A BORDERS man has spoken of his eye-opening experiences after two years of travelling the world to assist those in need.

Dominic Taddei, who grew up in Hawick and spent almost five years serving his country with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, decided to leave the Borders behind in 2017.

He sold off many of his possessions to fund a two-year volunteering mission across Africa and has returned with a renewed sense of perspective.

During his travels across Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda Dominic witnessed violent election riots, contracted Malaria and suffered a variety of broken bones having fallen down a storm drain.

Dominic, who is 36, told the Border Telegraph: “We really don’t have any idea of how others live on the other side of the world in some of the poorest countries on earth.

“I spent most of my time living in slums, which varied from corrugated houses to mud houses with grass thatched roofs.”

During his time in Africa, Dominic acted as a trustee for Roll Out the Barrel Trust UK, a project that aims to help with water supply issues in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Dominic also helped found a charity in Kenya, The Sunflower Community Orphans Support Project.

The organization helps feed orphaned children, many of whom are affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS, by using the proceeds of a café selling food to the public.

Dominic fully embraced the lifestyle of the local community, enduring the same daily struggles faced by the local population.

“I experienced what it was like to have electricity and water shortages and to fetch and carry drinking water.

“For the two years I went without washing machines, showers, fridges, cookers, TV or a flushing toilet.”

His desire to experience the tough reality of life in these societies is perhaps unsurprising given his previous holiday destinations have included North Korea, Chernobyl and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Despite the difficulties faced by the communities he assisted, Dominic was struck by the gratitude and positivity he encountered. He said: “The best part was seeing the smiles and laughs of the people I helped.

“They were grateful and happy, and because I lived like the majority of the people in the slum they made feel a part of the community - I really did feel like it was home.”

This sense of community was demonstrated when a newly born child was named after him, an experience which left Dominic “speechless and overwhelmed”.

The experiences of his spartan existence during his charitable travels, and the positivity of communities with so few of the things we take for granted, have shaped Dominic’s attitude to life since returning to the UK in March.

He added: “After selling most of my things to help fund this mission I now own very few items and the ones I do own I appreciate more.

“I appreciate things like electricity, running water, showers and fridges.

“I now live a fairly simple life and, to be honest, I feel happier doing so.”