A KEEN conservationist from Droitwich is embarking on a 10-week charity expedition to Madagascar.

Sam Parkes is off to the island off the south-east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean after securing one of 50 places on one of four Pioneer schemes run by Azafad - a charity which operates environmental, humanitarian and sustainable development projects on the island.

The 20-year-old, of Lyttelton Road, must raise a minimum donation of £2,000 for the trip, which will start on Wednesday, October 4. He will be living and working alongside impoverished villagers - mostly under canvas - to help them build better lives. "I saw an advertisement for the Pioneer scheme in the Big Issue and decided this was what I wanted to do," he said.

"I had previously spent six months in South Africa and was looking for a new challenge that would allow me to help people and get involved in conservation.

"This seemed the ideal opportunity to me and I wrote off immediately in the hope that I might get one of the places.

"I was overjoyed to hear that my application had been successful, and I've managed to get about half the sponsorship that is required already."

Pioneers will build wells to provide clean water, protecting villagers from the spread of cholera and other infections. They will also monitor lemurs, an endangered species, and establish community market gardens and beehives to improve nutrition and provide villagers with alternative incomes.

The Pioneer scheme runs four annual schemes, which depart in January, April, July and October.

For further information, visit www.madagascar. co.uk To make a donation on behalf of Sam call 020 8960 6629 or 07817 866080.