AS our cold, wet winter moves slowly towards Spring, I write to ask Journal readers to help the world's poorest children. One in four children around the world live in poverty, that's 600 million children. The odds are stacked heavily against them. Here in the UK and in over 60 countries overseas, Save the Children is working with these children and their families.

No one knows more about their struggles, and no one has more enthusiasm and energy to change their lives than the children themselves -- but they need your help. Can you spare a couple of hours during Save the Children Week this year -- Sunday, April 29 - Saturday, May 5, to collect vital funds to help them?

Children like 12-year-old Zarifa who lives in Ladakh on the border between India and Kashmir. Zarifa is a member of her village's children's committee, a group of children aged from 6-18, who meet regularly and make plans with village elders and local government officials to improve things for children in their village. The children's committee is planning to grow a vegetable garden at their school.

If you can spare an hour to collect during Save the Children Week call the Volunteering Action Line on 0845 606 4027, or the north west office on 0161 438 2740/0161 438 2741.

Julie Walters

On behalf of Save the Children