•Founder, Rev. (Mrs.) BAMIDELE GEORGE Tells City People
Rev. (Mrs.) Bamidele George is a pioneer in the orphanage and adoption ministry. She started Little Saints Orphanage with faith and 27 years later, the organisation has grown into 6 branches and poised to grow further.
In this chat with IYABO OYAWALE, she talks about the humble beginnings of the orphanage and how she has sustained the vision. Enjoy it!
Little Saints Orphanage is 27, how have you been able to run the organisation for this long?
It is by His grace we have accomplished all we have in 27 years. He used a lot of Nigerians to help us. Most Nigerians are generous and wonderful people.
We do not have any big foreign donors, God has just chosen to be exceedingly faithful in supplying our needs.
People have made donations that have astounded us in these 27 years. For instance, Mr Femi Osibona of Fourscore Homes, who recently passed in tragic circumstances, donated a beautiful house to us in Ogudu in 2005. God has used such great compassionate hearts for the vision over the years. Without resources, we can’t continue to run the orphanage successfully.
What do you think has sustained the vision?
Grace and hardwork have sustained this vision. When you have the grace of God, you don’t struggle to make progress, you only work hard. You are led and guided by God. We do not go around soliciting for funds. Anyone going around saying they are raising funds for Little Saints Orphanage are being fraudulent. We simply rely on our patrons network. We communicate our needs one-on-one with friends, corporate organizations and churches.
Another thing that has sustained the vision is team work. The missionaries in our ministry are tenacious and dynamic in their ways. I only work with those that are called of God to help the less-privileged. They must have passion for the needy.
Let’s go down memory lane. How did it all begin?
Little Saints Orphanage vision is a calling from God. I only got hold of this vision when I began my personal walk with God. I got born again in 1986 and got inspired to reach out to vulnerable children. God gave me a Rhema ‘Take Care Of My Orphans’.
When I heard the voice of God,at first I was very reluctant to answer His call because I was so worried about the various challenges involved in running an orphanage. For instance, what if I wouldn’t be able to cater for them? What if I get into trouble trying to help someone else’s child? This anxiety kept me awake most of the nights.
Eventually, I just decided to obey God and we renovated the facility my husband donated to us in Akowonjo area of Lagos in anticipation of children. Even though there were no children, by faith we went ahead to buy all that was needed for a few babies and toddlers. For nearly six months, we kept waiting for children and none came. My team and I visited the police stations in our vicinity to inform them about our orphanage.
Eventually, a pair of twins was brought to us. Soon after that, babies filled the home.
Our beginning was quite humble and it was financially and emotionally draining on my family.
What was your biggest challenge at the time you started?
Our biggest challenge was keeping abandoned babies alive. Most of the babies that were brought to us in those days were at the point of death due to the conditions they were found in.
They were found in gutters, public toilets, uncompleted buildings and abandoned vehicles. We received babies that were malnourished, severely abused and battered. One baby had her throat slashed, another one had her stomach stabbed. There was also a baby that was almost eaten alive by ants. There were so many terrible cases. Our hospital bills were very high.
What are your most memorable moments at the orphanage?
My most memorable moment was the very first adoption we did. She was adopted at a time when Nigerians rejected adoption.
The day we succeeded in releasing her, after the approval from the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, it was a great day for us. It was the beginning of happiness for many families. We are pleased that what we revived and encouraged in Lagos State has since become an enviable act of love in Nigeria.
As a pioneer in the orphanage and adoption ministry, how many children have been adopted to families?
Since 1996 when we started the adoption of children, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, 370 children have been adopted to families.
Bear in mind that no orphanage can give out a child for adoption without government ministry and court approval documents. We continue to make it clear that Little Saints Orphanage does not charge money for adoption.It’s not a money-making venture. Children are gifts from God and must be treated as such.
How many branches does Little Saints Orphanage have?
As at today, we have six orphanages in Nigeria. 3 in Lagos, 1 in Warri, 1 in Ibadan, I in Itele in Ogun State.
How do you manage to go round these branches to monitor them?
Before the pandemic, I visited the ones outside Lagos at least two times a year. But these days with the availability of Zoom, Facetime, Whatsapp I can see everything and everyone from Lagos. We have very loving and efficient administrators and care givers in charge of the homes who report to me and the trustees everyday.
What would be the biggest change that you would like to see happen in Nigeria with regards to the rights of children?
I would like to see the domestication of the child rights act in all the states in Nigeria. The last time I checked, out of 36 states only 25 have done that. Law makers relying on the constitution in some states to protect the rights of children is not working.
Children are still being married off, female genital mutilation is still in practice, and child labor is still rampant. Street begging by minors has never diminished in most of these states.
Domestication and enforcement of the rights of children in all the states is crucial to the survival of the Nigerian child.
How do you deal with difficult children?
A good blend of discipline, love and continuous counseling usually work wonders. Where we are unable to cope, we invite the social workers from the ministry.
Sometimes, there might be need to involve a psychologist. When we feel that the child will endanger other children, we return the child back to government to be transferred to government remand home.
What keeps you going on so strong?
I believe it’s the passion for the vision. Love for the children as well as the desire to please God in this assignment. I rely strongly on the word of God and the Spirit of God to strengthen me.
Most times, I feel like time is running out. As I get older, I tend to move faster and work harder to accomplish my goals. I have so many! With God helping me, I believe I will finish well. I try to eat well, take vitamins and rest when I feel tired and drained.
Are there days when you feel like quitting?
Yes, in the early days. I was always traumatized by the display of wickedness of women who abandoned their babies. I didn’t know when it would stop. I felt I couldn’t take it but I endured and eventually things got better. Mothers began to walk into the orphanage and with the cooperation of the ministry and courts gave up their babies safely.
I also experienced a lot of betrayal by those that were close to me and felt like giving up but God comforted me and I kept serving. That is life. Trials come to us all. It’s how you respond and manage it that determines whether you get a positive or negative outcome.
How do you deal with relationship issues of children of marriageable age?
All our university graduates are of marriageable age. Some are married with children. I encourage the ones that are not married yet to focus on building their relationship with God, gaining knowledge, financial independence and self-improvement.
They know we expect a high level of morals during dating and the purpose of having ‘boyfriends’ or ‘girlfriends’ is to determine if they are suitable for marriage. Only serious relationships are encouraged. They are all doing great and I’m really proud of them.
Does running the orphanage interfere with your personal life?
Initially yes. I couldn’t spend as much time with my biological children as I would have loved to. There were times I was away from them for a long period of time due to the demands of looking after the children in the orphanage. They felt bad about it then but they are all grown up.
The married ones now understand how demanding young children and ministry can be.
One great advantage I have is that my home and office are close so I am able to run both simultaneously. To a large extent, it has made my life easier.
Are you still in contact with the kids who have graduated from the orphanage?
Yes, we are in contact. Those in Nigeria are constantly in touch with the whole family. Those abroad do communicate mostly via social media.
What are some of the accomplishments of these graduated kids that you are really proud of?
One of our sons is a soldier in the United States army.We are very proud of him. Many of them have their own businesses. One of them is a great artist beautifying Lagos landscapes and monuments. Truth is, I am proud of all of them for their ability to overcome the traumas of the past and emerge successful in their chosen fields.
If you weren’t into this ministry, what would you have been doing?
I would probably be running the family business full-time and travelling the world but I am very fulfilled serving the Lord through the orphanage.
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