The last thing Phillip Rego thought he would be doing at the age of 50 was becoming a dad again.

But that is what has happened after he was 'chosen' by a little girl at an orphanage supported by Mr. Rego's fund-raising efforts.

Now the father of two grown children and his wife, Maria, are in the process of adopting Guinese, and may bring her back to Bermuda.

He said: "She's already set in her mind. I talked to her maybe three times last week.

"You don't choose them they choose you and if you don't educate them or take them out of that environment they become products of it.

"It's a vicious cycle. The first time I went there it was overwhelming.

"I just went there to feed them. I couldn't just go and not do more though. Then the kids you are playing ball with them and they are getting closer and closer to you.

"But in my mind adopting was crazy. I just educated my kids. I know what it's like to raise a teenager.

"But every time I kept talking to her she kept saying 'you are my father'. I was very reluctant, but as soon as I was there it was like Velcro.

"How she chose me? Lord knows. I was the same with everyone."

The orphanage was founded and run by Charles Le Morzellec since 1998 for children who would otherwise be left on the side of the roads or seeking food through slavery.

Located in the little village of Montrouis, Haiti about 50 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince, it also serves as a community centre offering any food it can spare, education to the children and medical help when it can.

Mr. Rego has made three visits to Haiti, where he provided funds for a feeding programme, the clinic and education.

In January Mrs. Rego will go down to meet Guinese and to visit the orphanage for the first time.

He said: "My wife will go down in January to meet her. It's a shame to let a good mind go to waste. There's so much going on there if someone can give her an opportunity.

"Thank God not everyone says no to the kids. She's has no father and the mother I am not sure what happened. The orphanage has taken her because her sister is dying from Aids."