The OC star Mischa Barton visited South Africa to help promote the work of Save the Children charity.

Barton admitted that working with impoverished kids has really affected her. She said: "I'm a pretty emotional person and I'm easily moved by things and getting to know those kids and seeing what their life was like and what they have to go through every day."

Realising that being in the media spotlight can be focussed on to something worthwhile, Barton said: "Celebrity means a lot of different things.

"It is good to draw attention to things that matter. There's a lot of frivolous press out there, but it's good to have a cause."

Barton's called on everyone she knows and anyone who might be interested in helping to curb poverty in Soweto, an area blighted by extreme poverty and widespread Aids.

She said: "There's so much you can do. Since I've got back, I've had my friends check out the website. You can do everything from donating a little bit of money to knitting a hat."

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