A PORTISHEAD based charity has launched its Christmas campaign.

The Za Foundation is building a community library in Nkomazi, a deprived area of South Africa and is hoping this campaign will raise much needed funds to complete the project.

The Nkomazi Community Library project got off to a flying start with donations of several thousand books from North Somerset schools and organisations.The charity had originally planned to send a container overseas with the books, to be transformed in to the library, but because of the shipping costs involved it is now sourcing one in South Africa.

Za Foundation director, Jayne Morris-Thurgood who lives in Weston-in-Gordano said: “We are incredibly grateful for all the books we have received, but we need to raise �10,000 to build the library and get the books to South Africa.”

Za Foundation has created positive connections between North Somerset and Nkomazi by forming 17 educational links between schools here and in South Africa and by bringing the Zakhele Music and Drama Group to the UK to educate and entertain North Somerset school children.

Jayne added: “It is hoped that the community library project will allow the people of North Somerset to give something back to the people of Nkomazi.”

Za Foundation needs �15 for each box of books to enable shipment of them to South Africa. Inside each box will be a personal message from the person who funded the shipping of those books. Participants can ship a box from themselves or on behalf of someone else as a Christmas gift. A printable gift certificate explaining the gift is available to download on the Za Foundation website www.zafoundation.org