Two friends from Okehampton, both named Bella, have returned from a trip to Romania to join children from an orphanage in Lipova for a week-long summer camp, which they had helped to fund.

Bella Jackson and Bella Willcocks, aged eight and nine) travelled to Romania with their families in August to join the children in the foothills of Transylvanian Alps, at the second-ever friendship camp, run by the Devon-based charity Bunatate Romania si Moldova. The trip marked the end of the girls’ fundraising campaign to cover the cost of a special day out for the children as part of the holiday.

The Survivor-themed camp proved to be a success with children aged eight to 13 participating in a week of team challenges, games, drama and craft.

The girls had set out to raise £250 by selling homemade fudge, their own range of mugs, bottles and bags, and completing the Okehampton parkrun in fancy-dress. In July, they announced that they had smashed their target and raised nearly £1,200 which enabled the children to enjoy a full day out with a meal and activities for every child, extra craft and games all through camp week. There was even enough money left over to support the children’s return to school and to cover the cost of a new trampoline for the home.

The week ended with the leaders of the Lipova home Moses and Nuti Pop presenting the girls with special certificates of appreciation to say thank you on behalf of the children.

"To everyone who donated, baked, bought or cheered the girls on — thank you," said Matt Jackson, who leads Bunatate. "You helped turn £250 of ambition into something that will keep making a difference long after we've come home. Seeing the next generation so determined to help children their own age who haven't had the same start — that's what it's all about."