In today’s frighteningly competitive jobs market, university graduates are increasingly turning to gap years and voluntary projects to enhance their employability.

And one Shropshire lad, a recent graduate in Computer Science at Kings College in London, decided to do just that.

Alistair Morris, from Broseley, has just returned from a two-month voluntary placement in Madagascar, off the southeastern coast of Africa, where he spent the summer teaching computer skills and English.

Alistair, who tweets from @TheSalopian, used Twitter to post updates on his adventures along the way, from co-piloting private passenger planes in his spare time to feasting on rice and ‘zebu’, the Malagasy alternative to beef, and beer at 35p a pint.

Other adventures include “discovering chilli sauce served on second hand Shuttle re-entry tiles”, making the 12-hour journey to the city’s capital with “army guys pointing AK-47’s in my face”, and “laying in a hammock eating seafood and sunbakinq at 35 degrees.”

Considering the country’s political instability, vast landscape and unforgiving climate, Madagascar isn’t for the fainthearted, but Alistair says the experience has been well worthwhile.

“The Madagascans are incredibly friendly and very interested in where you’re from,” he says.

“The capital, Antananarivo, where I worked, is relatively urban, but most of the country is just wilderness and rural villages where they don’t ever see white people.

“Some of the children would touch my arm as I travelled about just to make sure I was real!

Alistair says the experience also made him realise how lucky he is to have grown up in Shropshire.

“When I showed them pictures of Shropshire, they were amazed at how lush and green it was,” he continues.

“We often take our landscape for granted, but to them it must have looked very affluent in comparison.”

Like many African countries, Alistair says there’s a sharp divide between rich and poor in Madagascar, and a large part of its population are surviving on a very low wage.

“The saddest thing is that a lot of the natives die of malaria as they can’t afford the treatment pills. Situations like that put everything into perspective and make you realise just how lucky you are.”

The country’s difficult climate also makes for a harsh environment for the country’s farmers.

“There are two seasons in Madagascar: wet and dry,” explains Alistair. “Everything flourishes when it’s wet and is then killed off in the heat of the dry season.

“There is no milk, because of the lack of grass for animals to graze on, and they don’t have enough water to put out the frequent wildfires so they have to just let them burn out.”

But despite the harsh conditions, Alistair says there are some beautiful parts of the country and amazing wildlife to be seen.

“I’d definitely go back,” he says. “It’s a very unique place.”

Alistair is now in Dublin studying for a Masters in Computer Science at Trinity College.

By Lara Page