THE west Dorset community are being encouraged to ditch their stocking fillers to help disadvantaged African children this Christmas.

The Boo charity, which helps provide schooling for children in Kenya, is urging west Dorset parents to set aside a traditional 'stocking filler' for their children and instead to donate the cost to support children in its schools.

These small items may not go a long way in the average household but the cost of them is roughly equivalent to feeding a Kenyan child for a month.

Daisy Russell, from Beaminster, visited one of the schools in the Kibera slums, Kenya in March but had to return due to the coronavirus pandemic. As with many charities across the country, the lockdown period meant that Boo's progression was limited.

The situation in Kenya has drastically worsened due to the pandemic as the government has ordered a national lockdown, whilst not providing financial support to citizens.

Many children who in normal circumstances would have received a daily meal at school are now at home with poverty-stricken parents or carers who are unable to feed themselves as they have no work.

Miss Russell said: "In terms of main income, most of it has been lost. Most of our major fundraising events have had to be cancelled this year.

"We didn’t realise how severe the situation would get out there – fewer and fewer families are working and food prices have gone up, so we can’t provide as much.

“Some of the children were coming to school just to eat, and now they are unable to."

The Boo charity prides itself on giving children 'opportunity not charity' and provides disadvantaged African children with projects that include the provision of food, shelter, healthcare, education, life skills and emotional support - with an overarching aim of making its students self sufficient.

Miss Russell added: "We're urging people to do away with the typical plastic toy that’s generally unwrapped, popped to one side and eventually thrown in the bin.

"These toys can vary but can average around £4 which is the equivalent to feeding a child in Kenya for a whole month a stable nutritional diet to avoid starvation."

In return for their contribution, Dorset children will receive a postcard from a child in Kenya to say thank you.

To find out more about Boo and how to you can get involved in their campaigns visit www.boo-charity.org.uk