Efforts are being made by Scots to relieve Malawi's poverty

The fact-finding mission visited hospitals, schools and orphanages - many of them staffed by volunteers from Scotland.

A report on how Scotland can help African communities tackle problems like poverty Aids will now be prepared.

Meanwhile, Jack McConnell is taking youngsters on a trip to Malawi in May.

The week-long Malawi trip, for a group of about six children and two teachers, will be the prize in a competition.

The youngsters will be asked to study the issue of education for young people in Africa in essay, poster, video or music form and suggest a useful project that could be undertaken.

If it was happening in the western world the cheque would be written today Tom Hunter Tycoon

The winning team will set up formal links with a school in Malawi and later this year a return visit will be arranged for the African children.

The costs of the two trips will be met by the Scottish Executive and the Hunter Foundation.

Tycoon Tom Hunter said: "This is a great chance for Scotland's children to have their voice heard on the issue of Malawi in particular and Africa in general.

"A child dies every three seconds in the developing world, that's not a statistic it's a fact- do we as a nation want to stand back and do nothing about that?"

He continued: "If it was happening in the western world the cheque would be written today."

Malwi schoolchildren will take part in an exchange visit

Mr McConnell added: "This is an important year for Scotland, when the world leaders gather at Gleneagles for the G8 summit.

"Their focus will be poverty and Africa and climate change - issues which have particular resonance with young Scots."

The first minister said: "There are already strong links between Scottish schools and Africa, and I want to take this opportunity, when the world's focus is on Scotland, to strengthen those links.

"I want to encourage our young people to develop an international outlook - one that is neither self-serving nor paternalistic - but recognises the mutual benefit to be gained from working to improve the lives of people living in less privileged parts of the world."