Hello! I’m Sr. Bernadeth Salvador. I currently serve at the Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children, Girlstown in Kisarawe, Tanzania – near Dar es Salaam. Before I came here, I was a Mother Sister in Girlstown in Cebu, Philippines. In Kisarawe, we care for almost 800 girls.
I grew up in Agdangan, Quezon, Philippines. My life was filled with challenges that make it easy for me to connect with the children I now care for. I am the third of seven children, and all my siblings are boys. My dad fished and farmed, while my mom also farmed and sold fish. My family was very poor, and normally, all we had to eat was rice with some salt or oil. Every year, we would experience typhoons that would threaten our home, and there were times when the waves and winds destroyed our house. During those times, my family and I would seek shelter in the church, sharing the space with many others in our community. My childhood was marked by hardships, often celebrating birthdays with only rice. We lacked many things, from toys to clothes, but through it all, I found happiness in the presence of my family. Despite our circumstances, I remained grateful, always thanking God for the gift of life and my siblings and parents.
Each day, I spend my time praying, helping and serving the children, and doing activities with our students. I try my best to fulfill my promise to God. I’m hardworking, and I love to pray. My favorite aspect of being a Sister of Mary is the time I get to pray and the joy of fulfilling our responsibilities alongside my fellow Sisters.
Many thanks for sponsoring me and my spiritual children!