"The name of the parish is Regina Coeli, Karen. The church is about 14 km from Nairobi andis within the city – though part of the parish, Karinde, is in Kiambu. The overall population is about 6,000 to 7,000 and growing with the numbers flocking to the city and find a spot in the outskirts. The over all population might be about 20, 000 though I have no definite figures."

"My major concerns are:

1. Children out of school because the lack school fees.

2. To do something about this, the Daughters of St. Joseph have set up a training programme that I am supporting. The have about 45 girls who are school drop-outs. They find that they have to give these a fairly substantial meal every day, because most come with empty stomachs. Some of the help you give will go to this school.

3. St. Vincent de Paul Society has been recently formed. It has started well and is looking after such matters as hunger and medical issues. I prefer to let this work up slowly and collect as much as possible locally for the needs. An interesting development from this is the emphasis on helping the people help themselves. They spend quite a lot of time asking people what they might be able to do – they are reluctant to give hand-outs. Some projects are being suggested by the poor people themselves and we are anxious to follow these. Usually what is suggested is petty trading, but a few young people have come with projects such as rearing pigs, small water projects.

4. KARINDE outstation is particularly weak and needs a lot of help. The church plot is just one twentieth of an acre and there is a nursery school in that. It begun last year. The church is not at all central and it is away from the main population. I have just found a plot in a very central area. This would cost about $13,000. My plan would be to have a school there initially for those who drop out of primary (school). The community has a school but it is a disgrace, and the children are suffering (about 90 in all) because of the way it is run. It is a very important aspect of the development of the parish.

5. Another center is MUTUINI. We hope to begin a nursery school there. If the children get to a nursery, they have some chance of moving on to primary (grade) school, but often they do not begin for want of fees

In all cases the problem is to get the fees to pay the teachers and get the equipment. At present the Nursery Teachers are getting 2,500 shillings a month, about $30. Naturally they are complaining! Another group of sisters, Daughters of St. Anne, would be willing to manage an informal grade school. The problem at present with this is to get a plot. We are trying to do something.