Abbey India Project 2006

After many months of preparation, on Thursday Oct 26 at 7a.m, an Abbey group set out for three weeks in India. This wasn’t a trip, a tour, a mere adventure or an exchange but a project of work. The preparation involved an intensive TEFL course, study of Edmund Rice, Mother Teresa, Third World work, Indian culture, fundraising and the necessities of travel.

The ten students were Ted Fitzgerald (Rosanna), Steven Flynn (Aherlow Heights), Denis Lawton (Pallasgreen), Padraig Lyons (Shronell), Donnacha McGrath (Kilshane), Earl Murtagh – Naughton (Garnacanty), Eoin O Malley (Pallasgreen), Cian Ryan (Ballinglanna), Robert Walsh (Oola) and William Whyte (Aherlow) with teachers Maria Power, Pat Donovan and Richard Walsh.

The students who will travel in Oct 2006.

Back: Ted Fitzgerald, Earl Murtagh-Naughton, Denis Lawton, Donnacha McGrath, Eoin O'Malley, Robert Walsh. Front: Steven Flynn, William Whyte, Cian Ryan, (Inset) Padraig Lyons)

The travel element entail 4 long coach journeys totalling 14 hours, 6 flights lasting 25 hours and over 12,000 miles in all.

From Dublin Airport (via Heathrow) there were over 11 hours of flights before touching down at Calcutta Airport at 5 o’clock on Friday morning with temperatures already at 28 degrees.

DRIVE FROM THE AIRPORT

Immigration, retrieval of luggage and currency exchange took almost 2 hours and then it was time to head for our base in the centre of Calcutta. Any taxi drive in Calcutta is an experience, but the first one is something special.

Let the students themselves speak of their reactions

“The first thing that hit me were the smells and sounds of Calcutta…. seeing people washing themselves at the side of the road; people running across the roads with cars flying everywhere and zig-zagging about the place”

“The strange smells and the humidity were like nothing I have ever experienced. It was so confusing that I could not tell if I was in a safe or a dangerous place…it was a world apart from home”

“That fantastic kaleidoscope of colour, that cacophony of sound, 100 thousand new things hitting me at once…it was almost too much for me to swallow All the time I was engulfed in extreme poverty. Shanty towns I had only seen in the safety of a classroom were straight in front of me now.”

“I have never seen so much and tried to take in so much new information before”

“The journey was one I will never forget with the crowds on the side of the street, walking, running, cycling and working from makeshift huts”

“I felt threatened even though I was in the taxi. I saw a young boy walking across the road on his hands because his legs were deformed and he was seriously thin. I had suddenly been plunged into a harsh reality of the 3rd World”

“People washing, sleeping etc at the side of the road. It was a drive I will not forget in a hurry.”

“I tried to soak it all up and yet only got the smallest glimpse of what the city had to offer. What I saw in those 30 minutes I will never forget. It was an incredible feeling.”

“A woman was at my window begging for money before the taxi even got started. I was so confused I just sat there trying to believe it was not a dream.”

BOW BAZAAR

Our base for the next 2 days would be St Josephs CBS in Bow Bazaar St. It’s almost in the city-centre with no grounds and the streets and lanes right up to the door. Our rooms were on the third floor (the lower floors were occupied by classrooms). The Brothers made us welcome and afforded us the freedom of their home. Our lads appreciated the contrast in the Brothers residence between the crowded streets and the calm of the residence.

“Bow Bazaar felt like an oasis in the desert…away from the noise and bustle of Calcutta. The Brothers there were so kind offering their home to us.”

“Calcutta is such a mad, busy, noisy city but inside Bow Bazaar was such a calm peaceful place.”

“I felt safe there, but all I had to do was to look out the window at the people below living on the streets. How could I complain? I had in my suitcase more than any of those poor people could aspire to possess in a lifetime.”

“I really enjoyed the time I spent there with people like Br Noel who you could talk to about anything and it would make you feel better”.

“When I first went out around the lanes in Bow Bazaar Street I felt more vulnerable that I have ever felt in my life. We turned every head as we walked past. It shocked me to see how some people were trying to make a living. I wondered if they made any profit and how much of a struggle it must be for them to get through a day.”

