A FOREIGN aid worker has visited a North Yorkshire market town to highlight the charity’s work.

Oxfam aid worker Orkham Ali, from Azerbaijan, visited Thirsk today (Friday, November 9) to speak to about 60 sixth formers at Thirsk School and Sixth Form College.

He spoke about the charity’s focus on providing women and families with access to water, as long journeys to collect clean water can prevent women from finding work and children from accessing education.

He said: “There was surprise expressed at the issues I was talking about, as most people wouldn’t know there was a water shortage and that problems exist in the country, which has huge oil resources.”

Mr Ali then visited Oxfam’s store in the town, to help celebrate the charity’s 70th birthday.

Serena Tramonti, a spokeswoman for Oxfam, said: “It was great to meet all the volunteers at the shop and how they’re using their creativity for Oxfam, knitting cupcakes and creating other crafts to sell in the shop as well as their usual routine work there.

“It was also great for them to hear from Orkham the difference their efforts make and how important their work is.

“The students at the sixth form were also fantastic. A lot of them already support their local Oxfam shop through volunteering there. It was amazing to see how a community like Thirsk is involved with Oxfam.”