Bethany opens door to Africa for baby hope

Now the Sheffield 18-year-old is putting her desire to help others to the test after travelling thousands of miles from home to work with unwanted and abandoned babies in South Africa.

During her gap year, the former Norton College and King Ecgbert's School pupil has gone to Johannesburg with a charity that rescues and cares for babies - some of whom have Aids and HIV.

Bethany has already had experience working with African and international children in Sheffield, running the creche at the multi-cultural 'Rock Christian Centre' in Burngreave, where her dad Jon is the pastor.

The teenager has got to know some of the children very well, including Bethany Kibutu, aged two, and her sister Tiffany, four, from Shiregreen.

But going overseas is a very different matter and the challenges she is now facing include long days, venturing into potentially dangerous areas and the demands of looking after vulnerable and sick babies.

"Johannesburg is a dangerous city so I am slightly scared, but I'm going to be careful," said Bethany, of Norfolk Park, before she left.

She said her work would involve 12-hour shifts and going out at all hours of the day and night into townships to collect babies who have been abandoned.

But she acknowledged it will be harrowing as, inevitably, some of the infants will die.

"I'm looking forward to caring for the babies. I have a lot to give but I know it's not going to be all fun as some of the babies will die," said Bethany, who believes her Christian faith and the support of workers and volunteers will help her through.

"Other people have said I'm very good with children. I think I will cope as you do cope with whatever life throws at you and this is something that I really want to do," she added.

Bethany is working for Christian charity 'The Door of Hope', which was founded by a South African pastor, who discovered an abandoned newborn baby dumped in a skip and took it home to care for it.

Since then, hundreds of unwanted babies have been rescued, cared for and found homes with adoptive parents.

As part of the charity's work, mothers can deposit unwanted babies in a 'hole in the wall' baby bin built into the side of a church, which triggers an alarm and carers from the charity collect the baby and care for it in one of their three orphanages.

Some of the babies have Aids and other illnesses - a number of whom die in the loving care of the charity. But many are nursed back to health and a future full of hope.

As part of her role, Bethany is feeding, cleaning and playing with babies in the orphanage.

Click here to read Bethany's exclusive blog from South Africa.

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Got a view? Add your comment below. Part of her personal challenge will also involve spending her birthday and Christmas away from her family.

Bethany raised more than 5,000 to cover all her costs, with more than 1,300 raised by a ‘Skills Auction’ at Rock Christian Centre.

After she returns home, she is to take a degree in ‘Early Childhood Studies’ at Warwick University.

Anyone who would like to donate money to help the ‘Door of Hope’ orphanages in Johannesburg should make cheques payable to ‘Rock Christian Centre’ and send them to 75 Carlisle Street, Sheffield, S4 7LJ.