Child trafficking, sexual abuse and low self-esteem are among the hard-hitting issues tackled by a new author.

Rainham resident Lola Akindele, of Lamb’s Lane South, hopes to use her new book to raise awareness of the problems faced by women around the world.

Lola will launch Papa’s Little Girls, a collection of short stories, next month.

The 25-year-old, who gives English lessons at the Royals Youth Centre in Viking Way, drew on her experience of “living in two worlds” to put together the book’s 11 tales.

“It’s inspired by friends and girls in my class, as well as some things from my own experience,” she explained.

“I went to an all-girls school in north London but I was living in Hackney at the time.

“I saw a lot of different things happen to girls growing up around me and I wanted to help stop other young girls falling into traps like low self-esteem and domestic violence.

“So I thought: ‘I’ll write about it’.”

Among Lola’s subjects are a soldier’s wife whose husband abuses her, a four-year-old whose sexualised behaviour worries her teachers, and a pregnant teenage house girl.

The stories deal with girls and young women of different ages and nationalities.

At the book launch, Lola – herself an ex-bursary student – will present her old school with a £1,000 cheque to help fund a bursary for under-privileged girls.

She will also read extracts from the book and women’s organisations including the Sophia Network and the Girls’ Day School Trust will talk about some of the topics raised.

The launch is set to take place on Saturday, March 23, at Queen Mary, University of London, where Lola studied English.

The event starts at 6pm at the Ground Café in the Mile End Road campus. Entry is free.

“I’m just hoping people can connect with the stories and that young girls can learn from them,” said the wordsmith.

Papa’s Little Girls, published by AuthorHouse, is available online at the Amazon, Waterstones and Barnes and Noble websites.