“In the streets and lanes around St Josephs I saw how people lived. I felt such anger and guilt at what I saw. Frustrating. I still don’t understand how they contented themselves with so little. It was a massive feeling of frustration for me.”

STREETS OF CALCUTTA

Occasionally it was necessary to venture out onto the neighbouring streets and lanes. Jim McGinnis, an Australian volunteer with Tipperary connections, was our guide on the streets and to various centres. Jim’s assistance was more than just providing directions. He directed our gaze, always urging us to be sensitive to the poor and the sight of poverty. The lads slowly gained a confidence on these crowded strange streets as is clear from their comments.

“I felt safe on the streets with Jim. He had a confidence about him and I felt that nothing bad could happen.”

“When Jim showed us around, the faces that I once found frightening became more familiar. He introduced us to some of the locals and suddenly I realised that these people were just people even though they were savagely poor.”

“As we walked down the streets of Calcutta, Jim often stopped and pointed out things that we would have either not seen or not cared to have looked at.”

“Another boy held my hand and leapt up and down playing. My heart was touched by this and I gave him half a bottle of water. He was delighted.”

ORPHANAGE

Our first visit on Friday afternoon was to Shishu Bawan orphanage run by the Missionaries of Charity. Being the first such visit it was bound to be memorable. Over a hundred children in the orphanage proper, some waiting for adoption by kind-hearted couples. Meanwhile they played happily in the open green space. Another section was for physically handicapped. While we visited, each was receiving physical treatment for their defective limbs from volunteers and the Sisters. It all made an immediate impression

“When we first entered the orphanage a strange feeling arose in me. I was seeing kids whose parents had abandoned them…kids who should have been sad but they were happy.”

“The orphanage we went to was probably our first experience of the sick, needy and poor of the city.”

“In the orphanage it made me realise how lucky I am to be born with no disabilities and to have a caring family”.

“I think it was the first time in my life that I realised that a person’s time and dedication is something far more important and special than money”

“Visiting the orphanage was so uplifting for me in an almost indescribable way. Just to see the happiness in the children’s eyes and the positive vibes changed everything for me”.

“I found it very hard to take. I had never dealt with any sort of handicapped people in my life. I didn’t know what to do. Looking back on it now, I think I was more afraid than anything else.”

MOTHERHOUSE

The Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity is located on the side of Circular Road, a busy noisy thoroughfare in central Calcutta. Mother Teresa lived here in a tiny bare room, which we visited. Evening Mass was just about to begin in the room where Mother Teresa is buried in a simple tomb. It was easy to sense this as a holy place, a place frequented by a saint.

“We went to Mother Teresa’s place of rest. The experience was quite moving, but I was particularly taken by the sheer simplicity in which she lived so that she could properly dedicate her life to the poorest of the poor.”

“If I have ever felt the power of energy it was as I knelt at Mother Teresa’s tomb”.

“I found the Mass in Motherhouse very emotional. One little handicapped boy who was held in the arms of one of the nuns looked straight into my eyes and smiled. At that moment I got this strange feeling at the back of my throat.”

“Touching the tomb of Mother Teresa was something special. I was touching the tomb of one of the most amazing women that ever walked on this earth. I felt privileged to be there.”

“I was amazed that Mother Teresa’s own small room had no fan and was situated directly over the kitchen.”

“For me it (touching Mother Teresa’s tomb) was so humbling. It instilled a sense of perspective into my way of viewing things. The simplicity with which she was buried so underrates the immense contribution she has made.”

KALIGHAT (Home for the Dying Destitute)

Kalighat is the Home for the Dying Destitute that Mother Teresa established responding to the sight of people dying on the streets without any signs of dignity. She had pressurised the city authorities for a premises and received a temple hostel for the purpose. So many of the patients spend their last few days here and die with some dignity. Jim McGinnis works here and both himself and Andy (from Germany) brought us to the wards, the washroom, the kitchen and the mortuary. They introduced us to some of the patients for a chat.

