Two kind-hearted teenagers are embarking on a six-week trip to volunteer at an orphanage in Ghana, having already raised more than £2,200 for its residents.

Menna Rose and Amelia Andrew, both ex-pupils of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls, will be giving up their time to help children at Royal Seeds Home.

The friends are currently taking a gap year before heading to university, and both wanted to experience working with disadvantaged children.

In order to raise money for the foundation, Menna and Amelia have taken on a sponsored swim and held cakes sales at lacrosse and hockey tournaments at HMSG.

Menna, from Monmouth, said: “Amelia and I swam a total of 12km (100m for every orphan currently at Royal Seeds), which was a total of 480 lengths.

“Monmouth School Sports Centre kindly let us use their pool and provided lifeguards for us.

“The swim took us four hours and 20 minutes – far quicker than we expected considering we regard ourselves as lacrosse and hockey players and not swimmers!

“Thank you to all those who sponsored us and bought cakes; all the proceeds are going directly to a wonderful cause.”

While at the orphanage, which houses youngsters from birth to 18-years-old, the girls will be helping with everyday activities, including teaching, playing sports and bathing and dressing some of the younger children.

The duo leave for Ghana on Saturday, January 10 and plan to blog about their experiences.

On their return, Menna will take up her place at Durham University to study psychology in September and Amelia is applying to read medicine.

To keep up to date with their journey, follow their blog here.