The African Development Bank has made a donation to the Mahipatram Rupram Ashram, one of the largest and oldest orphanages in India.

Grace Adesina, wife of the Bank President, presented a cheque to Naranbhai Patel, President of the Mahipatram Rupram Ashram on Wednesday during a tour of the orphanage. The visit was part of the two-day spouse programme organized in the margins of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings being held in Ahmedabad, India, from May 22-26, 2017.

"We are pleased to be here," said Adesina.

"We spouses, as stakeholders of the Bank, have all been warmly welcomed. I really commend the management of the orphanage. It is obvious that they are taking care of the most vulnerable people in society, especially women and children. Not only do they take care of them, but they are also training them so that they can contribute to their communities."

Adesina was speaking to an audience comprising AfDB spouses, spouses of conference delegates and officials of both the orphanage and the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat.

The Mahipatram Rupram Ashram was founded in December 1892, in memory of a great social reformist, Shri Mahipatram Rupram. It began with just seven children, but is now a hive of activity. It is a home for deserted women and orphaned children, who are given shelter and training for a future independent life.

The shelter protects and nurses newborn babies and infants abandoned by society; and it rescues, protects and gives psychological support to marginalized and homeless women and their children

It also runs pre-primary, primary, secondary and higher schools, which are also for the benefit of other socially deprived children in the community.