Barton visits Africa for children's charity

Actress Mischa Barton has returned from a trip to South Africa to promote the work of Save The Children.

The O.C. star described the visit as a "life-changing experience", adding that she was pleased to be able to use her celebrity status to promote the cause.

"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.

"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," she told ITN.

Barton has called on her fans and friends to help curb poverty in Soweto, an area blighted by poverty and AIDS.

"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," she said.