Daughters of Charity, Mekelle The Daughters of Charity in Mekelle (Tigray, in Northern Ethiopia) run four clinics, three kindergartens, two women's development programmes, a housing project, and a street children programme. They also run a programme of support for elderly people, assist women with post-childbirth fistula problems, and provide ministry to prisoners. The Vision of the Daughters of Charity is to see a society where all spiritual, physical and socio-cultural needs are met and where all peoples are living in harmony, solidarity, equality, justice and peace. The Daughters of Charity is a Catholic Community of women founded in the seventeenth century in France by Saint Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac given to God for the service of the poor. In Ethiopia they operate under the umbrella of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. Below are brief descriptions of projects run by DOC Mekelle are given below: Clinics There are four clinics, three of which are in Mekelle town and one is in Irob district, Eastern Tigray. Togehter, they provide services to over 102,000 people each year.   These services include: a. Polyclinic services (inpatient, out-patient, laboratory and dental services) b. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services c. Health Education Program d. HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support   Education/Kindergartens DOC operates three kindergartens, with 720 pre-school children attending altogether each year. The kindergartens are in Mekelle town, Alitena, and Maichew, Southern Tigray.   DoC also provide 45 girls from remote areas with hostel accommodation so that they can attend school in Mekelle.   A new kindergarten in the town of Maichew opened in January this year and its intake will significantly increase the total number of kindergarten beneficiaries. In addition to the kindergartens about 45 girls from remote areas are provided with hostel facilities to allow them to attend school in Mekelle.   Women Development Programmes Two women development programmes, one in Alitena and the other in Mekelle town, provide income generating schemes and skills trainings (sewing and embroidery, cooking and catering, carpet and basket making, etc) to a total of 460 poor women per year.   Housing Project This project aims to construct homes for very poor women who have no alternative shelter and are vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse. A total of 57 houses have been constructed in the years 2003 and 2004.   Street Children Project The street children programme is located in Mekelle town and aims to reunite children with their families whilst providing support programmes for families including the provision of formal education materials, skills training, medical and hygiene programme, credit scheme, the provision of food during religious feast days and breakfast every day, night shelter and counselling. Currently about 1200 street children directly benefit from the project.