St. Josephine Bakhita’s life stands as a powerful symbol of hope, resilience and faith. Born in Sudan in the late 19th century, she endured the horrors of human trafficking before finding freedom and dedicating her life to God as a Canossian Sister.
Her journey from slavery to sainthood reminds us of the enduring call to defend the dignity of every human being. Her feast day offers an opportunity to reflect on the continuing fight against modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
Under this year’s theme “Ambassadors of Hope: Together Against Human Trafficking”, on February 7th and 8th, we joined the global world to honor St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint of victims of human trafficking and to mark the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking (IDPAAHT), a global initiative launched by Pope Francis in 2015 to unite communities in prayer, reflection and action.
The commemoration began on February 7th with a Candlelight Service at the Catholic Secretariat, Kapingila Guest House, streamed live on Lumen TV. The service was a moving moment of prayer and remembrance for victims and survivors of human trafficking, uniting participants in solidarity and hope.
On February 8th, the celebration continued with an Art Festival at St. Lawrence Parish, featuring powerful drama and poetry performances by youth groups from Msisi Compound and Kamwala South.
Together Against Human Trafficking
Through prayer, art and community engagement, we continue to shine a light on the realities of human trafficking and reaffirm our commitment to being Ambassadors of Hope — standing together for freedom, dignity and justice for all.