The first time I visited Africa, many years ago, I remember waltzing into both a school and then an orphanage, amongst a stream of fellow tourists, on an organised excursion. We all took out our cameras and started clicking away while the children looked back at us....
As I made my way through the lush greenery of giant ferns and towering palm trees I could hear the sweet sound of Baka songs floating through the air. Interlocking, polyphonic rhythms and melodies woven together. Songs that prepared the tribe and the animals of the...
One of the things I love most about travelling is learning about different cultures and traditions. I try to travel with an open heart and mind, seeking positive, enriching experiences. But every now and again, as is inevitable, I come across...
The dust, the smiles and the rhythm of the drums, West Africa, can really get under your skin; I lost count of the number of times I've visited this corner of the globe a long time ago. As I set out on a journey of a different kind, namely sponsoring a child in...
Becoming a digital ambassador for Plan UK Earlier this year I was delighted to receive an email from Plan UK, a branch of the international children's charity, inviting me to join them for an afternoon of networking (with tea and cake - they know...
Do you like bananas? Have you noticed that over the last ten years the price of bananas in the UK has halved while the cost of producing those bananas has almost doubled? It just doesn't add up, does it? In fact, bananas are now sold so cheaply that this is...
There has been a lot of bad press lately about volunteer tourism and I’ve heard a few horror stories myself, such as local teachers being dismissed because the school knew that a volunteer teacher was on there way. Even more disturbing still though are cases involving...
Following on from my previous post about the fascinating evening Cooking Palestine, I'd like tell you more about one of the guests that night, a Palestinian farmer. Abu's story has a troubled past but a clear and hopeful future thanks to Fair Trade. As a young man he...
Last week Malala, a 14-year-old school girl in Pakistan, was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban while coming home from school because she had spoken out about the rights of girls to an education. It was a poignant reminder that the education, that so many of us...
