A CHARITY worker was so inspired by what she experienced on a volunteer project in Africa that she has decided to do it all over again.

Hetti Sansom, 25, from Ulverston headed to Malawi after the sudden death of close friend Jamie Watson.

In memory of him she completed a three month project with charitable organisation, Progressio.

She said: "It was tougher than I thought it would be.
"It was mentally tough at times and it was like being in a different world and sometimes hard to believe we were on the same planet.

"They had literally nothing. It's difficult to put it in to words.

"I had always wanted to do something like this but what happened to Jamie was a push."

Related article: Sudden death of friend inspires Ulverston woman to make life-long wish a reality

Miss Sansom lived in a town called Mzuzu in northern Malawi working towards raising awareness of HIV and Aids.

The town was hit with severe flooding which destroyed many people's homes and was an eye opening experience.

"Some people make about 70p a day and that's a good wage.

"They are so content with what they have, not like us always wanting more.

"I felt like I had made real changes to people's lives which I don't get to do here.

"If it wasn't for my family and friends I would have stayed out there."

Miss Sansom plans to return to Malawi in a few weeks time and hopes that this visit will be longer than 12 months as she believes there is still much work to be done in the region.

An estimated one million Malawians were living with HIV in 2013 and 48,000 Malawians died from HIV-related illnesses in the same year.

The passionate charity worker is keen to promote the projects ran by Progressio who operate in a range of different countries.

She said: "It is safe, everything is covered once you complete your initial fundraising of £800 and when you're there you get a stipend."

Miss Sansom will be hosting an event in Ulverston on Thursday August 11 inviting friends, family and anyone who sponsored her to get together and learn just how much of an impact their donations had.

The meeting will take place at Ulverston Sports and Social Club, Priory Road from 7.30pm.

More like this: Charity concert celebrates the life of Millom woman who was 'second to none '