环球英语 — 111：New Horizons

Hello, I’m Liz Waid.

And I’m Ruby 1 Jones. Welcome to Spotlight 2. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

No work... bad health... poverty 3... high crime 4 rates: these are serious problems in many countries. But not, you would think, in the United 5 Kingdom. However for some people in Scotland 6, these are very real issues 7. Scotland is the UK’s second largest country and Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city. Over the years Glasgow has developed into an important centre of trade and industry. Parts of the city show the results of this development. There are large houses, wide green spaces to enjoy, and there is plenty of work.

However other areas of Glasgow are not like that. The east end of the city suffers from many social problems. Young people in that area see little hope for the future. There are no jobs. There are few safe places for them to meet and enjoy each other’s company. They do not expect to live as long as people in better areas. They find it hard to think about problems in other parts of the world. Why should they, they ask, when their own world is so hard?

However, one young man from Scotland decided 8 to set an example to these young people. His name is Ben Williams. Ben wanted them to think about matters beyond their world. Ben’s family lives on a small island off the west coast of Scotland. His father is the leader of a Christian 9 church there. Ben had a very happy childhood. He did not face the problems that the young people in Glasgow were experiencing. He had also come to believe that God loved him. And so he wanted to serve God with his life.

Ben moved to Glasgow when he was twenty [20]. He found a job with an aid agency 10 called, “Save the Children.” This organization had just started a project in the poor part of Glasgow. The “YES” project targeted the young people of the area. The project aimed to help young people to be responsible 11 for their city. The thinking behind the project was simple. Young people did not have to be part of the area’s problems - they could be part of the answer.

So “Save the Children” appointed 12 Ben as one of the helpers 13 on the “YES” project. He became an adviser 14 to a young persons’ group. This group is part of a network of twelve similar groups across the area. In these groups, children from different ethnic 15 and religious 16 traditions have a chance to mix together. They exchange ideas about how they can influence their community for good. They decide what practical 17 steps they can take to make this possible. Then advisers 18 like Ben help them to prepare business plans. The young people learn skills that will be useful to them throughout 19 their lives.

There is some government money to help make the young people’s plans happen. And the groups ask local businesses if they can assist 20 them financially. But there is never enough money. This is especially true because “Save the Children” wants to increase the number of groups across the area. Ben saw how the young people were growing in so many different ways. He did not want lack of money to stop their development as responsible young people. So he decided to find a way to raise as much money as he could. Ben spoke 21 about his idea:

“I decided to raise ten thousand pounds [£10,000] for Save the Children’s “YES” project. How? By cycling from the top to the bottom of Vietnam 22! My friends and family offered to give me some money for the “YES” project. But I had to promise to complete the cycle ride first! I needed to do a lot of training. The distance between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is one thousand eight hundred [1,800] kilometres! I had never cycled so far before.”

Ben was looking forward to exploring Vietnam. It is an interesting country. But there were other reasons for his choice. Ben explained what they were:

“Many of the young people in the “YES” project do not know anything outside their own world. I wanted to them to think about new places. I wanted them to know that young people all over the world can have similar experiences to them. In fact, we hope to establish links with “Save the Children” projects in Vietnam. We believe that one day young people from Vietnam and Scotland will visit each other’s countries and learn from each other.”

While he was in Vietnam, Ben wrote about his cycling trip as often as he could. He published his writing on the internet. His family and friends back home could then read about his progress. Here are some of his memories:

“Stepping onto my bicycle in the heart of Hanoi was very frightening. There is traffic everywhere. And the noise is so loud. It almost deafens 23 me...”

“I could not believe the bright sun and clear blue sky this morning. I felt heavy and slow on the road. But the beautiful weather made me feel happy. Riding a bicycle is very strange. You never know when it will be difficult or when it will be easy...”

“My best memory of Vietnam is going to be the children. They stop their roadside games to wave as I pass. Wherever I go they shout hello and laugh. They always seem so happy...”

“It is Christmas Day! At last I have reached the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. I was so happy! I raised my arms in joy. I want to thank the people of Vietnam for a life changing experience. But most of all I want to thank God. He provided 24 everything I needed and kept me safe.”

Ben returned home to Scotland after two hard weeks of cycling. He was extremely 25 tired. But he knows that his efforts have been worth it. His young people’s group are very proud of him. They now understand better all that life in the United Kingdom can offer them - even though they may have problems. And they want to make the most of it. They are looking forward to the day when they too, can visit the young people of Vietnam. But they will not be riding a bicycle when they get there!