Eleven years ago on the Feast Day of St. Bakhita (8 February), Peter founded the St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage. His goal was to protect vulnerable girls from becoming victims of prostitution, child marriage, and other dangers. The girls celebrated the anniversary on the weekend of the 10th. So, who was St. Bakhita?
St. Bakhita
St. Bakhita is the patron saint of the victims of human trafficking. She was the first African woman named as a saint in the modern era. She was born around 1870 in the Darfur region of present-day Sudan. Captured and sold into slavery as a child, her true name was lost to the trauma of her experiences. Her captors called her Bakhita – meaning fortunate one in Arabic.
Bought and sold many times, often beaten and mistreated, she finally ended up as in the home of the Italian Vice Consul in Khartoum. According to her autobiography, he treated her well, so when he returned to Italy in 1884, she traveled with him. After escaping the city during the al-Mahdi siege of Khartoum, they traveled across the desert to Suakin and then by ship to Italy.
Freedom
Once in Italy, she was given or sold to friends of the Vice Consul where as a nanny for three years. In 1888, she and her ward went to stay with the Canossian Sisters at their Convent in Venice.
When her owners came to retrieve her and the ward, Bakhita refused to leave. She enlisted the help of the nuns to gain her freedom. The Italian courts determined that Bakhita could’t be a slave. Italy did not have slavery and she had been purchased illegally in the British Empire. She stayed with the nuns.
Less than 10 years later, she took her own vows as a nun in the Canossian order. She lived and worked in Italy until her death in 1947. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 2000. You can visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Heart in Washington, DC to see a mosaic of St. Bakhita. You can read more about her at catholic.org and Wikipedia. For something more in depth, check out one of the many books written about her life.
Not long after our arrival in Ghana, we began providing support to the St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage. Over the last few months, our family and friends have joined the effort, helping us to raise $10,733 in pledges. As of this writing, $9,666 has made it into the Friends of St. Bakhita Account. Check out our Calendar Year 2023 report and our Monthly report for January.
The Girls of St. Bakhita
You have helped so much with your efforts. They have a safe place to live, utilities, food and toiletries thanks to your donations.
Sixteen girls are in elementary school and junior high living at the orphanage. Their report cards indicate they are working hard and doing well. Your donations have ensured they can stay in their school.
Nine high school girls are away at their boarding schools. This includes five seniors are preparing for the exams which will determine their ability to enter university and trade schools. Your funds helped provide their school supplies, meals and toiletries. Tuition is free.
Four high school graduates are in university this semester. One other is taking classes in preparation for her tests to enter language school. Your donations pay the tuition, fees, and housing for the young women studying at three different campuses across the city.
Two young women are waiting to start apprenticeships in sewing. The final two are working on their applications for programs that should start in the spring, one in nursing and one in human resources. Of these, one would like to join the Ghana Armed Forces and another hopes to join the Immigration Service.
