Emily Morton, 19, and Olivia Underwood, 18, spent three months in Delhi working in an orphanage and teaching in a slum school as part of a volunteering scheme.
Having recently returned, the pair say their experiences left them moved and challenged by their work with so many children.
Caring for the abandoned babies at a centre was the final part of their visit. There they came across those who were up for adoption as they had minor deformities, such as fused fingers, or had been found abandoned on a street.
When it came to the adoption process, babies were turned down for a variety of reasons.
Emily said: “One baby was rejected because they had a bald patch, another because they were too dark. It was really surprising
to see them being judged like that.”
One of the babies, Angelie, was placed for adoption after she was found thrown from a train.
Olivia said: “Babies were also adopted while we were there by Indian and international couples.
“A little boy, Gulu, was the only one who could walk and he was really cheeky and fun. We were crying when we left,’’ she said.
The two were nominated for Young Volunteer of the Year at last year’s West Cumbria Community Heroes Awards. Emily is now continuing her plan to become a children’s nurse and Olivia will be studying international relations at St Andrew’s University in September.
They had raised £3,000 for their trip, through charitable donations and support from individuals. While in India they used the remaining £175 of their money to buy text books for all the girls at the orphanage.
Olivia said: “The experience has taught me to be more appreciative of what we have, compared to those who have so little.”
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