Saphara teams give young people the opportunity to engage in issues of justice and global citizenship through working with educationally disadvantaged children in India. Saphara is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian organisation which welcomes young people from all backgrounds, races and religions.

The children’s enthusiasm and talent was uplifting and a joy to experience. I have loved every second of our journey with purpose. Jennifer C
North West Team Day 13 4th August 2011
Posted in North West Team 2011, Trip Blog

Today we completed our last day at the wonderful SNEHA and the final day of teaching all together. The classes were a mix of cyclones, shape making, photos and hugs goodbye. The children were as welcoming and loving as usual. Many of the team were mobbed by the children in the playground, asking for a photo to be taken of them!

It was a really successful day of teaching all round, everyone giving their all for our very last day of teaching in India, especially in the conversation classes with Class 12, our peers, who we really enjoyed talking to about each other’s culture, socialising and dancing! We also had great fun trying on the woolly hats knitted at home on the tiniest children (thanks everyone who knitted esp Catherine’s mum!)

Then we got a chance to see the new classrooms built by Saphara fundraising – it’s great to know that the kindergarten class of over 70 is going to be able to split soon into 2 much more manageable classes.

After lessons we all gathered in the staff room to listen to Dr Reeta’s inspirational story about how she founded SNEHA. The story was amazing, and by the end of it, we were all assured even more, that what we have been doing, and will continue to do, is really making the difference to the many children. Dr Reeta and Dr Susanna’s love for the pupils of SNEHA and the dedication of all the teaching staff has strengthened our commitment to the cause and made us feel even more proud of the good work we have done.  A small concert in the school library, including traditional Indian dance, tin whistling and cheer leading, was the perfect way to end the day.

We said our final goodbyes, before being dragged into the Vikrams by Christine after a few too many “just one more” photos! For a change, we went to McDonalds for lunch followed by a drenching in the monsoon rain whilst running to a shop for some snacks for the train.

We then made our final visit to Hotel Relax to get changed out of our soaking clothes and grab our rucksacks. The train station in Dehradun was far less chaotic than Delhi – the world’s largest train station!! We are currently on the train, on the 6 hour journey back to Delhi. We are sad that the teaching part of our Indian adventure is over, but we are very excited for our weekend of being tourists! We are all extremely tired and are very much looking forward to our beds at the Legend Inn tonight!

Lots of love, Anna and Alice xx