Eye-opening experience for Laois students on voluntary trip to Kolkata

Mountrath students raise thousands to aid the underprivileged in Kolkata

Eight students from a Laois school have travelled to Kolkata to help disadvantaged people living in the city's slums.

The fifth and sixth year students attending Mountrath Community School have been working closely with The Hope Foundation in Kolkata, visiting the city just before Halloween.

"The students have raised a whopping €16,000 to go towards the running of vital services in Kolkata, such as the hospital, childcare facilities and homework clubs," English teacher Cillian Hegarty told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Pictured: Students Jane Phelan, Aoife Mortimer, and Olivia Little in Panditya Creche, Kolkata

Students Jane Phelan, Aoife Mortimer, Emily O'Driscoll, Olivia Little, Jessica Parkinson, Meabh Rafter, Niamh Scully, and Ava Hogan were accompanied by teachers Cillian Hegarty, Evelyn Geary and Paul Mulready on this fantastic trip.

The students departed for Kolkata on October 23. Upon their arrival, they visited the Hope Hospital, where they were given a tour by hospital director Samiran Mallik.

"The students saw firsthand the work done by the hospital, which provides medical assistance to underprivileged people living below the poverty-line, who would otherwise be deprived of necessary treatments," Mr Hegarty continued.

Over the course of their week in Kolkata, students had the chance to visit the Nabo Asha (New Hope) project centres. These centres provide supports for hundreds of children who are homeless, forced to beg or engage in child labour.

Pictured: Cillian Hegarty, Evelyn Geary, Paul Mulready

Mountrath students interacted with these children through stories of their lives and hobbies, along with taking part in some fun games.

Halfway through their visit, students visited Panditya Creche and the Chetla Naboasha homework club in the slums of Kolkata, where they sang and danced with the children there.

During their visit, the eight Laois students were delighted to receive a guided tour of the city, which included the Victoria Memorial and many temples scattered throughout the Indian city.

Their final night in India culminated in a night of traditional dance and dress, where the girls wore the sarees they bought in a local shop, and the boys dressed in their kurtas.

The Mountrath students performed a traditional Indian dance they had been taught by local instructors throughout the trip.

Pictured: Jane Phelan, Aoife Mortimer, Emily O'Driscoll, Olivia Little, Jessica Parkinson, Meabh Rafter, Niamh Scully, Ava Hogan (lying down) in their traditional sarees

This was followed up by a visit to Chetla Naboasha which is another homework club in a disadvantaged area in Kolkata.

"Our students were very impressed with the kindness and happiness of these children, along with the kindness and happiness of every child they have met on their journey so far," the teacher said.

"It was an excellent opportunity for our students to bond with students from the other schools who were attending the trip," Mr Hegarty finished.