In the 1950s, two actresses set up a charity home for "orphans"--actually, children who were purposely abandoned and shunned because of their mixed ethnicity. The children find themselves being loved and looked after properly.

In 1959, support from U.S. troops based in Asia and later from the States enables two actresses to start a charity for mixed-race "orphans" who are locally neglected as outcasts. Thus originates Childhelp, which later runs multi-disciplinary centers for abused or neglected children in the States. Among them is bright Jacob Fletcher, whose stepfather, a lawyer, terrorized him into utter trauma and reclaims him shortly after 10 months in jail. Jacob's peers have their own distressing stories, but competent, devoted staff helps most of them decisively on the former farm, using animal therapy.—KGF Vissers