Peoplehave verylittleand yettheyare happytolay onamealfor strangers..it’s sotouching

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund launch their annual Wee Box campaign next week. The Lenten appeal will focus on poor farming communities in Zambia. The Record travelled to Africa with the charity and one of their most famous supporters

RICKY Ross had just been given an insight into rural life in one of the world’s poorest countries when a farmer shared her ultimate dream.

Overlooking green fields of maize in Zambia, Vainess Moonga, 52, told the Deacon Blue star: “Do you know what my vision is? To have my own water.”

The gran then revealed she makes a daily, hourlong round trip to fill a container for her family at the communal village pump in Siakasipa.

Ricky, who was visiting Africa for the first time, said: “She has to carry the water for all her needs – washing, cooking and her animals – from the well, which is a good distance away.

“For all that we imagine life is moving on, the expectations people have here are still pretty basic. They are still essentially living hand to mouth on what we would call the breadline.”

The man behind hits such as Dignity and Real Gone Kid was invited to Zambia to see how money raised in Scotland is training farmers to make the most of their land.

Ricky’s journey took him from the capital Lusaka to remote communities in Kazungula District.

Along the way, the singer learned about the challenges of harvesting crops in extreme weather and heard how sustainable organic techniques have boosted yields.

The trip ended in Livingstone, where he lined up alongside a gospel choir for a memorable performance.

Ricky helped launch last year’s appeal and the choice of Zambia as the focus of the 2017 campaign had personal resonance.

He said: “Way back in my family, my mum’s sister