Wrapped in a blanket, a Philippine baby born prematurely is placed underneath a small bulb to keep warm as a nun drips milk into its mouth.
The vulnerable child is one of many who are abandoned soon after birth and taken in by the sisters of the Augustinian mission in Tagatay, the Philippines.
"It makes us so happy to know that, by God's grace, we are able to help babies, even premature ones, to live in spite of the fact that we don't have any incubators. We shine a little light on them to keep them warm and give them drops of milk," said Sr Carmen Borg, looking back on the home's work over the years.
Sr Carmen, who has been in the Philippines since 1995, recalled the events that led to the setting up of the children's home.
It all started in June 2001, when Elma, a young mother, went to the convent for help because her seven children were ill. When the nuns went to her home they found a miserable situation.
"The seven children were sick and malnourished and their tiny bodies were full of wounds. The youngest daughter, Monica, was six months old then and fighting to breathe," Sr Carmen said, adding that Elma and her children were immediately taken in by the convent.
The nuns bathed the children and fed them while Sr Carmen rushed Monica to hospital. It turned out she had a heart condition and was hospitalised for five days.
"When Monica was discharged, the mother asked us whether we could keep her and her sister because she couldn't take care of them properly. We accepted. This situation inspired us to come up with an institution that would improve the lives of the less privileged."
The convent started taking in abandoned babies and it now hosts 26 children aged between three months and 11 years. Most of their mothers gave their children away because they knew they could not give them a good home or future, so they opted for the better decision and brought their children to the nuns knowing they would be loved and cared for.
The nuns at the convent provide the children with basic needs, such as food, clothing and health care, as well as doing all they can to offer them a homely environment.
They provide custodial care, maternal love and affection and a moral, spiritual and intellectual formation. They give them the best education possible and help them become responsible Christian citizens.
"We do everything a mother does for her children," said Sr Carmen.
She added that both education and health services were very expensive in the Philippines and the nuns depended on people's generosity.
They now face another financial challenge as they want to extend the home to accommodate more children but funds are scarce.
She is not disheartened and, from experience, believes things will work out: "What Jesus said is true; even if a mother forgets her baby, He will never forget us.
"When I consider the situation in the Philippines, where people are being exploited, where children are used for trafficking, where the majority are poor and homeless, where there is no free education, no free medicine or hospitalisation, my message is to be grateful to God and to our country for there is a lot to be thankful for. Let us not complain when we lack something," Sr Carmen said.
Anyone who wishes to help the nuns can do so by sending donations through the HSBC Savings Bank (Philippines) account number 053 000980 132 (swift code HSBCPHMM).
A helping note
St Monica Choir will be giving a concert in aid of the Augustinian mission in the Philippines, premiering the full and original version of The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace.
The piece, by Karl Jenkins, is a powerful and compelling account of the descent into and terrible consequences of war.
The production will bring together the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra comprising of 85 musicians, 100 choristers, soprano Claire Caruana, alto Claire Massa, tenor Charles Vincenti, bass Kevin Caruana and muezzin Rasim Selim Belhaj, all under the direction of Michael Laus.
The event, under the patronage of Archbishop Paul Cremona, will be held on February 28 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. It is made possible through the collaboration of APS Bank, the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund and Air Malta.
For bookings send an e-mail to bookings@mcc.com.mt or call on 2559 5751.