World Vision will distribute 20,000 baby dolls to thousands of children living in poverty in the southern Africa nation of Zambia.

Hasbro Inc has donated 20,000 black Baby Alive Sip N Slurp dolls to the international relief agency.

Hasbro is supporting the work of World Vision in Zambia with a three-year commitment to help support 40 schools, train teachers and purchase trucks. The 20,000 dolls are being manufactured in addition to Hasbro's normal run of this product specially for Zambia.

The donation was fuelled by a heartfelt request by Carmen Martinez, the US Ambassador to Zambia, to the vice president of community relations for Hasbro, Karen Davis, when she visited the Hasbro-supported World Vision projects in Zambia last fall. Martinez specifically asked if there was any way Hasbro could help get black dolls into Zambia, as they are nearly impossible to procure or manufacture in the country.

Hasbro Inc covers children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, go to www.worldvision.org.