“In Kalighat, I was scared in one way and looking forward to it in another. Talking to the dying was very uncomfortable at first because it felt we were here just to look at them in their misery. But as I got talking I felt a positive air about the place.”

“In fact great order existed there; it was clean and comfortable. At first it was awkward, but when I got talking to some of the patients, I soon felt comfortable and I had a longing to stay there longer.”

“There we saw the most poverty-ravished people of the city but we more than just saw them. We talked with them, laughed with them, shook hands with them. They treated us and we treated them as equals”.

“I talked to a number of men there. I was told that by the time we would return to Calcutta( in 11 days) almost half of the people we met in Kalighat could easily be dead. In many ways for me it put into perspective what we were doing and how important it really was ….to know that perhaps we had made the last few hours of their life better is a great feeling for me.”

“The volunteers (Andy, Jim etc) are amazing people. Some give up their lives to help the unfortunate. Jim showed us around and it made me feel awkward. I felt that I shouldn’t be just looking.”

“I had problems getting into conversation with them (the dying). But when Jim introduced us it felt good to have been able to talk to them.”

GAUHATTI AIRPORT

On Sunday morning, we flew northwards for an hour over Bangladesh from Calcutta to Gauhatti (Assam). After quickly collected our luggage and on our way to the exit we kept our eyes open for a coach driver. But the kids of Providence had made the 4-hour trip down to surprise us. It’s clear from our reactions that they succeeded.

“We walked out the arrivals door only to be swamped with some of the happiest children I’ve ever seen. At first I thought they must have the wrong group.”

“I had just reclaimed my baggage and all of a sudden children were hanging floral necklaces around our necks as if we had just done something great”

“They treated us like we were special. It didn’t feel right. I had done nothing yet.”

“I felt joyous when we were greeted by the children...they were so happy to see us and so energetic. I had an enjoyable conversation with Kellin, one of the older students on the bus, on the journey up to Shillong.”

Wearing the Providence garlands of welcome.

“At first I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I soon found out that some of these were my students.”

“It was a beautiful feeling to receive such a warm welcome and for me it paved the way for a great relationship with the kids. Also I felt the immense responsibility that was placed on us..”

“I was very surprised when I saw the children at the airport. I wasn’t expecting it but it was great. They made us give them our bags.”

“My first impression of the children was how friendly and helpful they were to us all. They wouldn’t let any of us carry our own suitcase…they wanted to do it all.”

FIRST DAY TEACHING IN PROVIDENCE

On Sunday night after dinner Br Steve had a few words with the assembled group in one of the rooms of Providence regarding the work of the project. He gave each the names of the children (some sounded strange) that would be his pupils for the next 2 weeks. Different reactions from some, but for all definitely the realisation that this was it. This was what we had come for.

“When Br Steve first read out the children’s names I kept thinking to myself, how do I pronounce these names because I was afraid I would upset them…. That night when I went to bed I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep.”

“The night before our teaching began, Br Steve gave us a list of our students. The reality had kicked in. We now had a name for each of our students. I was really looking forward to the challenge of the next 2 weeks.”

“I didn’t sleep that night. I was eaten up about the whole idea of teaching. But the next day when I got into class, sat down and took a deep breath it wasn’t as bad as I had initially thought. The children were shy to begin with and getting conversation out of them was difficult. I was afraid, I suppose, because I never had so much responsibility on me.”

At the end of assembly on Monday morning with the sound of the childrens’ “Good morning teachers, good morning friends” making us feel welcome Br Steve asked the children of KG (youngest class) to go to their Sirs. The children came forward and immediately took possession of their hands and as days progressed of their hearts.

“The first day teaching was so exhausting and nerve-racking. We could not have expected how rewarding it felt at the end of every class. At the first morning assembly when all our kids ran to us and clung tightly to us, it was another super feeling.”

“I was strange to them and they were strange to me – so I figured that this experience for them must have been equally daunting. As the day wore on, I became more relaxed and I was beginning to enjoy the whole experience more.”

