​Andy Mortimer meets the people behind the Shine Relief charity, which is aiming to open an orphanage in the HIV-hit country of Malawi . . .

On a recent visit to Malawai, Shine workers handed out toothbrushes and footballs to local children

It was a typical cold winter’s day when I met 35-year-old Suzen Zidana at the Vineyard Recording Studio in Cottingham Road, Hull. Both dressed in long, thick coats and wrapped up warm with extra-thick scarves, we exchanged pleasantries as coffee was made and we found a seat among a small group of people to whom I would be soon introduced.

I was there to meet trustees of Shine Relief, a charity established locally that aims to help widows and orphans left in Malawi after their husbands and fathers died of AIDS. Seated to my left is charity co-founder Chris Whitelock, of Cottingham, who runs the Hull recording studio, and his wife, Janie. To my right is Suzen and next to her Debbie Irvin, of Hull, another of the co-founders. Missing is her husband Phil and Suzen’s husband Hastings, with whom she came to this country three years ago.

Suzen and Hastings are Malawi residents here in the UK while he completes his PhD in biological science. Sent over by the Malawian government, he has been charged with finding a way to increase the size of tilapia fish, native to his home country and the main source of protein for its 12 million people.

The group tells me that over the next few years the charity plans to start a feeding programme in the poverty-stricken country and open an orphanage for children. Suzen says thousands upon thousands of Malawian women and children are left without husbands and fathers  each year as a result of AIDS and she says it is her dream to do something to help.

“I was fortunate both my parents were working when I grew up in Malawi and the neighbouring country, Zambia,” she says, her soft voice just about audible.

“This meant they could afford to send me to high school and I had the chance to go to college and learn. A lot of children do not have that opportunity, particularly those from small villages.

“It was when I was at college I met Hastings and when we married I decided I wanted to help these orphans and widows. There were 13-year-old boys looking after seven and eight-year-olds in my town and I said at the time it was my dream to do something to help.”

Deforestation for local fuel supplies is one of the problems the charity is highlighting and hope to solve by supplying solar-powered cookers

When Hastings came to Hull for his PhD studies, Suzen met the people with whom she now shares her dream and, more importantly, works with to help make it a reality.

Debbie Irvin, also wrapped up warm and sipping a piping-hot cup of coffee, said: “My husband Phil and I met Suzen and Hastings at the Vineyard Church, in Beverley Road, Hull, and we were immediately taken in by their story and their dream.” The church is part of a nationwide group of conservative evangelical churches and the Vineyard Recording Studio, run in Hull by Chris Whitelock, is an adjoining non-profit, church-based, worship record label.

“Phil is a something of a visionary and he saw an opportunity to make a difference. We knew people would be interested in what we are going to do,” Debbie tells me.

After setting up the Shine Relief charity in December 2008, fellow Vineyard Church members Chris and Janie Whitelock joined, offering their support and, in Chris’s case, some insider knowledge.

Born in Zimbabwe but brought up from the age of four in neighbouring Malawi, he saw what life was like for many of the people living in a country rated as one of the poorest in the world.

Chris said: “I was brought up in Malawi until I was 21, although I was actually schooled in Bath, in England. Because of this upbringing, I was really interested in what Phil, Debbie, Suzen and Hastings were hoping to do. We all bring different things to the table and we all have a heart for the poor.”

Since the creation of Shine Relief, Hastings and Suzen have set up a sister charity in Malawi and it is to there that all the money raised and aid packages purchased in England are sent.

Suzen Zidana, Janie Whitelock, Debbie Irvin and Chris Whitelock

A charity ball was held at Hull’s KC Stadium in July, which raised £5,000, and local companies have also been asked to sponsor solar-powered cookers that can be sent to Malawi and used by the locals. White goods are currently hard to find and expensive to buy in the country.

Chris said: “Malawi’s problems stem from the fact it is landlocked and therefore expensive for outside aid to get into the country. Road and rail links are poor and flying in supplies is very expensive.

“We have a container of goods ready to send over and it’s going to cost more than £6,000 just to get them there – it’s an astonishing price.”

A recent visit to Malawi by Chris, Phil and Hastings also gave them an insight into the poverty-stricken country, which they are hoping to help.

Driving down the street with a sack of footballs, they stumbled across a group of young boys playing in a field. Their ball was made up of scrunched-up plastic bags. “We could see the delight on their faces when we handed over the real footballs,” says Chris. “Something as small as that makes a huge difference.

“Suzen and Hastings are heading back to the city of Zomba, in Malawi, soon and will make the first attempts at starting a feeding programme for local orphans, which they then plan to extend in the years ahead. Once that is up and running, we plan to start selling our sponsored cookers and then finally open an orphanage.

“We have also teamed up with South Holderness School at Preston, near Hedon, and they will be allowing Suzen to access their curriculum from Malawi. Education is a huge problem out there and if we can help in any way, we will.”

To donate to the charity or sponsor a solar cooker or solar desk light visit the website: www.shine-relief.org