An Alton charity volunteer met the president of Mozambique during his first overseas disaster deployment helping communities displaced by devastating floods.

Dave Harrington travelled to the south-east African country alongside Four Marks resident Walt Saunders as volunteers with the Vodafone Foundation. Walt, who has taken part in numerous deployments, serves as the foundation’s associate director.

Dave said: “We have two functions - to respond to natural disasters by providing free telecommunications to disaster-hit areas, and to set up Instant Network Schools for displaced children.

“We were helping communities affected by recent devastating floods, providing communications at shelters for some of the 700,000 people displaced.

“We also trained a local team of volunteers and donated equipment so they can be self-sufficient in future responses. I was invited to meet the president at a school that was housing about 800 people.”

Dave found himself literally looking up to Mozambique’s 49-year-old president, Daniel Chapo, who took office in January last year and stands 6ft 8in tall.

“He was quite an imposing figure, but seemed pleasant,” Dave said. “His aides told us they didn’t want him to speak to us — even though we’d been invited to meet him — but the president ignored them and we were introduced.

“One of our party explained what we were doing. He asked a few questions and, on behalf of the people of Mozambique, said: ‘Thank you for coming to help our people.’ We exchanged a few more pleasantries and then he was on his way.”

It remains a busy period for both volunteers. Dave, now on his second deployment, spoke to the Herald from Zambia, while Walt is currently in Jamaica recovering Vodafone equipment used to restore temporary connectivity after Hurricane Melissa struck the Caribbean island nation in October last year.