CHARITY worker Eleanor Harrison is helping to revolutionise the lives of Kenya’s street children.

She is the director of Abingdon-based charity Action for Children in Conflict (AfCiC), which helps rehabilitate children hit by war, poverty, hunger, abandonment, persecution and unemployment.

The 29-year-old lives in Thika, a small town in Central Province.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail from Kenya, she said: “This is a wonderful country, which I now call home.

“Unfortunately, it still has many problems, and the treatment of street children is one of the biggest. There's still this perception in many places that they are worthless.

“AfCiC tries to break cycles of violence, hatred and despair by providing psychological, emotional and educational support to those affected by conflict.

“We focus on children and young people because they have the greatest capacity to transcend the conflicts of their communities and to bring about change in the future.”

The charity launched in 1995 as Action for Peoples in Conflicts, before concentrating on young people.

Life for street children can be rife with danger, Ms Harrison said.

In July, a boy called Francis being cared for by the charity was killed when thugs beat him to death in an act of mob justice.

Ms Harrison said: “Francis was a child who many people loved. He had character, a wonderful smile and a good heart.

“To lose him in such an utterly futile, violent way is hard to come to terms with.

“He did not deserve to die in this way and yet the perpetrators will not be brought to justice because he was a street child.”

But she said the downsides were outweighed by the “incredible” positives.

She said: “It is the most satisfying job I have ever had.

“To see these young children rehabilitated, reunited with their families or put through school is absolutely wonderful. They all have so much promise – they just need a little help realising it.

“The huge advantage in Kenya is that they still have large extended families. There is always someone who can look after these children – we just need to find them.

“We are a real local charity, and have always greatly appreciated the help we receive from the people of Oxford. But as always, we always need more money.

“I want to be able to help every child who comes to my door, and the more donations we receive the more youngsters we can help.”

To find out more about the charity, see its website or call 01235 539319.