Come Christmas Eve children are supposed to be dreaming of dancing sugar plums and... Africa?

JoAnn Walker moved to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe six years ago in pursuit of her purpose in life and found starving mouths she needed to feed and naked bodies that needed clothing.

Helping her raise the funds to continue this work are donations from churches, family and friends, but also the clothing line Dream Africa set up through her charity, Link Africa.

Dream Africa creates shirts and hats using images from Zimbabwean artists. The pieces are then sold to benefit the artists, Zimbabwe-based manufacturers and the charity itself.

Ms Walker said: "We are seeking donations, but we want to also draw attention to (our) booth at Gallery 135 where we are displaying a few items and art and asking for donations. You get a T-shirt with each donation.

"It's a way to expose Africa through its art. Everything is manufactured in Africa so they are given money back per garment, but artists are having to go out of the country for their jobs.

"And now our factories are closing down because of the political situation. I have seen things changing in a big way over six years. What took $5 a week to feed me and (my son) Derrick is now over $100.

"The inflation changes daily, and is now at 11 million percent. What does that mean? It means a loaf of bread is $17 and pizza is $75.

"It changes sometimes twice daily – it's in (that much of) a mess. The last seven days we were there we were out of running water."

Throughout Ms Walker's time in Zimbabwe, the Women's Ministry (WoMin) at the Church of Christ on Brighton Hill, Devonshire has also been supportive, offering regular donations. The group recently sent two containers full of clothes.

All the donations help the landlocked country in South East Africa. It has struggled for years under the rule of President Robert Mugabe, with outrageous inflation that has only spiralled further out of control this year.

A power stand-off between Mugabe and opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara has created a standstill on business flowing into the country.

The lack of cash in the economy has left doctors, nurses and other professionals not being paid. As well, Zimbabwe's infrastructure is falling apart. Water pipes are constantly bursting and dirty water sources have caused an outbreak of cholera – a treatable disease that is wiping out the country.

Ms Walker hopes that the money raised through donations and Dream Africa while she is home over Christmas, will be sufficient to buy generators to help dig holes for clean water.

She added: "I plan to go back on January 20, but I don't know what the situation will be like there. We need generators and pumps for well digging so it's clean water."

To find out how to help, contact Ms Walker at walkersinzimbabwe@hotmail.com or stop by Gallery 135 where donations are being accepted and Dream Africa apparel is now on sale.