A CHARITABLE pair are set to take their next trip to Malawi as they look to boost education in the struggling country.

Lynn Higgins, and her partner Terry Martin, from Ridgewell, visit Malawi several times a year running their own charity, the Jacaranda Literacy Project, through the Jacaranda school.

Last year the duo donated 800 books, which they purchase once they arrive in the country.

Lynn, an English teacher who was born in Malawi, said: “We buy the books ourselves and take them out there, where we have a librarian who we have hired to work at the school.

“People are amazing, and so generous, but I think these days people can be wary, so they want to give but they want to know where exactly the money is going, and people are always willing to support education.”

Malawi has hit national news recently after Madonna gave funding to a children’s hospital - the same hospital Lynn was born in 50 years ago.

She said: “I’m actually really excited to visit the hospital and see the changes.

“Last year we visited, and it was not a hospital in any way, it was a place were people go to die.”

As well as continuously funding education, Lynn and Terry have been sponsoring a 13-year-old, Mussa, for the last two years.

He was at Jacaranda but due to his difficult upbringing and with the support of Lynn and Terry, he was allowed to go to boarding school.

Lynn added: “He was a street boy, and we had no clue how old he was. In the three years we have been helping, he has literally doubled in height and has come such a long way.

“What is really heartwarming, is you help these people with education but they have no desire to leave their country.

”They all want to stay and be doctors or engineers in Malawi, and make a difference."

Visit jacarandafoundation.org for more information.