Ilorin: Hope Orphanage

While  was in Ilorin I also went back to Hope Orphanage. A friend had donated money for the orphanage and I was able to buy 2 big bags of rice for them. Tunji helped me to get a good price for the rice and Alatise drove Stefan, Miranda and myself to the orphanage.

There have been big changes in the last two years. There are more buildings-separate sleeping houses for boys ad girls and a clinic has been started. They are also drawing up plans for a school on the site.

 There are now 30 children. First we went to the nursery. This baby was born to a woman who is paralysed and did not even know she was pregnant. Another baby had been born to a young student and two others had mothers with mental health issues. This baby was very tiny and they are keeping him well wrapped up to maintain his body temperature.

All the babies looked well and happy.

 They are hoping to move them to a bigger place soon so thy can all have their own cot.

 It was good to see how the children had grown. Grace is 10 now and doing really well.

 They were having their dinner when we arrived.

 The children were shy with us at first but soon relaxed!

 Stefan was  great hit with the little boys!

 Christie Omolehin has also 'rescued' two women who had been roaming the streets. People regarded them as 'mad' but she took them in, got them medical attention and they are now able to function normally. The one woman is hoping o go back to her village soon and be reunited with her children and the other young girl is helping out at the orphanage now,

Christie receives no money from the state and relies on donations. Without her, some of these children would not have survived and the babies keep arriving!