Benin trips makes Anna convert

HAVING just returned from one of the world's poorest countries where she and fellow young farmers saw where some of their fund raising cash was helping the next generation of farmers in Benin to grow their own crops, Anna Dickinson, below, said she was totally convinced of the benefits of the project.

"Food for Life" is designed to provide basic equipment such as hoes, rakes, seeds so that farmers in Benin can grow crops and feed their families.

Last summer, the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs raised 27,000 to help this project, organised by the Mercy Ships charity supported by businesswoman, Ann Gloag. As one of those who raised the most cash, Dickinson was sponsored by Robert Wiseman Dairies to travel out to see how the project operated.

In Benin she saw youngsters on the 12-week basic training programme.

She described the experience of seeing the hard physical work in the extreme heat as "humbling" and has vowed to return at some future point to see the long-term difference the project has made.