Where to start? We’ve all seen the pictures on TV and in magazines of orphanages where babies lie in cots craving stimulation and someone’s arms around them, giving the much wanted love all humans need.

Although LUCIA has no connection with the Kidane Mehret orphanage, Steve, Denise and I decided to take the opportunity to visit and learn more about the problems facing Ethiopia. This orphanage, situated on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, is run by two committed nuns both over the age of 70 who work hard to help and support 200 children.

The rain was hammering down as we walked into the compound of the orphanage and the concrete yard, struggling to drain the water, was rapidly turning into a swimming pool. A kind faced elderly nun greeted us warmly and invited us into her room which was basic and held no unnecessary comforts. She told us a few very sad stories of young children who’d come into their care and the problems they faced. Amongst the 200 children the orphanage held, there were approximately 30 abandoned babies who local support staff changed and fed in a conveyor belt fashion.

The nursery was on the first floor and as we walked into the room the first cot - larger then the others - held Elsa, a child of about 18 months. Elsa has hydrocephalus - water on the brain. She’s blind and her arms and legs are very deformed but when you touched or spoke to she returned your contact with an amazing smile. The nuns did not pass without a touch. We moved on, looking into each cot. We were greeted with that lost, vacant look that comes with trauma or just lack of a mother’s love. None of the babies were moving or trying to stand and only a few made baby noises. Their milk bottles were propped up next to them so they could feed themselves. I couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming sadness at this helpless situation.

We left the nursery and went into the common room where about 15 babies lay on a mattress; this was their time out of the cot which happened once per day. Most of the babies lay asleep. The nuns did not allow the babies out of the home into the fresh air – they haven’t the resources to do this - so the babies live permanently in the two rooms.

Ethiopia has opened its doors to adoption from other countries in the past few years. We met a few families from Ireland who were going through the procedure and a few couples who’d completed it and were taking their new babies home. Before I’d been to the orphanage I had grave doubts about the children leaving their homeland but after the visit I felt it did at least give the children a chance - possibly their only chance, if a difficult one.

We thanked the nuns for their hospitality and left the compound by the magnificent newly built church: a lovely piece of architecture by any country’s standards.