A couple finally met the African teenager they have sponsored for years during a once-in-a -lifetime trip to his home country.

Peter and Debra Ware, of Leigh, travelled to Mali in West Africa to meet Mahamadou, 13, where they were treated to a traditional meal courtesy of the boy's grandmother.

While they were there, they were also shown projects funded by the international children's charity Plan, through whom they sponsor the boy.

Peter, 38, said: "After years of exchanging personal news through letters, such as news of births in Mahamadou's family and my brother's engagement, it got to the point where I really wanted to meet him in person.

"I wanted to gain an appreciation of the environment the family are living in.

"After several speeches, we presented the family with gifts, including footballs, tablecloths depicting famous London landmarks and rice.

"We were given gifts in return - watermelons, a wooden stool carved with my name and, most surprisingly, a live chicken.

"We left the chicken in Mali as I am sure customs would have had a few words to say if we had tried to bring it back to Britain."

Debra said: "I really cannot stress how rewarding this trip was. It was fun, emotional, sad, surreal and over far too quickly.

"We ate with Mahamadou's family, danced, laughed and cried with them. It will be a day that will live in our hearts for a long time to come."

The couple, who live in Leigh and work in the City, were then taken on a tour of the community, where they were welcomed by 150 villagers with dancing and drums.

Peter said: "The impression I came away with was, despite the lack of resources, the people are happy.

"There were lots of smiles on faces and we formed a connection with them despite the language barriers. Feeling that connection, the world seemed not such a big place."

In Mali, nearly 25 per cent of children die before the age of five.

Two-thirds of children do not attend primary school and 75 per cent of the rural population does not have access to adequate water.

Sponsoring a child involves committing a regular amount of money to help a community.

Your sponsored child will recive an education and the rest of the community benefits through projects which provide things like healthcare, clean water and tools for farmers.

Sponsors also have the opportunity to exchange letters with their alloted child.

Plan is one of many charities which arranges sponsorship in the Third World.

starts at £12 a month.