Ruth Abbey's involvement in the Mathare Valley, Kenya, began in 2003 when she met Daniel and Magdalene Oguto, a remarkable couple who were working to alleviate conditions in this appalling slum just outside Nairobi.

In 2004 she was invited by the Ogutos to write the story of the Mathare Valley Community Outreach, as the project was called, and in September of that year she took up the challenge and flew out, planning to stay for four weeks.

It was while she was there that she was taken to an AIDs orphanage in Kariobangi, where she was deeply moved by the terrible conditions in which the children were  living.  She returned to the UK determined to do something about it, quickly gained the support of OBC.

By February 2005 enough money had been raised to begin a complete rebuild of the dormitories.  Oundle School's junior boarding house, the Berrystead, also got involved by providing the necessary furniture.  Two years later another similar project was started - this time it was to rebuild the classroom block.

Meanwhile Ruth, a retired headmistress, was invited to become Principal of the three schools in the Mathare Valley.  She committed herself to raising the educational standards for these children, whose only hope of escaping the slums is through education.