“It was exhausting and everyone else seemed like they were doing great. But, as the day went on, after some words of advice, things got better”.

“In my first class when I met the students that I would have, it was very scary. You always had it in the back of your mind that you might mess up and let these kids down.”

THE CHILDREN OF PROVIDENCE

As days went by the relationship between each Abbey student and the ten or so children he taught became closer. Through the interaction while learning, through play, through working with them, through conversation while walking home in the evenings a mutual respect developed.

“They had the brightest smiles I’d ever seen – they didn’t look poor to me at all – but I soon learned that a smile can be deceiving.”

“They were so eager to learn. It was hard at times because of the different levels of English that were in some of the classes but when you got that smile, just that little grin, you know that it was all worthwhile.”

“I found the KG’s were probably my most critical audience, but as the week wore on I got to know them more and I learned to appreciate their individuality.”

“I got to know the kids slowly at first, but as time passed I feel that a strong bond had grown. Some of the kids I had were shy and I found it difficult to get a few words out of them.”

“Class1…. they were all such enthusiastic characters. Even when I was tired, feeling unable to go on, they picked me up. In the end, I think the kids were far greater teachers to me than I was to them.”

“They are so eager to listen and to learn. Class 3 are as though they’re studying for the Leaving Cert. It’s all work with them and sometimes I can’t keep up”.

“The students I taught were wonderful…with them I never gave up. I didn’t want to let them down.”

2ND WEEK

At the end of week 1 there was an re-appraisal of work so far. Teaching and bonding wasn’t easy at first but all continued to make the extra effort and as the second week progressed it was clear that a strong bond had been forged.

“ In class during the second week, I became more playful with the kids; I loosened up and let the kids ‘in’. The kids noticed the change and responded positively. It drained me more than the first week but it was a thousand times more rewarding.”

“I looked at the kids in a whole new light. When you give a little bit of love , you get back ten times more.”

“For every bit of energy I put in, I got as much back. I was wrecked by the end of the week but it was the most rewarding week of my life.”

“One girl in particular made a huge change. She was very shy and introverted and not very open but in the last week she became more open to myself and to the teachers in the school.”

“In the second week I consciously put a lot of effort into creating a stronger bond with the children. They saw the effort we were making and felt special because of it.”

“I promised myself that I’d make a real effort. I wanted to spend more time with the kids, try to get to know them better. And when I gave that little extra time here and there- I began to bond with the children a lot better.”

“I really put in a huge effort both in and out of class to bond with the kids. It was so exhausting and yet so very rewarding in the end.”

THE HOMES

From the end of the first week one, we went home with the children. For some it was a ‘short’ walk, i.e. about half an hour up and down hills and steps. For others it meant a 20-minute taxi drive to reach Umpling or Nongrah (too far for us to walk there and back before dark) The children were so pleased that the Sirs were coming to their homes. The interaction along the way was so effective. The physical condition of the homes was a shock to our value system. How could they live in such close proximity…no personal space, an absolute minimum of basic comforts and rent to be paid for even the tiniest shelter? This was the reality of Third World.

“When I visited the homes I got more of an insight into their real lives and they began to trust me more, which really helped bridge the gap. One house, which stands out in my mind, was that of a girl I taught. She was always such a happy, gritty, upbeat kid and yet her home was so small, half the size of a room at home. Every monsoon season her home can get washed away.”

“Most of the homes I visited were made of wood and sheets of steel for the roof held down only by a few rocsk or a rope.”

“The first house we visited was definitely the most memorable. We had to walk up a long passage to the house. It was made of timber with no glass in the windows; no door only a curtain and a canvas roof. As I walked in I noticed a picture of the Sacred Heart. The mother of the child was so welcoming and so proud of her house. Although it was very small and dirty, it was tidy.”

“I got to see the deep poverty that they came from in the morning and go home to in the evening. The one house that sticks in my mind was that of one of my own kids. Her house was so tiny and housed so many people and yet she was probably the happiest looking child I taught”.

“The children came in each morning with a big smile on their faces. So, foolishly, I thought that things couldn’t be that bad at home. I was completely wrong. Their homes really show you what Third World poverty is all about.”

