Seamus adventures to Africa

Seamus Conway has been a sponsor with Plan for the past eight years. In March 2008, he travelled from Glasgow to Guinea to meet his sponsored child, 17 year-old Salemon, for the first time. He shares his adventure with us.

"In the town where I stayed, it seemed everyone sells what they can - from doors and gates to charcoal, piles of stones and rusty scrap-metal - at roadside stalls made of wood or straw, or in the markets. People are really just getting by.

It is a busy but peaceful place. I never heard any raised voices. There are no traffic lights and no private cars, only taxis. The roads have no street lights and university students sit and study under a single dim light, powered by a generator in the car park of the hotel.

The highlight of my trip was meeting my sponsored child, Salemon, along with every one else from his village. I was given a huge African village welcome that I will never forget.

There was a lot of singing and dancing, and many heartfelt speeches were made. Gifts were exchanged and I was presented with a cape, a pair of trousers, a straw hat, and some roasted peanuts.

I was also made a member of both Salemon¿s family and village. This was signified by my being named Saa, a moniker traditionally given to the eldest son in a family. To be initiated and accepted that way by an entire village is unforgettable and made me feel so honoured.

Plan is well known and respected in Guinea. I too was very impressed by what they do as well as how they do it. All staff-members are local people, from the most senior to those working as volunteers in the local villages.

I saw the local school and learnt how they are working to increase educational opportunities for young people like Salemon. I was delighted to see first hand, the practical, detailed attention Plan gives to their work.

I was most impressed to see and hear about the level of cooperation that exists there. Any project undertaken is done in close collaboration with the community and it really is this working-together of all involved that makes the great work Plan achieves in Guinea possible.

Sponsoring a child is a relatively inexpensive and practical way of achieving great things, particularly in education and health, and there is definitely a great need in Guinea. Now, having met Salemon and seen Plan's work first-hand, I am more pleased than ever to have my efforts united with those of Plan to relieve even just some of the problems there.

It was an amazing experience and I met so many fantastic people. I definitely left a huge part of my heart in Guinea."