The truth is, butterflies don’t eat elephants, but they do catch our eye and our imagination. When we started our project to support St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage, we had a very minimal understanding of their operating budget. We couldn’t see the whole elephant but we felt that the need required action even if we did not understand the full extent of the project. We have been building a detailed picture of where St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage stands financially and what they need to get through the year. Let me show you the elephant. Below is a snapshot of the additional funding the orphanage needs, by month beyond our current fundraising balance and our family’s monthly donation of $500. We will continue our efforts one bite at a time. We hope you will join us in the effort.
| Month | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Bite Size | $1,220 | $5,015 | $2,095 | $1,945 | $1,910 | $1,805 | $6,330 | $1,795 | $1,795 | $1,825 |
Bottom Line Up Front: St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage owes more than $12,500* (that’s U.S. Dollars) and after clearing that debt, needs to raise an additional $18,680* for the 2024 operating budget to stay on track for food, shelter, and educational needs. These expenses do not include shoes, clothing, internet (needed for school work and university applications), or any extras.
| Debt Type | Cedi | USD* |
| Remaining Advance Rent (24 months) | 60,000 | 4,878.05 |
| School fees | 87,530 | 7,116.26 |
| Medical Bill | 4,750 | 386.18 |
| Provisions | 3,900 | 317.07 |
| Total | 156,180 | 12,697.56 |
| Debt Type | Cedi | USD |
| Backrent Plus 1 Year Advance | 30,000 | 2,560.79 |
| School fees | 33,950 | 2,840.59 |
| Back Utilities | 1,000 | 86.26 |
| Medical Bill | 2,500 | 209.03 |
| Total | 67,450 | 5,696.67 |
Background
I’ve been spending the last month working with Peter, the founder of St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage, Portia, who runs the orphanage and cares for the girls, and Gelin who runs the local operations for Gift of the Butterfly Charitable Works. They have been answering a lot of questions so that I can understand what the orphanage expenditures are, how Peter has been covering the cost, and how to spend our funds effectively. I know it has felt intrusive for them. I’m thankful that Gelin asks hard questions and has an eye for detail, and I appreciate how Peter and Portia have opened up and let us into their lives. I need accurate numbers to find the right help, and I need transparency so I can be a good caretaker of the donations we receive. Because of that work, we have a better understanding of what they need and when they need it.
Peter and Portia
Right here, I need to pause and say something about Peter and Portia to give you an idea of their personal investment in St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage. Peter and Portia have been caring for the girls and negotiating with the community as best they can for years. Last year, Peter spent about $9,000 (converted at last year’s average exchange rate of 11.12 Cedi per USD) of his own funds on the orphanage. Outside our year-end push, other monetary donations generally covered the cost of provisions for the girls in boarding school and food for the girls at the orphanage.
Neither of them take a salary for their work. Portia volunteers full-time and beyond at the orphanage, living at the residence and caring for the girls. Peter lives in his own place and works two or more jobs outside of the orphanage. The money Peter has invested in the orphanage as a comparison to wages in Ghana is significant. For example, there are currently two full-time job openings for local hires at the US Embassy – considered locally to be an excellent employer with competitive wages. One of those jobs advertises an annual salary of $8,884 (USD) per year. Another advertises a salary of $4292 (USD) per year. Peter does not have one of these jobs. He works as a personal trainer and as a security guard. These jobs do not provide a steady income, but do provide the flexibility he needs to take care of orphanage business.
Now that you know what Portia and Peter have invested, it’s time to see what they are up against in detail. . .
The Debt—156,180 Cedi ($12,698)*
The St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage Debt falls into four main categories: Rent, Elementary and Junior High School Tuition, Medical Bills and Provisions. What exactly does that mean and how did we get here?
Rent—60,000 Cedi ($4878)
This is not technically a debt. The orphanage has paid one year advance rent, but does not have a signed lease as of this writing. It is not uncommon for landlords to request or require an upfront payment of up to three years in rent in Accra. The government has passed laws to regulate this practice, but there its an extreme shortage of affordable housing in Greater Accra making the regulation difficult to enforce in practice.
St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage is located in a house owned by an extended family. Some members of the family want to keep the orphanage there and provide an affordable option for the orphanage. Other members are interested in selling the property or developing it in a way to achieve greater profit. The three-year, upfront payment provides cash to those looking for money while protecting the orphanage for three years.
