Busy Bees Regional Safety Adviser, Susan Lote, and her husband, Gary Lote, made an emotional visit to an orphanage in Goa, spending time with children aged from 18 months to 14 years who have been diagnosed HIV positive.

Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King is a registered charity that has helped to fund schools, orphanages, homes for the aged and disabled, and hospitals throughout Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. The charity has helped to find foster homes for 50 other children in the area and relies on donations so they can continue to offer the orphans in their care the attention and treatment they need.

It is estimated that 16,000 people are living with HIV and AIDS in Goa so help is much need in the area to help prevent the spread of the disease, as well as look after those that are infected.

Susan and Gary visited the children at the orphanage and had tea with them and the Sisters who look after them, before offering them gifts such as T-Shirts, books, crayons and Disney charts.

Sue and Gary will be visiting the children at the Orphanage again when they visit Goa in January next year. Sue said the visit was very emotional, explaining “The children were all full of energy and seemed very happy. They all go to the local school, and made us feel very welcome, even making us a card to say thank you for their gift, which made us both cry!”

The visit really made us all realise how lucky we are that we are able to provide our children with the care and provisions they need.”