Beacon of hope for abandoned children

Founder of the Lighthouse Baby Shelter, Eleanor Dustin’s passion for charity work inspired her to establish a shelter for abandoned and abused children.

Dustin said that initially, she went to the Child Welfare offices to find out how she could turn her passion into a reality. The social worker led her through the process of how to qualify to open a shelter and what the requirements were.

The shelter, based in Sundowner, currently has 23 children living there and who call the Lighthouse Baby Shelter home.

“I’ve always been involved in charity work and I saw that as a calling to start my own organisation to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds. It has been growing from the day I opened it. So far, 90 girls and boys have been adopted,” said Dustin.

She said that most of the children are brought in by the police, social workers or members from Child Welfare offices. These children, found abandoned in the streets, are in most cases orphans or come from abusive homes.

“We take children younger than five years old who stay here till they grow up. We also take children who find it difficult to adjust to their new circumstances to Tara Hospital for counselling. At times, people don’t realise the enormity of the situation the children have gone through before they are rescued,” said Dustin.

The Lighthouse Baby Shelter raises money through donations from the public and organisations to pay for the daily running of the shelter and the needs of children. She encouraged people to donate any items they do not need and that can be used at the shelter.

Dustin said she is happy with the success stories from children who get adopted into good families. The children usually come back to visit and come back happy which makes all the challenges worthwhile.

“This year, we will be registered as an non-profit organisation and will receive sponsorship from the government,” concluded Dustin.

Related articles:

Lighthouse Baby Shelter’s Christmas Wish List