Seven Islanders are soon to travel to Sierra Leone in West Africa to visit the work of Christian Aid and CAFOD. In 2009 Tynwald’s Overseas Aid Committee awarded a three-year grant of about ?250,000 to each agency. The longer time-span not only provides more sustainable funding but also created a chance to plan and undertake a visit - a rare opportunity to witness at first hand the joys and challenges of development work, to build relationships, and to gain a better understanding of the issues. Phil Craine, Christian Aid’s area officer for the IoM, said “We’re looking forward to meeting beneficiaries and project staff, and we hope the experience will inspire us to tell people back here about how lives are being changed, and what is being achieved by Manx overseas aid.” After a briefing day in the capital Freetown, the group will travel down the coast to Bonthe, looking at work by the Methodist Church to increase food supplies to 23,000 poor, small-scale farmers and those working in fishing. Then it’s north to Kenema, where CAFOD partner Caritas supports ten communities in implementing sustainable agriculture, including inter-cropping, fencing, and the use of drought resistant crops. It aims to reduce vulnerability to drought, bush fires and wind storms through sustainable management of the environment, helping 26,000 people. Ends