ORPHANAGES ARE RARE IN AFRICA, BECAUSE UNDER TRIBAL LAW THE PROSPEROUS MEMBERS OF A FAMILY IMMEDIATELY ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY CHILDREN, WITHIN THE FAMILY, WHO BECOME ORPHANS. BUT AT BINGERVILLE, NEAR ABIDJAN, A FIST-CLASS ORPHANAGE EXISTS WHERE 230 YOUNGSTERS AGED FROM FIVE TO 18 ARE CARED FOR AND EDUCATED.

THE ORPHANAGE WAS SET UP IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS CENTURY, WHEN THE IVORY COAST WAS A FRENCH COLONY, TO REAR THE CHILDREN OF TRANSITING WHITE TROOPS. FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS IT HAS BEEN RUN BY GILBERT DRUCY, WHO HAS SEEN ORPHANS WHO WERE ONCE HIS WARDS BECOME, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DOCTORS, DENTISTS, JOURNALISTS AND TEACHERS. "AN ORPHAN," SAY DRUCY, "IS USUALLY A TRAGIC, SAD PERSON WITH A TERRIFIC COMPLEX.. I TRY TO MAKE A CHILD FORGET WHAT HE IS, AND MAKE HIM CONCENTRATE ON BECOMING SOMETHING."
THE ORPHANAGE IS SUPPORTED BY THE IVORY COAST MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. DRUCY WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND, BUT IS SHORT OF TEACHERS. "IT HURTS ME TO TURN DOWN NEEDY CHILDREN, AS I HAD TO DO THIS YEAR," HE SAYS. "FROM ALL THE CASES UNDER CONSIDERATION, I COULD ONLY ACCEPT 20 PER CENT OF THE BOYS AND 10 PER CENT OF THE GIRLS."