We had a conversation with Emese Borbély, the chairwoman of Taita Foundation, about Africa, and the St Joseph Orphanage in Kenya that their foundation supports. Full interview.

– How many times have you seen the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy?

– I rarely ever watch movies but I’ve seen this one a good many times. I was captivated by the Bushmens’ world, and of course, by the animals, as well.

– Why support the orphans in Africa, of all places, and not Asia, for example, or even in the Csángó-land?

– Help is needed in a lot of spots all over the world, whether it be the material or the moral kind. I do believe, and duly experience, that in the world, we have the opportunity to help in various places. Taita was my decision. Already during my university years…

In February 2019, a young girl with a huge heart, determined, ready for action, stepped onto Africa’s soil, to bring care, provision, and love to a place where it is very much needed. From a very tender age, Anna has taken the fate of orphans, the afflicted, the destitute and the abandoned to heart, and thus, driven by her heart’s desire, she joined the Foundation’s work in the St Joseph Orphanage of Bura. Since her arrival, she has been actively involved in the children’s everyday life and their care, radiating joy and hope toward the younger and older children alike.

While she fulfills her volunteer service in Kenya, I, as her proud mother, undertook volunteering tasks in the Foundation’s job here at home. The latest event the Taita Foundation appeared at was the ’Afrika Expo…

I am Lilla Végvári; I have been volunteering for the Taita Foundation on the occasion of various events for two years now; among others, I also participated in ’Afrika Expo’. I got acquainted with the foundation’s activities through a colleague of mine, so I instantly grabbed the opportunity and registered with them to be a volunteer.

My interest in Africa had already started during my childhood. I was mainly attracted to the continent’s flora and fauna. I had no problem with watching every single documentary movie that was broadcast. Then later, this interest expanded to include culture and people, as well. Also, during my studies (international studies, history major), I paid particular attention to this region, together with the Near East, and it became more and more obvious…

One of my oldest dreams, namely to do volunteering in Africa, was realized in September 2018. I spent four months in the Saint Joseph Orphanage, and this period undoubtedly became the most determining experience of my life so far.
The children welcomed me with unbridled joy; of course, my enthusiasm wasn’t any less than theirs.

Fantastic experiences enriched me: we went on safaris, climbed mountains and went hiking, we played a lot together. I also learned their everyday routine: we awoke before dawn, I accompanied them to school, then during the day, we drew, recited rhymes and sang together with the youngest ones. In the afternoon, their pending homework awaited, then the evening prayer, for which everybody gathered together, so that the songs could resound, accompanied…

We spent three months in the Bura Orphanage and we are sure we’ll never forget this time. It was a wonderful feeling to experience all the love that the children gave to each other and received from their caretakers. From the first moment on, they welcomed us, and sometimes they behaved as though they were there to take care of us, instead of the other way around.

Initially, it was weird to drop into their everyday life, but luckily, we managed to pick up their rhythm soon enough. We played a lot with them, but actually what we did was secondary; the main thing was to pay attention to them and love them, which was really very easy.