BRITISH actress Emma Thompson is to take a year off work to travel round Africa with her family to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS. The two-time Oscar winner will be going to Africa on behalf of the charity Action Aid, the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday. ”We have always wanted to do some voluntary work overseas,” she was quoted as saying. ”I will talk to women and orphans and try to spread the message about Aids to inform people of the risks. The problem with Africa is that people are not talking about their problems.” Thompson said she hoped her celebrity status would come to good use. ”Celebrities can sometimes help get a good reaction for a cause,” she said. Thompson, who will be accompanied by partner Greg Wise and their 17-month-old daughter Gaia, said it was the perfect time to do the trip because she was currently being a mother rather than acting. The actress hoped to begin the trip before the end of the year, the newspaper said. – Reuters