TOOLS, equipment and haberdashery donated by south Dorset residents will soon be ‘changing the lives’ of disadvantaged people in Africa.

Dozens of unwanted items, collected by parishioners in West Lulworth, are now being sorted, refurbished and packed by the Workaid charity.

The donations flooded in following an appeal by parishioner Giles Marsh and the Rev David Baldwin and soon they will be shipped to Zambia and Kenya.

A Workaid spokesman said: “The container Esther is being packed at the moment and will soon leave for Zambia to help projects such as the Maamba Youth Projects which helps young people to learn a trade.

“Graduates are presented with a trade kit such as a sewing machine or carpentry kit and many go on to set up their own businesses.”

Projects such as the Tegemeo disabled persons self-help group enable individuals in Kenya to learn carpentry, metalworking and upholstery skills.

Workaid also supports the Christ the King Catholic Project in Embakasi, Kenya where students learn secretarial skills on donated typewriters.

The project also runs a successful nursery and special needs department and teaches knitting and tailoring.

Mr Marsh, of West Lulworth, said: “These donations really will change the lives of disadvantaged people.

“We had a huge number of items were donated by local people, including 12 sewing machines, four knitting machines and 15 typewriters and countless tools for gardening, building and motor mechanics.”

Visit www.workaid.org or call 01494 775220.