A FORMER pupil at Hanley Castle High School is to tour the area recounting his experiences on a Baptist mission to Kazakhastan.

Tom Stockwell wants to thank those who helped him raise £3,000 in sponsorship for the trip.

The mission involved teaching English and providing care for neglected and abandoned children in the town of Shymkent, many of whom were handicapped. Mr Stockwell said it was very rewarding learning to communicate through the language barrier and experiencing a different culture.

"It was quite a dream for me," he said. "About five years ago, I saw another team who had returned from a similar mission and I wanted to go on it then."

The 18-year-old Norwich University gap year student had to manage public transport using a smattering of Russian and learn to cook "plov" - a mixture of rice, meat and vegetables.

"It was a challenge both personally and culturally and it was an exciting and enjoyable thing to do," he said.

Mr Stockweel is now at the Baptist Centre in Birmingham doing further training before embarking on a six-week tour of Britain with other people on the mission, giving talks to schools and church groups.

"We'll be explaining our experiences and telling them they can do it too," he said.

They will be in the Malvern area from May 6-12, when they will visit Upton and Cradley primary schools, Hanley Castle and Dyson Perrins high schools and Malvern Youth Centre, as well as taking part in church services. They will also be at the Church Rooms, Upton, on Wednesday, May 8, at 7pm.