Two schoolgirls are campaigning for every child in the Malvern area to have access to a book about the lives of refugee children.

Amber Williams of The Chase School and Tarini Mamak of Great Malvern Primary were moved to promote the book The Boy At The Back Of The Class by Onjali Q Rauf to other children after reading it themselves.

The avid readers have joined forces to try to get the fiction book on every classroom bookshelf across Malvern and have won the backing of Malvern Book Cooperative and Malvern Welcomes, a charity supporting refugees.

Amber, aged 12, said: “I read the book and just wanted to share it with others.

“It is a really important book that is not only a good story but also teaches us about tolerance and kindness towards each other and towards others who are different from us.”

Tarini, nine, said: “I think everyone should read this book which is why we have started this campaign. What can be better than making sure children understand what it must feel like to be different. This book moved me, I read it with my mum and now I want every other child to read it too.”

The girls are appealing for as many people as possible to either pledge their support by donating towards the books or asking members of the public to contact the Malvern Book Cooperative to buy books for schools.

Malvern Book Cooperative’s Tom Padfield said: “We are full of admiration for these brilliant children. Books are so powerful and to see that this book has had such an influence is just fantastic. Please do get in touch if you would like to help us.”

Ruth Forecast, from Malvern Welcomes, said: “We are very impressed by this initiative. We believe in the importance of raising awareness of the issues facing refugees who have been forced to flee violence and conflict and to seek safety in another country.

“The power of stories, such as the one in this book, to engage young people cannot be underestimated.

Author Onjali Rauf has also sent messages to the teachers and children.

Ms Rauf is the founder of Making Herstory, an organisation to tackle the abuse and trafficking of women and girls in the UK and beyond. She also delivers emergency aid convoys for refugee families surviving in Calais and Dunkirk, and supports interfaith projects.

Anyone who wants to support the project, can visit Malvern Book Cooperative or go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tbatbotcmalvern