Today we had a well earned lie in! After breakfast we walked to the MGVS office, seeing some incredible views on the way. Unfortunately, thick clouds blocked our view of the Himalaya peaks. However we still found some photo opportunities.

After getting our first taste of ‘Chai’ and talking to some of the MGVS workers we took a very bumpy ride to Kamplani high school and took our first lesson. It was much smaller than expected, and very different to Sneha, but the children’s enthusiasm to learn and make friends was the same as before. The lessons all went well and were more intimate due to the smaller classes.

Upon returning to the outdoor centre, we began our Global Awareness Weekend by researching and giving presentations on issues related to Indian culture e.g. its religions and modern history. We ended the day on a light if not slightly cheesy note with MAMMA MIA!

Love to everyone back home

Stephen and Beth

Prepare yourselves, for the best blog yet…

Today was probably the best and most emotional day yet, even if we didn’t think that was possible!

Our last day in SNEHA began in style. We arrived earlier today to the school to witness an uplifting if slightly surreal rendition of ‘Father Abraham’, (900 children nodding in time!). The children put on quite a show in our honour and we thought it only appropriate that we reciprocate. However, we were no match with our dissonant versions of “Lean on Me” and “I the Lord of Sea and Sky”.

We then taught our last lesson in Dehradun, peacocks and fish were our specialty today, taking Class Four by storm.

A special show was prepared by some of the older children and we felt very privileged as they performed traditional Hindi dances. It’s all in the hips and the hands!

Our final farewell was overwhelming. The whole school gathered around the courtyard to wave goodbye. With all eyes on us, we decided another spontaneous chorus of “Lean on Me” was appropriate. As 900 pairs of hands clapped in time to our questionable singing, I don’t think that any of us left SNEHA with dry eyes.

After an hour and a half (hair-raising) taxi journey through the foothills of the Himalayas we arrived at the Hanifl Centre. It is much cooler up here at 7000 ft. and the air is so clear after the crazy Dehradun traffic with horns blowing into the early hours every night – only monkeys and barking deer up here now!

See, we told you it would be the best! J

Love, Cara & Susannah.

Day six in India and we are all loving the experience.

Today we taught lessons to class four, aged between 8 and 12 years old. Again we used craft and music to communicate and break the language barrier. Using many visual aids and plenty of colour we gave the children a taste an unfamiliar learning concept. The teachers were very appreciative of our lesson, but just don’t have the resources to do this kind of lesson themselves.

More of us took a trip to the marginalized community. However bad the living conditions, the people still realised that we were trying to help, in our own little way. It was inspiring to see the relationship that the workers of Sneha have built up with the residents. Love is what Sneha is built on; it is so evident in what they do and how they do it.

We are looking forward to tomorrow and never know what to expect. You’ll hear from us soon!

Mary and Garreth

Hello readers!

Fifth day in India has gone very well. Went to Sneha school for the second day at 8.45am. We all had a really good time interacting with the children and teaching them songs and craft.   Today we worked with class two which is aged six to seven and class eight which is aged fourteen to sixteen. We were impressed by their level of understanding and knowledge, and had a great time teaching them.

During the break we got a chance to talk to Dr Reeta about her experiences and challenges of creating Sneha the school and improving the community.   It was really inspiring to all of us and made us look at Sneha in a different perspective.   After talking to Dr Reeta some of us got the chance to visit the local marginalised community, (the slums).   This was a very emotional and touching experience to see how challenging the background of the Sneha children is and how amazing their determination is.

We came back from Sneha and relaxed at the hotel and prepared for tomorrow.   We are looking forward to seeing the children and teaching them again.

Hope everything is going well back home!

Love from Kirsten and Jenny!

Ps. It’s still raining!

Namaste! (Hello in Hindi)

Today was the day we all had been waiting for since we’d arrived in India; to meet the children in the school. We had a lie-in today, followed by breakfast at 9am. We then drove to SNEHA, the slum school, where we were introduced to Dr. Reeta, the founder of the school. She gave us a tour of the buildings, during which we met the various classes of pupils there, from nursery up to 17 years old.

The children were very excited to see us. Many of them waved to us, with some running up to us just to shake our hands. We then split up into two groups to teach the lessons which were Music, and English/Crafts. In both of today’s lessons we worked with 10-11 year olds. All the children were very enthusiastic and keen to learn. By the end of the lesson, many even asked us for our autograph, whilst others were queuing up for photos! We felt very humbled by these gestures.

On the return journey to the hotel, we experienced torrential rainfall as the streets quickly became rivers… the monsoon had arrived! We got back to the hotel, and decided it was time for lunch which ended up as none other than good ol’ McDonalds! We decided to finish off lunch with Christine’s favourite ice cream, Delhi Delight, which believe it or not, is better than it sounds!

When we got back to the hotel we spent time preparing lessons for the next day, and had an hour of recuperation from the stifling heat, before going shopping. Later we had dinner, and reflected upon today’s experience including our first impressions of the school. We are all looking forward to tomorrow, which will be our first full day of teaching.

Best wishes,

Eoin, Keith & the rest of the Saphara Belfast Team