Poppy Delevingne reveals she's a 'changed woman' after her emotional week-long trip to the Congo with Save The Children

  • British model went on 'thought-provoking' journey with Save The Children
  • Met with mothers whose children are dying from easily preventable causes 
  • The 29-year-old said husband James Cook was 'worried' about her  

By Sarah Barns For Mailonline

Published: 19:46 EST, 26 October 2015 | Updated: 07:23 EST, 27 October 2015

Poppy Delevingne has described how she has been impacted by her week-long trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with charity Save The Children.

The 29-year-old British model, the older sister of Cara, recorded a video diary during her short but life-changing journey.

The trip was held in support of the charity's No Child Born to Die campaign to find out why the area is one of the worst places in the world to be a child. 

British model Poppy Delevingne with Hortense, a beneficiary of Save the Children UK, with her children, at their home in Kinshasa, DRC

British model Poppy Delevingne with Hortense, a beneficiary of Save the Children UK, with her children, at their home in Kinshasa, DRC

Poppy and Miradi, age six, at the Save-UK supported Lemba Imbu Health Clinic, outside of Kinshasa

Poppy and Miradi, age six, at the Save-UK supported Lemba Imbu Health Clinic, outside of Kinshasa

Poppy is surrounded by smiling children at the charity-supported Lemba Imbu Health Clinic

Poppy is surrounded by smiling children at the charity-supported Lemba Imbu Health Clinic

Poppy with Nancy's newborn baby at Mama Mosalisi Centre de Sante, a health centre in DRC

Poppy with Nancy's newborn baby at Mama Mosalisi Centre de Sante, a health centre in DRC

Poppy met with mothers whose children are dying from easily preventable causes such as malaria, malnutrition and pneumonia.

They are so vulnerable because in the DRC trained doctors, medicines, health facilities, equipment, ambulances and affordable care are in short supply.

On day one she recalls visiting a 'completely bonkers' market and admitted it was quite scary to be so far way from home. 

'It's nerve-wracking being completely out of your comfort zone and being somewhere so fragile but it is an adventure,' she said.

Poppy and Mama Yvette, at Kindele health clinic, supported by Save the Children UK, Kinshasa

Poppy and Mama Yvette, at Kindele health clinic, supported by Save the Children UK, Kinshasa

Poppy with a nurse at a rural vaccination clinic that is supported by Save the Children UK, near Kinshasa

Poppy with a nurse at a rural vaccination clinic that is supported by Save the Children UK, near Kinshasa

Poppy speaks to 24-year-old Wunda at Kindele health clinic about her experience of growing up in the Congo 

Poppy speaks to 24-year-old Wunda at Kindele health clinic about her experience of growing up in the Congo 

Hortense, a beneficiary of Save the Children UK, with baby Wendo, walking home from the Kindele health clinic

Hortense, a beneficiary of Save the Children UK, with baby Wendo, walking home from the Kindele health clinic

Poppy holds the hand of a young child at Kindele health clinic while speaking to them about their experiences

Poppy holds the hand of a young child at Kindele health clinic while speaking to them about their experiences

Miradi, age six, and her mother Joseline, at the Save the Children UK supported Lemba Imbu Health Clinic, outside of Kinshasa

Miradi, age six, and her mother Joseline, at the Save the Children UK supported Lemba Imbu Health Clinic, outside of Kinshasa

Showing off her playful side, Cara sibling later pulls off some model poses as local children copy her actions before visiting an anti-natal hospital.

Here, the London-based beauty met with a woman called Nancy who had given birth to her third daughter. 

'Being one of three girls that sort of touched me in such a way and almost brought me home,' she said. 'It was really incredible to see as she was one of the lucky ones who had no complications in the process of her pregnancy and during birth.' 

Poppy then met a woman who, at the age of 22, had lost her first baby because health care facilities in the region are so poor. 

On day two Poppy is seen telling the camera that her partner James Cook is annoyed that she went on the charity trip. 

'I just got off the phone to my husband who is pretty angry that I've come to the Congo I think because he's worried about me,' she said. 

'He's just told me he thinks it's good one of us will be able to come home and give a little bit of perspective to us and our friends. And he's proud, which is a nice feeling.'

Poppy travels by boat to deliver vaccinations to a remote community in a rural area outside of Kinshasa

Poppy travels by boat to deliver vaccinations to a remote community in a rural area outside of Kinshasa

Poppy with a nurse, crossing the bridge to the Save the Children UK supported Manenga Health Clinic

Poppy with a nurse, crossing the bridge to the Save the Children UK supported Manenga Health Clinic

On day two Poppy is seen telling the camera that her partner James Cook is annoyed that she went on the charity trip

On day two Poppy is seen telling the camera that her partner James Cook is annoyed that she went on the charity trip

24-year-old Wunda being examined by nurse Lilian at Kindele health clinic

24-year-old Wunda being examined by nurse Lilian at Kindele health clinic

Hortense, a beneficiary of Save the Children UK, with her child Wendo, at their home, Kinshasa

Hortense, a beneficiary of Save the Children UK, with her child Wendo, at their home, Kinshasa

Poppy then visits a health clinic and meets a six-year-old girl who has had malaria. She is seen giving the youngster a cuddle and a piece of shortbread. 

On the final two days of the trip Poppy sees the extensive work that the charity does by meeting community health workers and nurses who have been trained by Save The Children.

'We've come to the end of the trip. It's been an adventure, incredibly thought provoking,' she said. 

'I'm going to go back a changed woman. It's been very emotional but I've really truly loved every bit of it.'

Since 1990, the world has reduced the number of children dying from preventable causes from 12 million to 5.9 million.  

Save the Children is calling for the international community to make a clear commitment to Universal Health Coverage across the globe so that every person has access to free, essential health care - not just those that can afford it.

The charity is also putting pressure on them to commit to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths by 2030.

Visit www.savethechildren.org.uk to donate to Save the Children to help provide vital equipment and train more health care workers to save children’s lives.  

Poppy Delevingne speaks to Wunda, age 24, at Kindele health clinic, supported by Save the Children UK, Kinshasa

Poppy Delevingne speaks to Wunda, age 24, at Kindele health clinic, supported by Save the Children UK, Kinshasa

On the final two days of the trip Poppy sees the extensive work that the charity does by meeting community health workers and nurses who have been trained by Save The Children

On the final two days of the trip Poppy sees the extensive work that the charity does by meeting community health workers and nurses who have been trained by Save The Children

Paulina with baby Divine, beneficiaries of Save the Children, Lemba Imbu

Paulina with baby Divine, beneficiaries of Save the Children, Lemba Imbu

Wunda, age 24, at Kindele health clinic, supported by Save the Children UK, Kinshasa, DRC

Wunda, age 24, at Kindele health clinic, supported by Save the Children UK, Kinshasa, DRC

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