From a very early age Natasha Tordoff was aware that her mother’s homeland was a dangerous place to live.
The former model grew up in Wakefield with her British father and her mum Larissa, 54, who is from Papua New Guinea - which has the second highest crime rate in the world.
Natasha heard tales from her mum about her experiences growing up in the country where women are beaten and attacked by men and no one blinks an eye.
Despite this Natasha is bravely moving from her home in west London to Papua New Guinea for two years, where she not only hopes to connected more with her maternal side but also wants to change the country’s archaic attitude towards women.
She told the Mirror: ”My mum has told me horrific stories of what life is like there.
“She had seen her cousins being beaten and water being thrown on people but as horrific the stories are she also told me Papua New Guinea is unique, and it has fascinated me so much that I want to see for myself by living out there.
“In Papua New Guinea, there is a very strong tribal culture without the moral boundaries we take for granted in the UK. For example, it’s normal for men to beat their wives, for tribes to murder one another, and for honour killings to take place.
“Standards are blurred and I am moving there to be part of the solution and raise awareness about equality and acceptance of all people."
In Papua New Guinea there are high levels of murders, rapes, kidnappings, armed robberies.
Data published last year by World Population Review shows Papua New Guinea has the second highest crime rate in the world with a shocking 80.79 per 100,000 people - which is just below Venezuela which has 83.76.
This compares to the UK rate of 46.07 and 47.81 in the US.
In fact the Commonwealth island situated in the Pacific Ocean is considered so dangerous that the Foreign Office website issues a stark safety warning to prospective travellers.
It warns: “There is a high level of serious and violent crime. Law and order is poor or very poor in many parts of the country. Pay close attention to your personal security, particularly after dark, and monitor the media for possible new security risks. “
However the data and Government warning doesn’t rattle Natasha but she knows she has to change her everyday habits like driving alone or even talking to a man.
“I know security is a top priority,” she said.
"There is concern for my safety both from potential physical harm, rape or from the elements as when I plan to travel to my mother's island I will be exposed on open sea for many hours and speed boats are known to capsize and there's a threat from me contracting tropical diseases.
"I will be living in a guarded compound, and will be expected not to travel outside of the compound limits on my own until I have established some presence in the local region.
"I will have to notify my colleagues of my travel plans and what time I’ll be back etc.
“It will be tough giving up basic freedoms like walking alone in the street, going shopping, talking to men, and even driving a car.
"But I have chosen to commit to this line of work and view comfort and safety a barrier to reaching people."
During her two-year stay there Natasha, a corporate services manager, will be working with Christian organisation Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), by introducing locals to modern technology which she hopes will change their attitude towards women.
“There’s a culture attitude that men own women," she said.
"Men still have to pay a dowry to marry a woman as it’s one of those traditions that just hasn’t died out.
“Around 70% of woman are a victim of a sex attack but I believe women in Papua New Guinea are strong, diverse and so essential to life.
"They need to learn this."
Natasha’s parents met when her father was sent to Papua New Guinea in 1985 where he worked as a research scientist.
The couple returned to the UK where they had Natasha and her older brother.
She said: “Being mixed-race I think I will be viewed as an outsider – but I want to learn, adapt, and try not to take my western way of life and make it fit this new culture.
“I am hoping that my work through MAF will contribute to the education of communities and the understanding that all life is valuable and precious – especially women.”
In 2012 Natasha returned to her mother’s place of birth to meet her family which ignited her interest in the country.
She said: “It was an amazing experience.
“My mum’s family live on a remote island and you can only get there in a speed boat which takes 24 hours.
“There were flying fish jumping over the boat and at one point the driver lost his bearings but we got there.
"I remember having to go down a creek to use the toilet and I was warned there could be crocodiles there.
“But Papua New Guinea is not all about brutality - it is a beautiful island with jungle rainforests where tribes still live. There are 850 different languages spoken there.
“In fact 80% is very rural and it can take people three or four days to travel elsewhere.”
Natasha said the vast rural parts of the country means things that the Western world take for granted like Internet access and seeking medical help can be a challenge.
“The country’s mobile phone coverage is not great and if you hurt yourself it takes three days to walk to a hospital.
“My job involves the day-to-day running of MAF’s technology services which will install high frequency radio masts, solar power and we’ll offer technology training using Wifi in remote communities.
“The challenges will be worth it, knowing my role is making a difference in people’s lives. For example, installing a radio mast in a rural village so that a community can communicate, or facilitating an online training programme for young people so they can train and get jobs.
“I am also looking forward to learning about my mother’s people and fitting into a new community.
“I will have to change the way I live and it will be a very different way of living but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
