Essex women establish refuge for orphans in Bulgaria

Four women dedicated their lives to helping children in Bulgaria by setting up a summer refuge.

Kate Brewis and Jaclyn Dunn, of Little Canfield, and Joanne Bale, who lives in Harlow, have been recruited by friend Verran Demanbro to achieve a shared dream of creating The Soul Garden Holistic Retreat.

Orphans growing up in rural Apriltsi, in central Bulgaria, are often left to die and some youngsters have never had human contact, heard music or even been outside.

Mrs Demanbro, who lives in Colchester, officially founded the mission last month after two years of preparation.

She sold her house to buy a building to be used by children aged 14 and under in July and August from next year. It will be used as a centre to sleep, eat and receive holistic therapy.

She said: "My parents have been in Bulgaria since 2007 and when I visited I was shocked by the poverty and also the level of social ignorance.

"Orphans are seen as demon children. I have seen children abandoned first hand. You feel hopeless and I could not stop crying."

Mrs Demanbro, 42, is a spiritual development teacher with two children, who are aged 15 and one, while Mrs Brewis, 44, is a yoga teacher and has two children, who are aged 13 and eight.

They are assisted by Joanne Bale, a reflexologist, and also nutritionist Jaclyn Dunn who are also mothers to two.

"The process has been effortless with the support of these dedicated women. There are challenges but we are meeting them.

"We are looking for as many volunteers and donations as possible. We have got a lot from the UK who want to volunteer. We have just sent our first lorry of donations to Bulgaria

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