The Urban Development Programme (UDP) of All Saints Cathedral church, Nairobi, was started in 1991 in order to look after 350 families, who were displaced from their homes in slum demolitions.

The families were resettled in phases and formed three self help groups Tujisaidie, Ex-Muoroto and Matimamu – currently the UDP works with about 2500 people.

UDP aims to work alongside local communities to help them ascertain their needs and priorities and facilitate them as they try to meet those priorities.

The Programmes:

Among the specific activities supported by the UDP are:

• Water – The resettled communities started without any water supplies – using stagnant water for bathing, washing ,cooking and drinking. They had to steal what they could at night from leaking connections or walk 5 km to the nearby sites. A lack of water was contributing to low hygiene standards and the spread of disease. By helping provide water the UDP has had a positive impact on the health of the communities and given members more time to spend on other income generating activities – enabling them to provide for their families.

• Health – The UDP is involved in both preventive and curative health measures – but with an emphasis on the former. Basic methods of disease control are demonstrated by the 15 community health workers who are funded by the UDP and free treatment is provided at the Makadara mercy sisters’ dispensary. As part of the health care programme the UDP also organises free medical camps in collaboration with the congregation members from the Cathedral who have a medical background.

• Sanitation – Provision of latrines and bathrooms was the first priority of the community. A lack of adequate facilities meant that bathing and going to the toilet was happening in the open causing significant problems of hygiene and personal embarrassment. So far 150 latrines and bathrooms have been constructed by the community members.

• Education – Community members saw the need to provide nursery level education, so were involved in the setting up of a nursery school to provide education for children aged 4 – 7. Currently there are 120 children attending. Additionally, a resource centre providing opportunities for young people to study uninterrupted and expand their knowledge is up and running and is well used by the community. Educational bursaries are also available – they provide opportunities for young people to continue their education to a higher level.

• School Feeding Programme – The feeding programme is part of an effort to encourage and enable children to stay in school throughout the day. They are served a simple a simple hot meal, which is funded through the UDP by supporters in Irish link churches. The community members organise themselves to cook, serve and clean on a rota basis. The feeding also extends to the old and sick – who number 20 on any given day. The initiative has had a positive impact on the health of the children, their psychological well being and has contributed to the community’s togetherness.

• Income Generating Activities – The UDP is committed to helping the local communities find ways of providing for themselves. At present this primarily focuses on craft making, which by the young mothers. Many of their crafts have so far been on sale in Europe, and purchased by visitors from Ireland. Other options currently being explored are pig rearing, sewing, and a bakery facility.

• Community Capacity Building – Seminars and workshops are held to provide training on: leadership; fire fighting; income generating possibilities; and home based care for HIV/AIDS.

• Evangelism Through Sports – This is a relatively new initiative which brings young people in the communities together for football, volleyball, basketball and table tennis. They have an opportunity to share the word of God, through teaching and testimony, before and after their activities, and to support each other in fellowship and prayer. The initiative is bringing many to faith and discipling many others.

Through these programmes and areas of support the UDP looks to make the love of Christ visible and tangible at the heart of a local community.

Different communities in Kenya, particularly those living beside each other in Nairobi have struggled to reconcile themselves to each other in the wake to post-election violence of 2008. The example of the UDP is a powerful witness – different communities, working together, solving common problems by using their own resources.