HE spent many years helping poverty stricken children in Indonesia and now he is returning to the country permanently.

Ian Hammond (65) plans to live out his retirement on the island of Lombok where he will continue his voluntary work.

He will work with the Anak Bangsa Foundation which runs an after-school care programme for underprivileged children aged 8-14 years old where they can learn life skills such as English and computing classes.

The foundation also financially assists youngsters back into education if they have dropped or do not attend due to lack of money.

Ian said, “We go out on a moped and tour the villages looking for kids not going to school. If we find any we ask them why they are not there, speak to parents, and see if there is anything we can do to help.

“It may be they don’t go as they can’t get transport as the school is too far away.” Life on the island will be a change for Ian who currently lives in Dollar – not least the rent which runs at a measly £300 a year.

However, for the past six years Ian has annually spent month-long trips abroad with various voluntary organisations and it was always his dream to retire there.

“He said, “It was my dream that when I retire I would retire out there. It’s the people and the poverty and the fact I can help. I love being out there. I feel at home out there.” Ian first fell in love with the country when he first stepped foot on the land in 1989 with VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). He remained there until 1995 and being a physics and PE teacher, he instructed teachers on how to teach practical sciences – physics, chemistry and biology – across primary, middle and senior schools.

When he returned home, he began working for Clackmannanshire Council as a community access worker in the integrated mental health service and in 2008 he began returning to Indonesia for month-long voluntary trips.