People and Personalities

But Debbie Scott from Bedford was different. When she went on holiday to Kenya she met lots of children who had lost their parents to AIDS, and when she got home she knew she had to do something about it.

But rather than just donate a few pounds, the mum of two built these children a home. After a year of fundraising the first phase of the Utange Orphanage project, Casuarina House, was opened in January 2009 when ten children moved in. The second stage is on track to be completed in January 2010 and another ten youngsters can be housed.

Debbie Scott told us how things were going.

So you went on holiday, were deeply affected by what you saw, and when you returned you couldn’t leave it?

Debbie: I came back and yes, I had been affected by what I saw, but I had no idea that I was going to do this. But as a Christian I would pray about the situation, the children and the Pastor that I’d met, and I just felt God say to me I want you to do something about it so two years ago we started fundraising and here we are, about to complete the second phase of our home which is amazing really.

Casuarina House

But I haven’t done it single handed! We are a team of four who work together very hard and get a lot of support from friends and family. And lots of local people have been really supportive of us as well, which we are really thankful for.

And you raise all the money yourself in order to build, fund and run Casuarina House don't you?

Debbie: That’s right. We’ve done all sorts of things. We’ve had masked balls, auctions of promises, been to local fetes and Wrest Park Garden Show. Any opportunity, we take it, any offer, we’re there, trying to raise funds, and we’re fortunate in that we have had a couple of people raise funds for us as well.

So earlier this year, ten children moved into Phase One didn’t they?

Debbie: Yes – they are really happy and thriving and doing well at school. To think that when we first met them they couldn’t speak English and were just peasant children in the village. Now 18 months on in their schooling they are fluent in English and actually put me to shame with my Swahili! They are flourishing and it’s a delight, and we’re really looking forward to when we’ve completed Phase Two so that we can take in the next ten children who I selected in July on my last visit.

That must have been very difficult because there aren’t just ten children who need a home are there?

Debbie: No, there are lots of children. There’s an awful lot of need in Kenya, as there is in a lot of Africa, to help children who have lost their parents to AIDS. We are very fortunate in that we have our house dad, Festus, who we employ, who looks after the children. He’s a wonderful man who’s worked on an AIDS programme and is familiar with all the families who have been affected by AIDS in the village, so he not only knows the genuine cases but those that are most needy, so he was able to direct us to them.

From there we selected ten. We spent almost three hours collecting them from different parts of the village, then took them back to Casuarina House for some food. Some of them hadn't eaten for three days. We spent time getting to know them seeing how they integrated with our children. They returned to their guardians kitted out with a change of clothes.

But we are hoping to raise enough funds for the other children too [who aren’t moving into the house]. We want to be able to support them where they are living at the moment with guardians. We want to help with their schooling, their food, and help them with their clothing.

Utange Orphanage: murals on the walls

It must have been hard to choose them though?

Debbie: It was pretty tough yes, a few tears were shed that day. We have seven new girls and three boys. One little boy actually broke my heart. Dixon is seven-years-old and his parents died two years ago. He was taken in by guardians who just wanted him to do jobs around the house so he was basically used just as a servant. He is a very sad little boy with the face of an old man and I’d just like to be able to put a smile on his face in a year’s time like we have with the other children.

How much of the money raised actually goes to the charity?

Debbie: We fund all our trips to Kenya ourselves [not out of the charity] so every penny that people donate goes to the children. We operate under The Sure Foundation charity and, as their gift to us, they pay all our admin fees and transfer fees so we guarantee that every penny that’s given to the project goes to the children for their needs, for schooling, medication, clothes and running the orphanage.

How is Phase Two coming on?

Debbie: I’m going out again in November to meet with the children and sort out some bits and pieces with the architects. But the tiling and plastering is finished and we’ve just got to sort a few bits of internal décor.

You will be able to hear the opening of Phase Two of Casuarina House on the Afternoon Programme on BBC Three Counties Radio.