educational visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand, this month as part of the Challenges Abroad programme.
Four catering students from Newtown College – Kai Emery, Ryan Blinston, Shaylee Longmen, and Serah Morgan-Page – will join others from the NPTC Group of Colleges on this enriching journey. The students expressed their enthusiasm for participating in the Change Abroad programme. Trainee chefs Kai and Ryan shared, “Only this week, we have been learning to cook Thai dishes as part of the working restaurant here at Themes dining experience.” The students will transition from serving Thai dishes to customers at Themes, the onsite college restaurant, to immersing themselves in the culture and cuisine of Thailand.
During their visit, the group will volunteer at a local primary school, teaching English to pupils aged between 5 and 11 years old. They have collected donations, including teaching and learning materials such as colouring pens, crayons, felt-tip pens, colouring books, games, word searches, crosswords, and puzzles, to support the students. The school serves a diverse and deprived community, with students facing many barriers to learning.
A highlight of the trip will be to spend some time at an elephant sanctuary. Here the group will be working alongside staff looking after the elephants and learning about these majestic animals that once played a significant role in Thai society but are now endangered.
Catering lecturer Tony Burgoyne, who will accompany the students, said, “This trip provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to experience different cultures, take in different sights and experiences, and importantly, experience cuisines to broaden their horizons and inspire them.”
