Together with students of the Sacred Heart High School for Girls in Asif Town 11, Lahore, Pakistan, I would like to thank the parishioners of Balzan for their generous contribution towards this new school for girls.

Asif Town 11 is a slum area, where education for women is a new phenomenon among this community. The people are poor and the majority of men and women are uneducated. We, the Dominican Sisters, have accepted the challenge to move into this depressed area to help these people. The Pakistani Sisters of our congregation took up the challenge seriously and within a span of six months have become one with the people.

The education of women in Pakistan is still a big issue for the whole nation and we, the Dominican Sisters of Malta, have been involved in this ministry in other parts of Pakistan since 1962.

Despite various odds, always trusting in God’s Providence, we entered into this territory of Asif Town 11 after we had seen what state the people were living in.

On June 6, the newly appointed parish priest of Balzan, Fr Karm Farrugia, told his parishioners that he did not want any gifts for himself, but anyone who wished could donate something so that we could furnish the school hall with chairs. With the amount contributed we were able to fill the hall with 400 chairs and also fix a sound system consisting of one amplifier, one microphone with a stand and two loudspeakers.

We are now wondering how to furnish the library with suitable books so that these girls will have equal opportunities of learning. We also need to supply a medical bed and an incubator for the dispensary, which we intend to set up for adequate maternity, antenatal and postnatal care.

The students promise their prayers for the people of Balzan who so graciously came to our assistance. Well done Balzan parish.