As we approached the orphanage in the van for the first time we didn't know what to expect. I suddenly saw hundreds of children running towards us, waving and shouting. They huddled round the van and as I stepped out I had children fighting to hold my hand. Walking up to the building I had about ten children trying to grab onto me. It was insane.

The day before we go to the orphanage we were supposed to make a 'lesson plan' for the children. We did not stick to it on the first day or any of the rest. Most days consisted of singing, dancing, playing football and carrying numerous amounts of children on my shoulders and receiving lots and lots of hugs, it was amazing! Although, being called 'Kiwa' repeatedly (meaning white person) by over 100 kids can get slightly irritating!

On my first day I met a little three-year-old called Arthur. He clung to me the whole day and would not let go 'til I had to leave. He absolutely loved it when I played football because he was bouncing about in my arms. At one point I tried to put him down, because seriously, I am not that strong, but he took koala hug to the next level and refused to go on the floor.

I was in a winning situation at the orphanage because I love having my hair played with, and the children there loved braiding and playing with hair that wasn't an Afro, WIN WIN. I don't think there was one occasion where I didn't leave the orphanage without a braid in my hair. By the end of the month I had turned into quite the stereotypical hippy walking around with braids in my hair, no makeup and sandals on my feet.

By the second day in Africa I couldn't justify wearing makeup to the orphanage or school since some of the children couldn't even afford a change of clothing, never mind makeup to put on their face. I got used to being bare faced, which is another thing that is different from England because I don't think I could face walking out my house without at least a bit of mascara on.

We went to the orphanage four times a week and in that time you do create some great relationships with the children. My brother and I both became quite attached to a brother and sister called Cokele and Rebekah.

Rebekah was only a toddler, she was quiet, shy, rarely spoke and never really smiled (because of this she actually obtained the nickname: Serius Black), but one day I spent the whole day with her and I managed to make her smile, then laugh, and I even managed to teach her mine and marks name, being able to do that was so rewarding I can't even put it into words. The only downside to Rebekah is that she had a tendancy to wee herself, I'm just thankful that when ever she did it was on Fernando or another volunteer and not me!

Cokele loved to go off and play football, but every ten minutes or so he would come and check on his sister, just to make sure she was okay, and then he was off again. It was delightful to witness such a great bond between the two of them. I know when Mark and I were younger we would have happily ripped each other's heads off or punched each other in the face.

Although the orphanage is fun and games, the stories of how they came to be there are pretty overwhelming. One boy was left on the side of the road at the age of four with his two-year-old brother. Their mother had told them she was going for ice cream and never came back. Since then they have lived at the orphanage. The thought of a mother not having enough money to care for her children and therefore feeling they would be better off left on the side of a road is just heart-breaking. Especially for me having two little sisters, I couldn't imagine any thing like that happening to them.

I've mentioned it before in a previous blog but seeing these stories for yourself is far much more crushing and upsetting than what you see on fund raising programmes like comic relief. I honestly believe going out there and helping the community with your own hands means so much more than sending money off (when realistically you can't even be sure where that money is going).

I absolutely adored going to the orphanage, it was my favourite part of the project. All the volunteers became big kids and the definition for work became the definition for play.