A life discarded in the trash
In the silence of the night, when everything seems to have fallen asleep and no one notices anything anymore, there are still some lives that change drastically. Where the darkness of poverty in Africa extinguishes everything and fear also fills everything, children are left alone before the unthinkable, abandoned without help.
In this heavy and indifferent silence, the story of little Barbara begins, a story that today calls on all of us to show our humanity and compassion as parents, brothers and sisters, and friends.
It is two o’clock in the morning. Darkness covers the city of Lomé, the capital of Togo, with a heavy silence. In a neighborhood known for its danger, the streets are deserted, shadows lengthen, and every sound becomes a threat. In the heart of this darkness, a tiny figure raises her voice and cries. Barbara is just two years old.
At this age, a child should be sleeping peacefully, lulled by the comforting voice of their parents, protected by their warm embrace and tender hands. But that night, Barbara was alone, in the blackness of life, sitting by the roadside unaccompanied, exposed to every danger, unable to understand why the world had abandoned her. Fear and the silence of the night were her only companions. The night was a long and unforgettable nightmare for our little one.
In the silence of the night, away from human eyes but not from the divine gaze, Barbara had been thrown into the recycling bins like trash. But why? No one yet knows what answer to give. The only certainty is that we know the miserable situation and conditions in the African world, especially in Togo.
Perhaps her parents were no longer able to bear the burden of her upbringing, as well as poverty, and were disappointed, with the only solution being to abandon the little one unprotected on the streets. The situation is complicated and these are difficult times for the child.
Amidst the despair of the street and indifference, a light emerged for Barbara. The light was given thanks to a stranger, a good Samaritan who was passing by. He heard the desperate cries in the wild grass by the road and approached. Surprised, he decided to act with the help of others.
Our little angel was quickly taken to the police station. However, it was unfortunately not a suitable place for her care.
They searched all night for where to take her, and in the end, they thought that the Greek Orthodox Church in Togo has an institution where they provide warmth and smiles to children. Quickly, our orphanage became a refuge for little Barbara, who carried deep emotional shock and extreme exhaustion because she had cried desperately until the good Samaritan found her.
Though small, this entire situation leaves a wound, a pain that can cause mental turmoil and insecurity every time it awakens.
Barbara needs your help because we need to take her to the pediatrician, feed her, and provide her with all the care she needs to grow up well. We are unable to do so due to the many financial needs of our Holy Diocese.
She is no longer alone; let us help so that there is no longer a wild night, nor will she remember the darkness in which she was abandoned, undefended by anyone in her loneliness, where she had only her tears as a companion.
Come and warm her heart and make her smile. Let her believe that the world can be a safe place for her.
Why does Barbara need you?
Caring for a 2-year-old child who has experienced such an abandonment at night requires specific resources:
- Psychological support: Guidance to alleviate night terrors and the trauma of abandonment.
- Protection and comfort: A safe bed, clothes, and all necessities for her daily well-being.
- Educational activities to help her develop despite the chaotic beginning of her life. Secure her future, her future education, and her emotional stability.
Barbara was found alone in the night. Today, let us together offer her the sunshine of a new future. Your generosity is her most beautiful refuge.
Please be Barbara’s guardian angel, be the hand that will guide her away from the dark path where she was found.
From the Holy Diocese of Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso
Photos: Adobe Stock – Krakenimages.com
