It was established in 2004 by Father Dominic who was born in India and has been working in England for more than 15 years, first in Coventry and now at St Christopher’s R.C. Church, Codsall, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

In Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, rural life is hard. Half of the population of these villages live below the poverty line. Many are illiterate. There is not enough work and families in this area must struggle to survive. Landlords use child labourers to work on cotton and rice crops and to look after livestock and 43 % of children under 14 earn a living in these fields helping support their families. The hours are long, the pay is minimal, and the work is tiring.

Education doesn't seem important to most. The income that children generate is useful and schooling costs money. Poverty eliminates any chance of an education that these children might be given, and without help the poverty cycle will never be broken.

Eluru and the nearby villages do not have proper living conditions, schools are scarce and many parents are not interested in their children's education; survival is the immediate concern. Children are left on the streets and try to earn enough money to buy food. Needless to say, these children live a miserable existence in slums.

We believe that one thing that can help these children is to have a proper education. They should be entitled to an education from early childhood, which will provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead a successful and healthy adult life.

Fr. Gerardo, Parish Priest of St Anne's Church Chelmsley Wood, also in the Birmingham Archdiocese, has joined the project whose aim is to establish a programme for the elimination of child labour. St Mary's Educational Trust will provide education for the children of this region irrespective of their caste or religion. At present we are sponsoring 75 children aged 6-14.

We want to provide stability and security for these children, mentally, socially and spiritually, giving them back the childhood they deserve with food, shelter, clothing and education.