THE spirit of Christmas is with a Vale woman all the year round, as she prepares her 19th trip to El Salvador to bring comfort to destitute children. CLAIRE CHARLES reports:

A SECOND-HAND book bought from a charity shop more than 18 years ago changed one Evesham woman's life for ever.

Bron Soan was so moved by the plight of the people of El Salvador who have endured years of civil war that she joined a human right campaign group. In January 1986, with war still raging, she visited the country to see for herself the severity of the situation.

Bron, aged 69, said: "The human rights group wrote to a priest they knew over there but there was no reply. So I sent a Christmas card in appalling Spanish and told him I was coming! I had a lot of fun during that visit between my Spanish accent and the fact that no one spoke English."

Despite the basic living conditions, the civil war and a devastating earthquake the killed 14,000 people in October 1986, Bron returned to El Salvador the following January.

The qualified nurse, midwife and social worker continued her annual trips working with street children and in the slum districts.

In 1994 using inheritance money Bron decided to set up a children's refuge in the capital San Salvador.

She said: "I am a very impulsive person so I decided to set up a centre but I never thought about the future when I bought it - we set up on a shoestring and we still are. I worry about the future because I want the centre to keep going."

The centre, which costs £30,000 a year to run, can cater for 60 children during the day. They receive breakfast and lunch and basic education and play activities as well as access to health checks and medical treatment if necessary. The centre also pays for the children's mainstream schooling, uniforms and equipment.

Bron said: "There is no protection for the kids out there - they all live in abject poverty, they have all been abused and their mothers are often prostitutes or drug addicts. I feel strongly about caring for children - the children we care for have nobody, they only have us. They are my kids."

In the New Year Bron will make her 19th trip to El Salvador and spend a month at the centre reviewing the work that has been done since her last visit. She said: "I want to go for longer but now I realise that the important thing is to come back and raise funds."

"I am quite shy and it ends up feeling like it is you that is asking for the money but they are really good people around here and it is incredible what they do."

Recently Pinvin caterer Max Dawe has helped Bron in her fund-raising efforts, organising two charity lunches and supplying the mince pies for a recent coffee morning.

He also went with Bron to El Salvador last year and is going with her again in January.

Bron said: "I live very frugally, spending about £12 a week on food and getting all my clothes from charity shops. I do appreciate if you have got kids most

of your money is going to them but I just think we live at a level where it is over the top. Half the world starves and the other half slims."

"I suppose I have put my life on the line and given my money and my time to the people of El Salvador, but I have received far more in return."

For more information about the work of the El Salvador centre or to make a donation visit www.magicchildren.co.uk.