TWO Dorset teenagers are in South Africa working with babies orphaned with Aids and with abused children in a safe house.

Michaela Nairn, 18, and Philippa Skinner, 18 on Sunday, have already proved they have the initiative - having have raised £8,000 between them by such things as jumping out of airplanes, holding a ceilidh and writing scores of letters to charitable trusts. And they've also travelled to the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides - by plane, train, bus and a six-hour ferry trip - for selection as volunteers in South Africa with the Project Trust.

Michaela lives in Sturminster Marshall - a village which has given her great support - and Philippa lives 35 minutes away in Hazelbury Bryan.

But they went to different schools - Queen Elizabeth's in Michaela's case and The Gryphon, Sherborne in Philippa's - and only met in Scotland when they were teamed up together.

Both girls were inspired to apply when they heard returned volunteers give accounts of their own gap years.

And they have no illusions about the culture shock they might feel.

"It will be emotionally challenging but we will do an AIDS awareness course when we get there and there's a really good support network," Michaela said.

First published: August 26