A TRIP by two students to an orphanage in Bloemfontein in Free State has convinced them to do more to help.

Medical students Lieschen Branders and Rolene Strauss were part of a group of University of Free State students who were sent to help the children by Lebone Village, a non-profit organisation in Bloemfontein last August .

The organisation cares for children affected by HIV and Aids. They are all either HIV-positive or orphans who have lost their parents to the disease.

The two students said what they saw at the orphanage has completely changed their outlook on life.

"Those kids are incredible. They are very sweet and once you get to spend some time with them you learn to like them," Branders said.

"Meeting them completely changes your outlook on life because they have so little. It makes you appreciate what you have. They make you realise that you have so much to be thankful for," she said.

Having seen what the children - who are between three and 20 years old - go through, prompted the students to help.

"We asked for donations and raised R57 000. Our sincere thanks to Sowetan for donating R20000.

"We also sent the children to the Bloemfontein Zoo where they had a great time," Strauss said.

While visiting the village forms part of their studies, Branders said she intends to do more to help.

"I plan to raise even more money for an old age home that is currently being built," she said.

- selebim@sowetan.co.za