I am incredibly lucky to have been brought up with a sense of social responsability whether it be at home or abroad, being Scottish this is bred into us from an early age. We are also taught that it is our responsability as human beings to put out a helping hand to those who are less fortunate than ourselves and to ensure through education and welfare that everyone has equal access to schooling and health care. These are facilities that we in my country are blessed with and unfortunately many people take it as a right rather than a priviledge. 

I have been lucky in life and feel it would a priviledge to help other people who are not as fortunate as either my family or myself.

The trip had an incredibly profound effect on me and made me look at many things in my life, things that I have taken for granted that other people simply cannot imagine. it is only right that I try and help other people and to see the work that you and everyone at Hagar is doing in the conditions you work in has inspired me.

I take for granted running water, hot and cold. I take for granted safety and security for both my family and myself, I take for granted health care and welfare should I need it. My eyes were opened at the end of last year because although we see situations on TV regarding third world countries it is not until you are there and looking at the people in the eye that you actually know what it means "to help someone else".

Allan McKinnon