It’s been just over ten months since I told you about St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage. And those ten months have brought progress and challenges. Back then, I told you I needed $30,000 to get the orphanage out of debt and operate for a year. Knowing what I know now, the number would have been $39,000. We’ve spent $22,890 on the orphanage. The orphanage is still, $11,800 in debt, and our monthly costs are $920 if we pay them all. We don’t – we generally can cover $700 for monthly expenses. Trust me this is not bad news. This is great news.
Where We Started
Last November, the landlord was threatening eviction because the orphanage was seven months behind on the rent. The primary and middle school girls were in danger of missing their exams because school fees hadn’t been paid in more than a year. The director, house mother and all the girls were praying for help. Carlton and I, along with other members of the community were barely able to keep food on the table. So I told you, my family and my friends, about the orphanage. I asked you if you believed in Santa Claus.
My goal was to be able to pay the back rent, get the girls back in school and cover a year of expenses for the orphanage. My calculations indicated that we needed something just under $30,000. In 2023, Gift of the Butterfly raised almost $9,000 for St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage. So far in 2024, we have received more than $7,500. Adding this to our family contributions from November of 2023 to today, we have been able to provide $20,890 to the orphanage.
Where We Are
With those funds, the orphanage got caught up on the rent and paid 20 of the 36 months of rent for the new lease. They made dent in the school fees and medical debt, and have been able to cover basic utilities and some groceries. Additionally, they have been able to put seven young women into university and apprenticeships.
The Girls
When we first introduced you to the girls of St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage, we had 32 girls. The oldest were just beginning their second year of university and the youngest were in first grade. Six girls had finished secondary school and were awaiting the next phase of their lives. Ten months later,
—Two young women are juniors at the University of Ghana, Legon Campus
—One young woman is a sophomore at University of Ghana, Accra City Campus
—One young woman is a sophomore at University of Professional Studies, Accra
—One young woman is a freshman at the 37 Nursing & Midwifery Training College
—Two young women are first-year sewing apprentices under TiLoi
—Six young women are complete with secondary school and applying to follow-on training – we will know what’s next for them in December or January.
—Two young women are in their final year of high school at Methodist Girls Senior High School
—One young woman is in her final year of high school at Bergoro Senior High School
—Two young women are in their second year of high school at Diaspora Girls Senior High School
—Fourteen girls attend Teshie Estate Prep and Junior High School next door to the orphanage.
Looking Forward
We have a better – though not perfect – understanding of the operational costs for the orphanage. $30,000 was a pretty good estimate, but it should have been closer to $40,000 to get out of debt and keep up with expenses.
The orphanage is still almost $11,800 in debt for school fees, rent, medical bills, and credit extended to help the girls in boarding school pay for their food and toiletries. We are not able to cover all the bills, but things are so much better than they were, because of you.
Santa’s Little Helpers
So let’s talk about you. Who has been helping us? Well, all kinds of people. Family, friends, shipmates, classmates from the Naval Academy and our high schools, community members here in Accra, and friends of friends and family. We have received one-time donations of $20 and one time donations of more than $1,000. We have repeat givers who seem to appear at just the right time. At least three times, I received a notification of a donation within hours of realizing there was an unexpected bill.
If there is a contest – there isn’t – my Naval Academy classmates are winning, donating more than $10,000. Every dollar from every source has helped. It has paid for concrete things like medicine, electricity, and rent, but it has also reduced worry and stress and helped the orphanage see how much they have and what they need for the future.
Getting Organized
During the last ten months, the orphanage passed its regular re-certification process to maintain their non-profit status in Ghana. They registered to apply for grants from the U.S. government. This is a key step because it also helps 501(c)(3) organizations in the US collect and disburse funds to them.
I am still in the process of transforming Gift of the Butterfly Charitable Works into a 501(c)(3) organization. I have not concentrated as much time and effort to this process as I need to, but now that everyone is back in school, this is high on the priority list.
Thank you for Your Continued Support
With your help, we have kept the girls of St. Bakhita housed, fed and educated. We have helped give them a way forward. Thank you for helping in the past. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for reading. There is still time to make that original goal. Click the pledge button for Zelle, Venmo, and Paypal Information. And of course, please keep thinking good thoughts for the girls of St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage.