Anita is on the left of Belinda, the convent cook, & Samjuta on the right
Anita was brought to the convent when she was7 years old by her mother who was on her own, her husband having deserted her and their 2 children Anita and her older brother who was 10. Anita was a very ill child, her mother left her with the sisters in the convent in Gitdubling and asked them to keep her and attend to her whether she lived or died as she could not afford to keep her.
Anita is still with the sisters, she has severe learning difficulties but is a happy and contended little 10 year old, who loves to help in the kitchen preparing vegetables and she loves to sweep and work in the garden. The sisters are genuinely fond of Anita and look after her really well.
Sr. Matilda the superior of St. Joseph’s convent in Gitdubling takes her home to her village when she gets her 2 weeks vocation each year. Anita will be able to stay with the sisters for as long as she wants to.
Samjuta Age 11 Arrived at St. Joseph’s convent whilst I was there this year in March 2008,
Her mother is a stone breaker and is also on her own. Samjuta had been rescued from the street on 2 other occasions, but had run away from the school she had been sent to and had returned to the streets. Samjuta was being abused by men, but was being given presents which made her happy. Her mother agreed to her being taken to Gitdubling and put under the care of Father Felix at St Joseph’s school and hostel. She had been there for 4 weeks by the time I left to return home and seemed to be settling down. She has made friends with some of the other children.
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