Speaker Kevin Morley Saltergate Children's Home Ethiopia

Firstly, Kevin gave a refresher on his background. In the 1990s he left his job in banking at NatWest to go to Sheffield University where he took maths and a teaching certificate. He then became a maths teacher in Dore near to Sheffield.

When his children from his first marriage grew up, he decided to move to East Africa to teach. Whilst there he met and married his Ethiopian wife married 17 years ago. When his daughter by her was born very white they were afraid of the dangers of her being abducted for ransom, so they returned to UK.

In 2016 he decided that he wanted to help somehow in Ethiopia. At this time a friend called him to say that a young baby had been abandoned. This was Emanuel who is now 9-year-old in his 4th year at school.

To make this talk a bit different Kevin decided to take us on a whirlwind tour of Addis Ababa including the tiring journey there and back again including a bit of magic along the way. 

He showed a map of Ethiopia (picture 1) where the war-ravaged areas were highlighted in Red and Orange. He said that the girls and boys they care for are surrounded by Red. Some of them are actually inside the Red area. Despite this they are doing fine and smiling through.

All the 152 children they care for send their love and thanks for everything we have done for them. 

In the coal mining village where Kevin grew up in there wasn't much money around. But there was a strong community, a lot of folks looking out for each other and, with countless children playing in the street, no such thing as loneliness - just like Saltergate Children's Home, Ethiopia.

He then went through a variety of photographs showing some of the characters and children involved in and looked after by the charity.

2. To keep things manageable the children being cared for are broken down into communities this picture shows some of the 32 members of the largest one.

3. Forget Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus - Spireites Ethiopian Crew in good voice and celebrating with the Champions of the National League!

4. 'But girls aren't allowed to play football in Ethiopia.' Well, you can forget that daft talk eh Marie!? This little scrap is happy having a kick about with a ball - and the world - at her feet.

5. When you and Mum have been kicked from pillar to post all your life ... then out of the blue a stranger thousands of miles away says, 'I can help.' Then they say you can sleep in a bed tonight, you can have something to eat and you can learn to read and write. Then they send you a track suit for a present - Yohannis' face shows the result.

6. When in Addis Ababa Kevin can't afford to stay at the Hilton Hotel but does pay to use the spa there. He is shown here with one of Hilton's employees Tigi.

7. One of the children (Mehat) wants to work in hospitality so he introduced her to Tigi.

8. Ambes with his herd of cows - some purchased through the micro loans scheme.

9. Lemlem wants to be a journalist - here she is interviewing Dr Tigis from one of the hospitals.

10. Here Lemlem again in her role as a journalist.

11. It's been a long, hot, dusty day but it was worth it to meet up with these 4 angels who help the children when they get sick. Good to have folks to turn to. A pal gave him some medical equipment to take which made Tigis and the girls at the hospital very happy.

12. Casualties of war, begging to survive, living under some plastic bags at the roadside - that's how it starts. But now they have 152 girls and boys who can tell you it doesn't have to end that way. Please meet Mama Tadalu with children Absera and Besufkad. Backed by support from a pal in England Kevin had a word with the village elders ... 'children shouldn't live under plastic bags, we're not having it. We'll provide the materials, and you build them a house.' No sooner said than done and Mama Tadalu, Absera and Besufkad have a roof over their heads. And, more important, they live among folks that chip in when things get rough.

13. Fasika lost her husband, her home and her leg but never lost hope. Begging at the roadside with a toddler they needed help. Years gone by and Fasika is now Saltergate's trained sewing machinist and the toddler is 8 years old. Beselot is very proud of Mum - so are the charity.

14. All Trips must end and soon it's time to go goodbye Gebrella and Bethany - Kevin says, "work hard, look after each other and see you soon."