“One of my students, the happiest little girl you could ever meet, comes from a broken home. Her step-father is a alcoholic who takes the family money and food and worse still wants this innocent child out of her home.”

“Planks of wood were the most popular wall with maybe a bit of hard plastic or galvanise for the roof. The distance they have to walk to school is up to 2 hours but they came in every morning. I had one student, proud as punch that I was coming to see his house. It was in a kind of shanty town.”

“One house in particular stood out in my mind . It was a single room made of wood. There were two younger children in the household. There was a single bed in the house.”

VOCATIONAL WORK

In Providence all the children follow a programme of vocational work during the year. For many this may be very practical for dealing with the world outside in the years ahead. Thus the children treat the various aspects seriously and having mastered one of the trades, they move on to another. They are very observant of those who teach them and pick up the skills quickly, always being keenly aware of the smallest detail. During our stay there the children taught us the various skills they had picked up; a reversal of roles and in keeping with the rationale of the project. They demonstrated well and expected the same attention to detail as themselves. The Abbey students were involved in just a few trades –candle making, commercial cooking, paper-making, bag and bead-work, rexine and confectionary. Each had to produce a finished article by the end of the project and be assessed by their instructors.

‘Candle-making is a trade that is easily done but difficult to master as I soon found out. But, a truly enjoyable experience'

‘In paper-making a little bit of delicate skill was required to make the sheet of new paper as you pulle it out of the ink-bath. But Starly and Bantai had a world of experience. They were very helpful and also taught me a lot of Khasi(local language) as well as the paper-making.’

‘In confectionary, I had a brilliant teacher in Osbert. I really got to know Banri, Basisha, Donkuper, Selina and Cordolin. They were really good to be around and I definitely made some great friends.’

‘The candle-making was fun and interesting. We had Shanky, Laihun and Ms Bari as our teachers. It was great to interact with the children and to have learned a new skill that you can take home and use.’

‘I really enjoyed the cooking every morning because I got to be taught rather than teach. I also made some great friends in the older students. They taught me a lot about the whole art of cooking. Before going to Providence, I hated kitchen work and wouldn’t have a clue how to make even toast. I can now make bread pakoras’

‘I thought that the vocational work was very useful as it gave us an idea of what kind of work they do. It showed us the expertise and skills they had so early in life.’

‘They were amazingly gifted at the vocational work and were very good at teaching us too.’

THE BROTHERS

We lived for 2 weeks with the Brothers community in St Edmunds. Our living conditions were spartan, much like that of the Brothers themselves. For many it was the first experience of Christian Brothers although they had read of Edmund Rice and his vision. The 4 Brothers in the community welcomed us in, shared their table with us and proved to be most friendly, witty and inspiring in conversation. Each of them was most approachable and willing to listen and to converse on any topic. This in itself was an eye-opener. Nearby was the Scholasticate for young Brothers attending college.

“One of the Brothers I became very friendly with was Br Peter. I think he was great for his age (84) and all the stories he had to tell us and showing us the stars and giving us the names of them all.”

“At 84, he is fresh and sprightly – traits I would like to exude if I’m lucky enough to lead a life as long and as interesting.”

“Individually, they are all great characters and I have learned quite a lot from each ones ways and actions.”

“I didn’t really know what a Brother was before this project, but now I have the greatest respect for all of them”

“Br Joel.. I would class him as a great man. He was knowledgeable, easy to get on with and a fellow you could have great craic with.”

“It has got to be said that what the Brothers are doing is brilliant. I myself couldn’t do it. They are all so sound and easy to talk to”.

“The Brothers we met were awesome. Br Joel was a lovely man, very kind and friendly. Br Rising was very kind although extremely quiet.”

“In Calcutta, Br Noel was really sound, easy to talk to and very modern. In Shillong, one thing that surprised me was the large number of Brothers in training.”

“Edmund Rice would be extremely proud of the Brothers we met if he were alive today. They were all very down to earth men who don’t regard themselves better than anybody else and they all have great views on life.”

