I Went To Help... And Found True Love

Katherine De Kretser volunteered in an orphanage in Sri Lanka and fell in love with all the children – and one man…

- Kim Willis

As the sea of smiling faces welcomed me, I felt at ease. After five years in London working in recruitment, I felt ready for a new challenge and a change of scene, so had put all my belongings in storage, given up my room in a shared house, and set off for Sri Lanka. I’d expected my new surroundings to take some getting used to, but I’d never felt more welcome.

I’d chosen Sri Lanka because my dad was born there, although he hadn’t been back in years. He told me of an orphanage built near the beach and one quick Google later, I’d found Prithipura and signed up to volunteer for six months.

I had no experience of working with people who had disabilities, but as I read up on the history of the charity, I knew I wanted to contribute.

Set up in 1964 by Brian De Kretser after he heard there were children abandoned at the local hospital because of their disabilities, he’d been given some land and a hut and took on three children.

Thillaka was one of the first women to start working with him and they fell in love. Marrying a few years later, they had three sons – one of whom, Pieter, picked me up from the airport the day I arrived. He was late!