We will continue to prioritize paying this debt because our ability to help the girls depends first and foremost on them having adequate housing.
Elementary and Junior High School Tuition—87,530 Cedi ($7116)
The fourteen girls in First to Seventh Grade attend Teshie Estate Preparatory School and Junior High School, and there are outstanding bills for two others. This is a private lower school which costs between 1,080-1,620 Cedi ($88-$132) per student. Through our efforts, we have managed to pay for one full term and have nearly paid off the second. In addition to the remaining fees from the second term, there are now five full terms remaining to be paid.
Medical Bills—4,750 Cedi ($387)
The girls at the orphanage don’t have medical insurance. Though medical care is much less expensive here than in the U.S., the girls do not receive preventive care with doctors or dentists. They are fully vaccinated according to Ghana’s medical requirements. They see the doctor only when sick and when a pharmacist can’t help. Each visit costs 300 Cedi ($25) plus any needed medications. Last year, the orphanage had bedbugs and several girls needed treatment.
Additionally, the girls have access to mental health care at 500 Cedi ($41) per visit. Many of the girls could benefit from regular counseling, but as with doctor’s visits, they receive only reactive care. There is a shortage of mental health care providers in Ghana, so it is exceedingly good that they have access to a provider when needed.
Provisions— 3,900 Cedi ($317)
If you are like me, you wonder what exactly “provisions” includes. The nine high school girls attend one of five, free, upper-secondary boarding schools. At the beginning of each term, they need to pay for their food, toiletries and school supplies. Peter works with Madame Alberta who runs a business providing these provisions for boarding students. This term, she provided the provisions at a discount and without requiring upfront payment. We have since paid for six of the girls, but, as of this writing, we still owe for three students.
The Monthly Operating Budget 10,428 Cedi ($850)
| Expense | Cedi (US dollars) |
| Groceries | 5,000 (407) |
| Utilities | 1,750 (143) |
| Grooming | 1,000 (82) |
| Transportation | 1,755 (143) |
| Maintenance | 700 (57) |
| Emergencies | 200 (17) |
| Total | 10,428 (850) |
Every month, the orphanage has regular bills, just like any household. This budget includes maintenance costs and emergency fund savings calculated off of last year’s costs and divided over ten months. It does not include rent since that is covered under debts, though I will have to add some sort of savings for that purpose in coming months to prepare for November 2026 when the three years will be ready to renew.
Groceries—5,000 Cedi ($407)
While the secondary school girls are at boarding school and the twins live on campus at University of Ghana, Legon Campus, there are twenty-one girls at the house. The grocery bill provides for breakfast and dinner on weekdays; all meals on the weekend; toiletries; laundry and dishwashing detergent; and cleaning supplies.
Utilities—1,750 Cedi ($143)
The utilities covered under this budget are electricity, water, cooking gas, and phone service for the young women at university.
The orphanage uses prepaid service for their electricity, and it is a little complicated to determine the actual need. We have allocated 600 Cedi ($49) per month for now.
The water bill is 350 Cedi ($29)/month. This is a monthly post-paid service.
Cooking gas is bought in canisters. They need at least 600 Cedi ($49) per month to meet their cooking needs.
Phone bill for the university students. 200 Cedi ($17) per month covers the mobile phone cost for the four young women at university. This is their primary means of contact with the orphanage while commuting to and from university or living in the dorm.
Grooming—1000 Cedi ($82)
Until graduating from secondary school, most schools in Ghana require girls to keep their hair cut short. The young women in university and apprenticeship are allowed to grow their hair out and have braids if they keep it well-groomed. The girls go to a local shop for hair cuts and Portia and some of the older girls braid or twist the hair for the young women.
Transportation—1755 Cedi ($143)
Transportation costs fall into two categories, school and church. I will cover a third category, boarding school transportation, in a later section because it is not a monthly cost.
First, two university students commute to their campuses. One student is at University of Ghana, Accra City Campus. She attends classes five days a week at a cost of 40 Cedi ($3.25) each day. The other attends class at University of Professional Studies, Accra, twice a week in person (the other days are online) at a cost of 50 Cedi ($4.06) each day. This adds up quickly to an average monthly cost of 1300 Cedi ($106). The elementary and junior high are in walking distance.
