A former modern languages teacher from Salvatorian College in High Road, Harrow Weald, jetted off to China last week for a teaching placement as part of a two-year placement with the international development charity Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

Philippa Harris, who took part in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme after university and subsequently taught at the boys' school for five years, will now teach English in a teacher training college in Liuzhou City, south west China.

She said: "I have been thinking about going away with VSO since my return from Japan in 1994 because I feel that teaching through an international development charity is a worthwhile cause."

Philippa, who aims to learn Chinese during her placement, will live in a flat on campus. She looks forward to sampling the local cuisine, although the region's specialities apparently include cat, dog and three-snake soup.

When I met Philippa just before her trip, she was still in the process of saying her goodbyes to her family and friends and trying to work out how to pack for two years in a bag that can only weigh 25 kilos.

"I still can't quite believe it's happening," she said.

"I have been to China before and wanted to learn more.

"Teaching teachers will be a new challenge for me, and I am hoping to gain skills in a very different context."

VSO uses the skills and experience of volunteers to help tackle poverty in more than 40 of the world's poorest countries.

Founded in 1958, it is now the largest organisation of its kind and has 1,700 volunteers working overseas aged between 21 and 75, working on a local salary.

By sharing skills and knowledge with local people, they ensure their work continues in the community after they have left.

As it costs £15,000 to send a volunteer overseas, fundraising support from the public is crucial to VSO's work.

VSO is currently looking for new volunteers.

For recruitment information and details about how to support fundraising initiatives, call 020 8780 7500, email enquiry@vso.org.uk or visit www.vso.org.uk.