In the humble yet welcoming setting of Mponda, the Balaka Delegation marked the Jubilee of the Poor – a day devoted to encounter, shared presence, and compassionate proximity to those living in fragile circumstances. The event brought together students from Bakhita Secondary School, who welcomed fifty guests from nearby villages, accompanied by the school’s staff.
The celebration unfolded in an atmosphere of genuine joy and fraternity. With notable generosity, the students offered basic essentials drawn from their own limited resources: sugar, salt, and personal hygiene items – tangible gestures of care and attentiveness towards the most vulnerable. The sisters of the community contributed maize flour and beans, while the school prepared a communal meal, transforming the day into a moment of heartfelt fellowship.
At the heart of the gathering lay prayer, song, dance, and the simple gift of time shared – elements that allowed the guests to feel welcomed, remembered, and cherished. Even if just for a day, many experienced the dignity and delight of a shared celebration, an encounter that brought both relief and a quiet sense of hope.
For the students, the initiative also became a formative moment. In the act of giving – not what was superfluous, but something of one’s own – they rediscovered the value of gratitude and attentiveness to others. The experience deepened their understanding of service and solidarity, central tenets of the school’s educational mission, inspired by the figure of Saint Bakhita.
Thus, the Jubilee of the Poor in Mponda became a living testimony to the Gospel of charity: a small yet radiant sign of fraternity that, within the everyday realities of Malawi, contributes to the slow, patient construction of a culture of encounter and hope.
Bakhita Secondary School
The story of Bakhita Girls Secondary School begins in 1975, when the Canossian Sisters, responding to an invitation from the Bishop of Mangochi, opened a modest girls’ hostel to support students at Balaka Secondary School. What started as a small, almost experimental initiative gradually evolved into an ambitious educational project, which in 1986 became the Bakhita Distance Education Centre and, after further development and relocation to a larger campus, a private secondary school committed to raising academic standards. When Bakhita Girls Secondary School officially opened in January 2003 with thirty students and nine staff members, it marked the beginning of an unexpected trajectory of growth: today, more than six hundred young women live and study on campus in a vibrant, demanding residential environment. At the heart of the institution remains the Canossian aspiration to shape thoughtful, responsible young women, able to contribute meaningfully to their families and society with competence, dignity, and a quiet yet steadfast spirit of service, especially towards those most in need.