Second, while the boarding school students are away at school, there are 21 girls living at the orphanage who attend church every Sunday. They take public transportation at a cost of 5 Cedi (40 cents) per person or 105 Cedi ($8.54) per Sunday. The average monthly cost is 455 Cedi ($37). During the period when the boarding students are at home – Christmas and the summer months – this cost increases by 55 Cedi ($4.48) per week.
Maintenance—700 Cedi ($57)
Last year, St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage spent 7,000 Cedi ($570) on maintenance. This includes work to get a donated vehicle running properly along with required home maintenance. Under the lease agreement, the orphanage is responsible “to keep the interior portion of the said premises and all door locks, walls and other fixtures and fittings in a good tenantable manner.” Known upcoming expenses include:
- Painting the house
- Renovating washrooms
- Fixing kitchen shelves
- Fixing glass doors
- Fixing main gates
- Fixing balcony ceiling
- Fixing the fans
- Vehicle repair
Emergency Fund—200 Cedi ($17)
Without health insurance, the primary driver of emergency costs is illness and injury. But like every household, a broken stove, refrigerator or other large appliance can put the budget in jeopardy. Building an emergency fund of 2,000 Cedi ($170) over the year will help.
Miscellaneous Fees
Some of the high school girls study home economics and will have supply costs pop up. These are listed as “Practicals” on our receipts. It is difficult to know when these fees will come, and I do no have enough data to know how much to budget for this expenses.
Primary/Secondary Term Fees—71,850 Cedi ($5,842)
| Expense in Cedi (USD) | April | June | September | December | Total |
| Elementary and Junior High Tuition | 17,400 (1,415) | 17,400 (1,415) | 34,800 (2,830) | ||
| Elementary and Junior High Lunch | 8,200 (667) | 8,100 (659) | 16,300 (1,326) | ||
| High School Provisions | 11,700 (951) | 6,500 (529) | 18,200 (1,480) | ||
| High School Transportation | 1,240 (100) | 620 (50) | 345 (28) | 345 (28) | 2,550 (206) |
| Total | 38,540 (3,133) | 620 (50) | 32,345 (2,631) | 345 (28) | 71,850 (5,842) |
In addition to monthly expenses, St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage has fees due at the beginning of each term. This is where St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage falls behind without dedicated funding. Terms 1 begins in September, Term 2 in January and Term 3 in April. Each term, the orphanage should pay for tuition and supplies for the students.
Elementary and Junior High Fees
Elementary and Junior High Tuition. In addition to the debt listed above, in April, 2024, the Orphanage will have a tuition bill for 17,400 Cedi ($1415). This includes the tuition for the 14 girls in elementary and junior high school. None of the students in Junior high will graduate to highschool this year, so September’s bill should remain the same barring any tuition increases.
Elementary and Junior High Lunch. The fees for lunch for the girls are 600 Cedi ($49) for each of the 12 elementary students and 500 Cedi ($41) for the two junior high students. This sums to 8,200 Cedi ($667) for all 14 girls. For comparison, in elementary, our son’s lunch fee was around 2000 Cedi ($163) per term. Next fall, one of our elementary students will enter junior high, so September’s fees will be 8,100 Cedi ($659).
High School Fees
High School Provisions. The nine girls at boarding school will once again need provisions for the term. If Madame Alberta will continue to charge the discounted price of 1300 Cedi ($106) per student, that will be 11,700 ($951) for all nine girls. In June, four of the high school girls should graduate, so September’s provisions bill will reduce to 6,500 Cedi ($530).
High School Transportation. At the beginning and end of each term, the high school girls travel to and from their schools to the orphanage. Each trip costs 620 Cedi ($50) total for all nine girls, one way. So, December, January, April (twice), June, and September have this additional cost added to the budget. In September and December, the transportation should be for five girls, approximately 345 Cedi ($28) each way.
