A NEWLY-qualified Woodford Green nurse is appealing for donations to help orphaned children with HIV in Eastern Europe.

Nikki Plumb, 31, of Marion Grove, will make the trip to Romania next month to set up a mobile health clinic.

Outlining her plans for her one year stay, she said: "We hope to care for babies who are abandoned in the hospitals at birth. These babies are abandoned every day and the orphanages are overcrowded.

"It will be our aim, if we can, to take these babies and give them the love and care they deserve, instead of putting them into an orphanage where they will be left and develop emotional and behavioural problems.

"We need people who could sponsor us and give us money to help these kids."

The project is part of a charity called Exodus, which was set up by a friend who worked alongside Nikki in a children's hospice last year.

Nikki believes that her role is mainly educational as little is known about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in Romania. She told the Guardian she also wishes to promote the benefits of contraception.

During a previous trip Nikki worked at a day care centre. She described her work, although hard and frustrating at times, as satisfying. She said: "It's worth it when you see the smiles on the children's faces."

Exodus has further plans to set up its own day care centre where children can go to keep out of the cold and off the streets. Nikki explained that a day care centre could keep the children out of trouble and stop them from getting involved with drugs and crime.

If you would be interested in going to Romania to work with the orphaned children as a volunteer for Exodus please call Nikki on 89267337. Donations of sports equipment and furniture are also needed for the centre.