Oxford solicitor Nina Ali is planning to sell her only asset — her flat in London — to fund a children's home in Pakistan and is determined not to let the slump in the housing market dash her hopes.

The first major event to help fund the project is an indoor charity mela — or festival — at the Asian Cultural Centre, in Manzil Way, East Oxford, on Sunday with music, dance, food, face painting, activities for children and stalls.

Ms Ali, whose family lives in Oxford and who is currently living in Summertown, said: "My dream is to open at least one home to help children in Pakistan and I want the sale of my London home to fund it.

"But whether it sells now or later does not matter — the home plan will go ahead."

Ms Ali said: "This is the first time I have done anything like this so I do not know how much the mela will raise.

"I am just hoping as many people as possible — and it is open to everyone — will come, enjoy themselves and boost the funds. I hope it will make more than £1,000, but there is no way of telling."

Of her flat, she said: "It is on the market now but I am not willing to disclose how much is being sought for it. The market is so down at the moment.

"A year ago I would have hoped to make £30,000 or £40,000 after the mortgage was paid off, but now I simply do not know how much to expect.

"All I know is that in Pakistan you can make £1 do much more work than it will do here."

Ms Ali, who worked for a firm of Reading solicitors but is now moving to a London firm and returning to live in the city, said: "I have this dream of helping the children.

"The first house — I am determined there will be more — will be named Sofia House after one of my nieces and the others will be named after nieces, too."

The aim initially is to rent until the charity becomes established and then to buy or build. The first home, due to open in March, will look after 15 to 20 girls.

The scheme is called the Millie Mittoo Children's Projects, named after Millie Hussain, her six-year-old niece who lives in Headington.

Ms Ali said: "The word mittoo just means sweetie and we used to call her Millie Mittoo so it seemed a good name for the fundraising organisation."

She intends visiting the home in Islamabad regularly to make sure everything is kept in good cond- ition.

Ms Ali, who was born in Lahore, said she would fund the project from her salary and fees, and from fundraising, and was not moving to Pakistan.