Laois Offaly minister visits Laois-backed charity in Africa during St Patrick's Day trip

Minister Pippa Hackett concluded here St Patrick's Day official trip to Kenya with visit to project with Laois links.

Minister Hackett with Graiguecullen women Catherine Nolan and Vera Smith on a visit to Sr Mary Killeen, and the Mukuru Promotion Centre in the Mukuru district of Nairobi.

Vera told the Minister she was part of a group of women who support Sr Killeen’s work with street boys.

“We travel out at least twice a year for the past nine years. We help street boys to get back into school.  Our project this year was to build a new dining/community room as they were eating in very bad conditions,” she said.

Minister Hackett officially opened ‘Calary Hall’, a multi-purpose dining hall during the visit about which she spoke about.

“It was lovely to meet with Vera, Catherine and the other inspirational, Irish-based, supporters of the Centre who were visiting for the official opening.”

“The centre is run by Sr Mary Killeen, and provides education and support for boys aged 6-18 years from the Mukuru informal settlements, or slums. They also learn skills in cooking, carpentry and art.

"None of this would be possible without the help from generous volunteers and donors, who work collectively to improve the lives of vulnerable boys. The next stage of the project is in planning and I would encourage people to support in any way they can,” she said.

Minister Hackett presented a vase made by Laois-based Vale van der Merwe to Sr Killeen.

The Green Party Senator who has responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture also visited Tanzania during her visit to Africa.

Catherine and Vera have been fundraising in Graiguecullen for a number of years for projects in Africa.