“I am sorry to say that I squandered the opportunity to get to know the Brothers In Bow bazaar. In Shillong the Brothers were incredible.”

BR STEVE

Br Steve from Bombay established an outreach programme for local underprivileged children in 1999. It was part of the Brothers policy of ‘Moving to theMargins’. He readily admits that he didn’t see exactly where it would lead so it was a continuous discerning of the call of the poor. In 2002 he called the emerging school ‘Providence’ believing that “If the Lord wants it to run, it will run”. He has assembled a similarly driven staff that ever so quietly cares for each and every one of the 130 children there.

“Br Steve is a living legend. He has taken Edmund Rice’s vision and tweeked it slightly. Edmund Rice couldn’t be happier with Providence.”

“He started Providence on a wing and a prayer and now the school has a qualified staff. But I think that it’s his undying belief that seems to motivate the teachers. He has really carried on the Edmund Rice vision in Providence”.

“His vision to set up Providence was so inspired. The massive effort he pours into it is really a testament to the kind of person he is. Even just for me he has made a large impact. I have learned so much from his ways and his attitudes. He is so selfless and modest in all his work.”

“His vision is to help as many as he can and to give a chance in life to these poverty-stricken kids. I feel honoured to have spent two weeks in his home.”

“He takes a lot of his ideas from Edmund Rice, which is a great thing, keeping his spirit very much alive. He has such a great relationship with all the children and the staff.”

“Br Steve impacted on the group in that he opened up our minds to the bigger world.”

“He must be one of the greatest men I have ever met. He has an aura around him that just inspires everyone. He is a well of knowledge and you can ask him anything about the kids and he will know it”.

“He is extremely kind and warm and loving towards the children. The school is a mirror image of the Edmund Rice schools of old.”

REFLECTION AND SHARING.

From the early days of preparation the whole concept of keeping a journal to record one’s emotions and reactions at particular moments in time was encouraged. Such journaling can prove to be an emotional lifeline and invaluable when reflecting back on experiences of a most eventful few weeks. Each evening, time was set aside when silence prevailed and each could commit their inner thoughts to paper. A daily sharing session was most beneficial as the group gathered in a trusting atmosphere to share their reactions to the day.

“I thought that the sharing, reflection and journaling were very good and an important component of the Project.”

“The journaling will be a vital source for helping me to relive my journey in the future. Without it, I feel I would have lost so many feelings and experiences.”

“I felt that the journaling and reflection helped me think about what I had seen and done during that day'.

'I now read back over a certain day’s events. The feelings bottled up on that page come rushing back to me in an instant.”

“My journal is important to me. It allows me to bottle straight away what I’m feeling so I’ll never forget the experience.”

“I think the journal was most important. It holds my exact thoughts and feelings for particular events. Reflection and sharing were helpful. It let you know how others felt. They opened up far more in those sessions than they would if it was just ourselves talking about the day.”

“It (reflection and sharing) was calm and relaxing and I think it really helped the group to gel more as a team.”

“Knowing that others feel similar to yourself gives you a bit of comfort and helps you get through the experience easier”.

FAREWELL

After school on Monday Nov 13, the teachers and children had a farewell programme ready. This they had prepared under a great cloak of secrecy over the previous few days. We were treated to an evening of song and dance. It was most enjoyable but always with a realisation that it was signalling that departure was close. The children presented cards with heartfelt thanks to their sirs and photographs were exchanged between teacher and pupil. Both sides, young and old felt so emotional and so prepared to show it….a great sense of freedom. It was so evident that Providence and Abbey were linked with a living bond.

“The evening of the farewell presentation was one of the most amazing of my life; to see all those beautiful faces smiling and crying was both so hurtful and heart-warming .. I have never felt so necessary and wanted in my life.”

“The farewell programme was extremely emotional. It was beautiful and I was caught completely off guard. I couldn’t keep my emotions in during the goodbye. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had and I’ll never forget that day.”

“I never knew that it would be so emotional and I never cried so much.”

“It wasn’t till half way through the farewell show that it started to sink in that we may never see these people again and my heart just dropped”.