University Tuition Room and Board (2024)—23,413.50 Cedi ($1,904)
| University Tuition, Room and Board | May | September | Total |
| University Student #1 – University of Ghana, Legon Campus | 9,784 (795) | 9,784 (795) | |
| University Student #2 – University of Ghana, Legon Campus | 7,033 (572) | 7,033 (572) | |
| University Student #3 – University of Ghana, Accra City Campus | 4,009 (326) | 4,009 (326) | |
| University Student #4 – University of Professional Studies, Accra | 2,487.50 (202) | 2,487.50 (202) | 4,975 (404) |
| Total | 2,487.50 (202) | 23,313.50 (1,895) | 25,801 (2,097) |
I’m not sure if this is driven by COVID or just how school works here, students entering their first year of university begin school in January for their first Semester. They take a short break in April and then resume the second semester of their first year in May. The second Semester ends in August and, after a short break, they continue into the first semester of their second year in September. The second and subsequent years seem to follow the northern hemisphere schedule of First Semester September – December and Second Semester January – May. So, as I write, two students from the orphanage are in the first semester of their Freshman year of university and two students are in the second semester of their second year of university. Each program has it’s own specific tuition and these prices can vary dramatically.
The Sophomores
University Student #1 is in her second year at the University of Ghana, Legon Campus. Her program is 5400 Cedi ($439) per semester. She lives in the dorm at a cost of 2384 Cedi ($194) per semester. Groceries, toiletries and supplies are an additional 2000 Cedi ($163) per semester. Next payment due September, 2024 – 9784 Cedi ($795)
University Student #2 is in her second year at the University of Ghana, Legon Campus. Her program is 2649 Cedi ($215) per semester. She lives in the dorm at a cost of 2384 Cedi ($194) per semester. Groceries, toiletries and supplies are an additional 2000 Cedi ($163) per semester. Next payment due September, 2024 – 7033 Cedi ($572)
The Freshmen
University Student #3 is in her first year at University of Ghana, Accra City Campus. Her program is 4009 Cedi ($326) per year. She commutes to class and her food and transportation are covered in the monthly budget. Next payment due September, 2024 – 4009 Cedi ($326).
University Student #4 is in her first year at University of Professional Studies, Accra. Her program is 2487.50 Cedi ($202) per semester. She commutes to class and her food and transportation are covered in the monthly budget. Next payment due May, 2024 – 2487.50 Cedi ($202) and an additional payment of 2587.50 ($210) will be due in September.
Prospective Post-Secondary Training Fees—33,527 Cedi ($2726)
| Projected Expense | Cedi | US dollar |
| Apprentice #1 | 10,000 | 814 |
| Apprentice #2 | 10,000 | 814 |
| Nursing Student #1 | 5,000 | 406 |
| University Student #5 | 3,027 | 246 |
| University Student #5 | 5,500 | 447 |
| Total | 33,527 | 2727 |
Five women who have graduated from secondary school hope to begin further training later this year in various programs: two sewing apprenticeships, one nursing program, and two university programs.
Apprenticeships
Apprentice #1 and #2 are seeking sewing apprenticeships with a local design company. The price of each apprenticeship is 7000 Cedi ($570) plus a sewing machine and supplies which will add up to an additional 3000 Cedi ($244) each. This payment covers the two-year program. Payment is due at the start of the program. The young ladies are ready to begin once we have obtained funding.
Nursing School
Nursing student #1 will apply for a local nursing program. The tuition is approximately 5000 Cedi ($406) per year. Payment will be due the week of the program start and I am still determining when that will be.
University
University student #5 is applying to the University of Media, Art, and Communication-Institute of Language. The tuition for the first year of this program is 2527 Cedi ($205) per year. Accompanying fees are likely 500 Cedi ($41). I am still determining the due date of this expense.
University student #6 is applying to the Human Resources program at the University of Ghana, Legon Campus. The tuition for the first year of this program is approximately 5000 Cedi ($406). Accompanying fees are likely 500 Cedi ($41). I am still determining the due date of this expense.
The Whole Elephant
So that’s it, the elephant as I know it. It’s a lot. It’s far more than I can do alone. It’s much more than I would ask or expect anyone to give, but the girls of St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage need help. No one has to solve the whole problem. I’m asking for your curiosity, your imagination, and just a little help dining on the proverbial elephant while I help the orphanage with their grant requests.
*All future expenditures listed in dollars are converted from Cedi at a rate of 12.3 Ghana Cedi per U.S. Dollar.