MORE than 30 people will spend a night under the stars to raise money for an African village.

A sponsored sleepout will take place outside the Blackbird Leys Community Centre on Saturday, December 1, to mark World Aids Day.

All money raised will go towards livestock for a Kenyan village which has been devastated by the epidemic.

The sleepout has been organised by residential social worker Kimberley Russell, who will take the cash to villagers in Bungoma during a month-long visit.

Miss Russell, a 30-year-old mother-of-two from Knights Road, Blackbird Leys, will visit Kenya in February to teach village children English - and to give them information on how they can protect themselves against Aids.

She said she was inspired to go after seeing child poverty on family holidays in Barbados and the Dominican Republic.

She said: "It was very upsetting. In the Dominican Republic they were living in shacks made out of tin and they were very malnourished.

"They were not dressed properly, and had no education. I felt very emotional - upset and angry with the Western world.

"I felt that if wealth was spread around more, the world would not be such a bad place."

"So I thought: 'What could I do to help them?'"

Miss Russell, who has paid £700 for the month-long trip, organised the sleepout for young people in Blackbird Leys to help them realise what they take for granted.

She said every £30 raised in sponsorship would buy 30 chickens to provide eggs for the village.

Miss Russell would also like people to donate old reading glasses and Ladybird books that she can read to the village children.

She said: "I have always wanted to help people who are less fortunate than myself.

"A bit of help and a bit of love and support can help people and get them through difficult times in their lives.

"They may be in a different place, but they are still in our world."

To make a donation, email kimberley.russell@oxfordshire.gov.uk