A CHARITY has unveiled a new interactive installation in the centre of Basingstoke.

Children’s charity World Vision has brought its Village of Hope exhibition to Festival Place.

The exhibition recreates the village of 12-year-old 'Isata' and her family, giving shoppers a glimpse into Isata’s home before and after the support of World Vision.

Rural Sierra Leone is brought to life through interactive experiences for children and adults alike, in a bid to give a deeper understanding of what life is like for poverty-stricken communities around the world.

A water station gives the opportunity to pump water at a fully working water pump and feel the weight of a 25-litre jerry can. In addition, visitors can visualise the daily hardship of children through a short virtual reality experience.

The Festival Place exhibition opened on Tuesday and will be in place until Sunday, 30 September.

Graeme Newton, director of fundraising at World Vision UK said: “World Vision UK is very pleased to offer a brand new innovative way for us to engage with the public in Basingstoke. Village of Hope is an incredibly moving experience, where visitors see first-hand what life is like for some of the most vulnerable children in the world’s hardest places.

“With the exciting addition of virtual reality, we look forward to providing a more immersive way for families to share in these children’s experiences for a few moments and learn more about our transformational work.

Visitors can join in with doing their bit to help through sponsoring a child or buy life-changing items such as mosquito nets and water treatment kits.