Retired couple find 'new gusto' for life after 'leaving part of their hearts' in Kenyan orphanage
A semi-retired Co Down couple have discovered "new gusto" after a work trip to a Kenyan orphanage where they met many children who "just want a a little bit of love".
Alison and Mark Esler from Dromore visited the Teso District of Western Kenya in July to support Belfast nurse Ellen Allison, who is 74.
Now semi-retired, Alison, 58, worked as a bank manager for over 30 years, while Mark was a manager with Marks & Spencer.
They visited the Northern Ireland-based charity, Kenya Sunbeam Ministries, where Ellen runs a children’s home for 90 children.
She has also established Rainbow Academy, attended by more than 120 children from their home and from the local community.
Formerly a nurse in Belfast and St Helena, Ellen left full-time employment in 1996 and has served in Kenya since 1998.
Alison first became involved after hearing Ellen speak at a meeting 15 years ago, when she began sponsoring a child, Luca. Aged only four, he had lost his mother to AIDS while his father had been murdered.
Last year Alison joined a team which built an office block for Ellen and her staff.
"I was the oldest person on the team," she said. "But when I came home, I’d left a part of my heart there. It’s a wonderful place and the kids are so well looked after, but the needs are so much."
"Many children are just totally abandoned, but all of them are so respectful. They just love to see the visitors and just want to hold your hand and have a little bit of love."
Another couple involved in the charity persuaded Mark to make the trip, and he returned to Kenya with Alison in July.
"I got to meet Luca, who is now 21, a lovely young man, very well brought up and well educated," Alison said.
The Eslers continue to support him while he is at university.
"And this year was very special for Mark because he got to meet Luca. I think it impacted him greatly and he and Mark got on really well."
During the trip the couple helped clean and repaint the baby nursery and children’s dormitories, and provided new bedding and mosquito nets.
"Ellen is finding that she’s getting more babies being abandoned or their mummies have died in childbirth," Alison said.
"They really need a purpose-built nursery but that is not on the cards yet financially."
However, while they were there, the electricity ran out at night because the battery for the solar system is wearing out.
"And without electricity there’s no water pumped through the site and limited light at night."
Their priority now is to raise funds for a new solar system and begin work on a new nursery.
"It has really struck us how complacent we can be at home, but how very little money goes a long way in Kenya.
"Ellen, aged 74, has never taken a wage in 20 years but lives like the locals – on very little."
"I consider myself retired, but we now have renewed gusto to try and use our time for raising funds for her work."
"We hope to go back next summer in either July or August."
For more information or to sponsor a child see www.kenyasunbeamministries.co.uk/