TWO Forest sisters have returned from Eastern Europe where they worked as volunteers in orphanages.

Rosie and Cassie Screen of Coalway helped children in orphanages in Ukraine as volunteers for the Ukraine Humanitarian Initiative.

They worked with children from five different orphanages, including ones for babies and children with special needs, at summer camps.

Rosie said: "It was an incredible experience and I would recommend anyone to do it.

"We must have worked with about 500 children and many of them weren't used to getting any love.

"You'd give them a hug and a smile and the response was overwhelming. I still get emotional just thinking about it."

Rosie, 20, is a graphic design student at the University of Gloucestershire and her 21-year-old sister is at the University of Wolverhampton studying conductive education, a learning system designed to enable disabled people to achieve greater independence.

Rosie said: "Cassie put her knowledge of conductive education to good use.

"She was able to give the children massages and show other people the technique."

Rosie said the experience had made her appreciate the standard of living in Britain.

She added: "The people were lovely and very friendly but it is very behind."

Rosie works at Marks and Spencer in Monmouth and colleagues donated £125 for the trip which was added to other donations.

She said: "Some of the children spoke a bit of English and were fascinated by it so we bought some English translation books and sports equipment."

The sisters also took and printed hundreds of photos for the children, many of who did not have pictures of themselves.

Rosie said she would maintain her links with the charity and hoped to return to the Ukraine next year.

Anyone interested in volunteering in Ukraine can contact Rosie on e-mail [email protected]">[email protected].

The website for the Ukranian Humanitarian Initiative is http://www.hope">www.hope. ck.ua