Shropshire pig farmer Sam is on a mission
A Shropshire farmer has travelled to Africa as part of a charity mission to raise awareness for an organisation that helps those in the Third World.
Sam Gray, from Church Stretton, has paid for and organised a two-week trip called Middle Farm to Malawi.
She has arrived in Malawi and will spend two weeks with local farmers, learning how they eke out a living in challenging conditions.
Mrs Gray, who farms rare breed Middle White pigs at Middle Farm, said she had arrived safely, adding: "It's very hot but I'm thrilled to have arrived. The idea for this trip came about nine months ago and there has been a lot of planning."
She said: "The intention is to generate awareness of the exceptional work that Self Help Africa does. I've funded the trip myself and want to learn what African farmers go through.
"In the UK, things are completely different. If crops fail or if the price for livestock falls then it affects profit margins. But in Africa, if those things happen the difference can be between life and death.
"I will be visiting various parts of Malawi and learning more about what farmers go through and how they survive. Hopefully I will learn a lot and help to educate people about what they can do to help."
Ms Gray said she was grateful to Self Help Africa for helping her to organise a schedule that will take in numerous visits to farms.
"I am thrilled to be out here in Malawi and also grateful that people are running Middle Farm for me during my absence. It's all about learning and then sharing the experience with others.
"It's so important that we're aware of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world and that we do what we can to help them."