“At first I tried to resist; holding back my tears as best I could until I saw that I wasn’t the only one struggling with emotions. Everyone was on the brink of crying, so I just let it be.”

LEAVING

Tuesday morning and departure was set at 9.30 am. Already at 7.30 the children stared to arrive to meet their Sirs one last time. It was difficult to have a normal breakfast realising what the next hour or so held in store. As in Gauhatti they insisted in dealing with all the luggage. The rear yard by the kitchen was crowded with groups for photographs before the dreaded call to board came. It was the end of a mere chapter not “The End”.

“I said goodbye to each of the children individually. By the time I came to my final student I was in bits myself.”

“For over two weeks these kids had been part of us. We had spent so much time with them and then we had to go.” “Just like that! Leave and more or less say your last goodbye.”

“All the children were asking us to come back. I really do hope that in the not-too-distant future I can go back.”

“Passing through the gates of St Edmund’s for the last time, I couldn’t but feel somewhat upset.”

IMPACT

The Project is a tremendous unforgettable experience and it impacts on people in different ways. It opens up the reality of the Third World and the possibility of being involved. What we contributed to the global effort may have been small but it made a difference to some. It went according to our motto for 2006 “If you cannot feed a hundred, then feed just one”

“I have feelings of frustration at this point. I don’t know how I feel or what I feel. But, I don’t know how I am going to go back to my old life after seeing how these kids live. I would like to do something about poverty in the future… knowing the suffering that people go through.”

“The last three weeks have changed my thinking for the better. I came so close to so many people- the children in particular.”

“I think I have opened up more and say what is on my mind. I really enjoyed teaching the children.”

“These weeks have been the best I’ve had. The children have had a lasting effect on me. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again. I’ll definitely stay in contact with my students.”

“I think that I’m more aware now of poverty having experienced it first hand. Every time I sit down to dinner or lie in my bed at night I think about the kids and where they are.”

“I do feel I’ve made a difference though it might be very small. I gave a lot, but if the truth were told, at the end of it all I got a lot more back.”

“I have gained more patience from working with the kids.”

“It has made me a much better person. I have a broader vision of the Third World. I now see life from a different perspective”.

“Whenever I think things are bad in my life I can just look back and think about how bad they really could be. So this Project has helped me to stay more positive and to be happy with what I’ve got.”

“My eyes have been opened to so many types of people and their ways. I hope I can take something from them. I have learned to open my heart to those less fortunate around me and love others for what they are.”

“I keep on repeating to myself ‘What an experience it really was’”

SITTING HERE AT HOME…..

“For me the last three weeks have changed my life forever. It is only now, sitting at home, that I can really see the impact it has had on my life. The things I have seen, felt and experienced over the journey will undoubtedly stay with me forever. I have so many memories of the kids, the place, and the love shown in spite of the harsh reality of their lives. I thought that after our awesome experiences in Calcutta that the rest of the project would just drag on. But from the very moment that I met the kids (at Gauhatti Airport) I was proved so very wrong. The love I felt in Providence and the love for the place that I felt when I was leaving was immense. I have never felt that my life had such purpose as it had when I was there. Sure, I felt great sadness when I left the place and indeed I still do. Yet, I feel as if I have achieved something far greater. My life will never be the same again. I will never judge people merely on their stereotype. Every person has a great story and life. The experience as a whole for me was the greatest experience of my life. All the work beforehand was more than rewarded by a lifetime’s worth of experiences and memories, which will stay with me forever. Undoubtedly, it was challenging, but every second of that blood, sweat and tears was worth it to see the smiles and indeed the tears on the kid’s faces on that last morning. I have learned more about myself in the last 3 weeks than I have in the last 17 years. It is an experience I will never forget and one I am so eternally grateful for having.”

“These kids you did not know;

these kids you did not chose.

But for these kids you were sent.

You – from a different land, from a different culture, from a different school.

You bonded to them by the universal language of love

– a language you spoke so well.

The Kingdom of God is here in Providence – you brought it here:

You your three teachers, your families and your school.

I salute you and I salute them”.