First Hand: Stories from Beneficiaries
Learn more about our work from the people who describe it best: those who have benefited from British Council programmes over the past 75 years.
Perhaps you have a story to share? Have you been involved with the British Council? Has this had an impact on your life? Share your story by completing our online form. Throughout the year, a selection of these stories will be published here and in the media.

The International Student: Getting Involved in your Host Community
Award-winning international student and Youth Development Project co-founder, Matthew Morton, describes his unpredicted experiences and opportunities as a student in the UK

An everlasting impression of the British Council
Find out how becoming one of 60 eminent UK graduates in Hong Kong changed Rachel Cheung's life.

The power of positive thinking
Cephas Torkornoo, who works for a financial services company in Ghana, is visually impaired. He first came into contact with the British Council through attending their events in Ghana.

The Publisher: Business Blooms Through British Council Award
Octavio Kulesz, a young publisher from Argentina, travels to the UK, renews his company and sets up an international business network. The catalyst: A British Council award

IAESTE trainee of the year exceeds expectations
Katy Pegg spent last summer on an IAESTE traineeship working at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In December 2008 she won trainee of the year award. Read more to find out about her experience.

Becoming a global citizen
Chiamaka Umeasiegbu from Nigeria, took part in the Global Xchange (GX) programme in Calabar, Nigeria and Edinburgh, UK.

Learning about British culture - being a language assistant in the UK
Alexandra Alvarez from Colombia shares her experience as a Foreign Language Assistant in the UK.

School links and exchanges
Margaret James, Head teacher of Whitestone Primary School in Swansea, Wales, has been involved with a range of school’s links and exchanges since 1996. Through the British Council she has formed partnerships with schools in seven other countries.

Helping the battle against malaria
Ngo Giang Lien from Vietnam has been working to tackle a number of tropical diseases, including malaria, by the transfer of new technology and scientific knowledge between the UK and countries in South East Asia.

Witnessing climate change first hand
Shruti Neelakantan, from India, is one of the British Council’s International Climate Champions. She writes here about her experiences of being part of an expedition to the Arctic to witness the rapid effects of climate change.
