About the Charity

Who are the trustees?

Originally Italian from Rome, Bruna was involved in various humanitarian projects in Africa and South America before going to Bangladesh and falling in love with the country and the people. And never before had she come across anyone else with Ali’s approach to helping the disabled.

Bruna has worked in many fields – PR, teacher, fund-raiser – and in many countries. She loves cooking (the Italian connection), travelling and reading.

Bruna is always on the move and is known as “The Girl with the Suitcase”

Dinah has run her own literary agency for over 20 years. Her clients include the scientist David Deutsch, historians Malcolm Billings and Daniel Snowman, novelists Wendy K. Harris and Marcia Willett. She had always loved India, then became interested in Bangladesh after reading the travel memoir of Anne Hamilton, another of our trustees, whom she now represents.

Barnaby is married with two children. He works in London as a fund manager.

Barnaby previously had no direct connection with Bangladesh, but his mother Dinah’s enthusiasm for Bhola did not exactly go unnoticed. He was touched by Ali’s story and saw the opportunity to extend the family involvement in the venture.

Sandy’s family already had deep connections with India (before independence), East Pakistan/Bangladesh and Burma when he met his future wife (an Indian born in Burma).

All three children of one of his cousins were born with cleft lips, so Sandy counts his blessings in having two sons with no disabilities.
Sandy works as an economist providing consultancy and research services on government policy issues in particular relating to taxation and pensions. He is a qualified chartered accountant.

A further four people were appointed trustees from 29 April 2008.

José Luis Andarias - José Luis Andarias y de Prado has been actively involved in this project from the very beginning. During a stay in Morocco, he met Bruna Colombo-Otten who talked to him about the work she was starting in Bhola. Her project captured his attention and he made two visits to Bhola with Bruna. José is particularly good at signing, the principal means of communication with the children.
José Luis lives in Madrid. He is now a marketing manager, but his earlier career was in the film industry.

Anne Hamilton - Were it not for Anne Hamilton, Bhola's Children as a charity might not exist. When she was thirty Anne spent several months in Bangladesh, working for an NGO. She subsequently wrote an enchanting travel memoir A Blonde Bengali Wife and sent it to Dinah who took her on as a client. It has taken four years to find a publisher but, as Anne said, it served its purpose in that it inspired Dinah to go to Bangladesh. When she met Bruna Dinah  had no hesitation in accompanying her to  Bhola Island. A Blonde Bengali Wife will now be published in April 2010, with all Anne’s royalties and Dinah’s agency commission going to Bhola's Children. You will be able to buy copies of the book from www.ll-publications.com

Jessamy Morris - Jessamy first heard of Bhola's Children from Dinah, her aunt, and was immediately impressed with what was being achieved at Bhola Garden, and the passion and commitment of those involved. Already working as a fundraiser for a UK music charity, she was happy to get involved with Bhola's Children, and to help in any way she could. Jessamy  now works for UK youth support charity YouthNet and is delighted to have been an early trustee of  such a special charity. A keen traveller, Jessamy looks forward to visiting Bhola Island one day soon, to see it first hand.

The trustees are not the only people to give generously of their time and skills to Bhola’s Children. The trustees wish particularly to acknowledge the work done by:

• Jamie Anson who designed and maintains this website
• Jem Hanbury who designed the charity’s brochure
• Lars-Erik Wallhagen who coordinates the Swedish supporter group.

Who are the trustees?