CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride visited a charity based in Chagford recently to find out about their work helping some of the poorest people in Mali.

Mr Stride visited the Joliba Trust, a charity that supports work in 200 villages and works towards sustaining rural livelihoods through agriculture and farming.

The charity was set up in 1992 — 95% of all money given to the charity goes to helping those in Mali.

The trust also runs a health and micro-credit programme targeting the problems of malnutrition and maternal mortality. More than 800 birth-attendants have been trained, and three maternity centres have been built since 1998. They also carry out natural resource management and tree planting work as part of a drylands livelihoods programme.

Charity co-ordinator and trustee Caroline Hart said: 'We are working directly with rural communities and aid is getting through very cost-effectively to those who really need it. A lot of people are currently only living on sorrel and boiled wild grass just to fill their stomachs.'

Mr Stride said: 'I am very impressed with the work that Carolne and the Joliba Trust is continuing to carry out in Mali, a country that faces very significant challenges both politically and environmentally. I will do whatever I can to assist Caroline with her work and it was a pleasure meeting her.'

For more information or to get involved with the charity, visit http://www.jolibatrust.org.uk">www.jolibatrust.org.uk or call 01647 432018.