Ricky Ross is flying to Brazil next week to see for himself the progress that is being made in a land redistribution project he first visited more than 10 years ago.

The Deacon Blue singer hopes his visit will highlight the challenges that remain in closing the equality gap in Brazilian, whilst also uncovering some of the achievements that are being made.

During his visit, Ross will meet the MST, the Landless People’s Movement, which is helping impoverished Brazilians acquire land.

He will spend time in Sao Paulo before heading 250 miles north to the town of Promissao, where he will meet people being helped into new lives by MST.

Ross will be blogging about his experience on the Christian Aid website.

He writes: “In 1998 I was asked to visit Brazil and in particular, the work of MST in the state of Sao Paulo.

“This was a great experience for me then and the memories of that trip remain with me to this day.

“I learned that, no matter how impoverished we perceive our own country to be, there is a deeper, sadder and more brutal poverty in the developing world than we can ever imagine. Getting the opportunity to see this at first hand is wholly worthwhile.

“Next week I will return to Sao Paulo, to Promissao and see again what is happening to the people of MST. I will try to tell you as much as I can along the way.

“I hope to meet old friends, see some children who are now adults and meet some new friends.”