Somewhere in Mali, West Africa, there is a man with three new pairs of Marks and Spencer socks.

Winchester teacher, Alex Beckett, sold them when he needed to raise some money for food and water.

"I had problems cashing my traveller's cheques, the banks were closed and, for four days, I had no currency," said Alex.

"I also sold two shirts, a U2 CD, chopsticks and a couple of batteries. This kept me going until my mother wired emergency money to Western Union."

Alex (25), who teaches at St Bede School, was in Mali for two weeks as part of the Early Entrant Training Scheme run by Hampshire under which teachers in their second year of working for the county can apply for a £1,500 grant for professional and career development.

"I spent six months of my gap year in Marrakech, Morocco, working in a home for abandoned children," explained Alex.

"I had learned some basic Arabic and wanted to go back to a Muslim country to find out about their culture and how the desert is encroaching on the townships.

"Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world and Timbuktu, a predominantly Muslim city, is in the poorest area."

For many centuries, Timbuktu was a centre of Islamic learning. Venetian traders told stories of how Arabs described it as a city paved with gold. It was not until 1896 that a European, Rene Caille, travelled there with a salt caravan.

Alex feels it is particularly important in the present political climate for English schoolchildren to learn about Muslim ways and beliefs.

During his visit, he greeted people and held limited conversations in Arabic, which made him instant friends.

"They were surprised and flattered that a European had taken the trouble to learn their language. Most of the time, I spoke French, which is widely used as Mali was once a French colonial country."

Children are only three when they start school to learn the Koran. Parents pay what they can at the end of each month and their donations meet the teachers' salaries.

From six to 16, education is free and pupils can either transfer to another Koranic school or go to one where French is taught. Most choose the latter as they hope a European language will help them get a good job.

In temperatures of up to 47oC and in the all-pervading dust, Alex and his guide visited Dogon country where there are settled farmers who keep goats and grow crops, especially onions.

He took pencils with him to give to the children, many of whom had malnutrition or birth defects such as hare lips.

One of the most memorable sights was a caravan of Touaregs, nomadic Arabs who once fought against the Foreign Legion.

"They had travelled 200 miles across the desert with the salt for transportation down the River Niger to cities where it can be sold for a higher price," said Alex.

"They were on dromedaries, with their heads completely wrapped in the indigo blue scarves to keep out the sand. Only their eyes showed."

Alex took a digital video camera and he has wonderful film of his visit as well as photographs. Although he had not made any previous contact, he visited schools and gained entrance simply by saying he was a teacher and asking to talk to other teachers, meet the children and see the classrooms.

He made tape recordings in French and one in English.

"It is a real status symbol in Mali to speak English and one teacher was very keen to talk to me. He told me that Mali has become much dryer in the last 50 years and 60% of the world's dust came from the Sahara. Timbuktu is being swallowed up by sand and, despite their promises, governments have taken no action."

Back in Winchester, Alex has already told his enthralled and excited class about his adventures and shown them some of his souvenirs.

"Now I must draw up schemes of work for RE, geography, citizenship and environmental studies."

Alex heard Prince Charles talking about the importance of children understanding Muslim culture and sent him a letter telling him about the visit. He received a reply wishing him well in his work.

Alex says he loves being at St Bede and is adjusting to teaching in the splendid new building after five terms at Bereweeke Road.

"I hope one day to teach at an international school. I shall never forget the people I met and the places I saw in Mali. It was an amazing experience," he added.