Calcutta Trip Report

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On the 9th of April we (Caitlin Jennings and Beth Dixon) went out to Calcutta, India with the Hope Foundation to work with the street children and their families.
It was an early start for us all on Saturday morning.
We left Cork airport at 7:00am and arrived in London Heathrow Shortly after.
We waited 7 hours in Heathrow before boarding our 8 hour flight to Dubai.
When we landed in Dubai it was 1o clock in the morning local time.
Eventually we arrived in Calcutta airport at 9:00am the next day.

Mother Teresa’s Home was the first destination we visited which was greatly appreciated by the Nuns of Calcutta.
The first main project we visited was the Kesba Home for Girls.
We were greeted by two young girls who gave us bindi’s (Far head spots).
All the girls came to the home because they were either abandoned, orphaned or their parents just couldn’t afford to take care of them.
They entertained us with a variety of dances and songs in which we joined in with.

 

Day 2
We were split up into 4 groups as 50 of us was both intimidating and too big a quantity.
The first place Bus 4 went that morning was a Boys home, in this home the boys can learn skills such as cooking, driving, metalwork, woodwork and computers.
We then went to another boys home where they danced and showed us karate, these kids were so happy and grateful for what little they have.
After lunch that day we went to a rehab centre, these boys are aged 8-20.
They were all addicted to solvents, the most common being glue.
The room they were living in is smaller than our hotel room.
Later that day we ventured out to a school on the outskirts of the slums.
Hope has provided them with uniforms, school bags and books.
These children loved getting there pictures taken.
We stopped at another school in the slums before heading back to the hotel.
Here it was quite small and dark, and the children enjoyed chatting to us and taking pictures with our cameras.
When we were leaving they swarmed around us wanting to say goodbye and shake our hands. It was very hard to leave them.

 

Day 3
We had a long bus journey on day 3 to get to the education centre on the other side of the city.
As well as posing for photos they loved taking them too, so they all had our cameras for the time we spent with them.
We interacted and talked to so many of them.
None of them were shy to sit on our laps and give us plenty of hugs.
Leaving was very hard, especially when the youngest of the centre began to cry. These kids warmed our hearts.
Following the education centre we dropped in to a school were wealthier children attend. These students are so much better off than others in Calcutta, one of the girls ambition in life was to become a fashion designer.
We got along great with these students as they are of equal age, and we still keep in contact through Facebook.
The next place was so touching, it was a tiny school inside another slum, the kids aged between 4-13.
Here they asked for our autographs and played games with us.
Also that day we visited a school called Chetla, which was in a Prefab under a bridge near a slum.
The children were only aged 3-8 and were some of the sweetest children.
They were drawing pictures when we came and were only to happy to pose for photos. That evening we did some shopping in a large shopping centre in the city, as we wanted to get Sahris to remember the trip by.
There were so many beautiful choices, colours and styles and those selling them too us were so helpful and encouraging.
In the end we found the perfect Sahris.

 

Day 4
On Wednesday morning we headed off for the Hope hospital.
In the 1st ward there was an adorable little girl called Pipetta who was 2 years old, she was found abandoned in a slum, she was brought back to the Hope Hospital were she has had six heart operations, a little boy suffering from epilepsy, a boy aged 10 who broke his leg at the train tracks and has to get it amputated and another sweet little girl who has no feeling in both her legs.
We gave them all gifts such as puzzles and colouring books with which they were extremely grateful.

In the 2nd ward, there was a lovely old man who greeted us with a smile and took our hand s in his.
He was so happy to see us he was almost crying.
We gave him an Irish jersey to remember us by.
When we left the Doctor told us that he would most likely not make it another day as he was suffering from throat cancer.
The Hope Hospital was set up for those who cant afford to go anywhere else.
Without it the people living on the streets and in the slums would not be able to get the attention they need and deserve.

We then proceeded to a crèche right in the middle
Of the slums, we didn’t spend to long here as it was so hot, but the children were wonderful.
Leaving the slums so many people lined up to see us and shake our hands, it was amazing.
The slum is right next to the river Mooghly, thousands of people come here as they know they will get water, even though it is contaminated.
We went for a walk through the slums, it became very closterphobis as the alleys became extremely narrow, there were so many little houses and little children wandering around.
At the far end of the slum, there was a 6 day old baby and his family living in a house the size of a very small bathroom, there were 13 in the family.
This was a brilliant day and to improve it even more, when we were leaving the slums, thousands of children chased after the bus waving and shouting there goodbyes.

 

 Day 5
On our final day we went to another Girls Home, they sang and danced for us, and then we joined them in a game of acting, singing and modelling.
They all had such sad stories, especially one Girl ages 12 who was reputedly abused by her father and forced to beg on the streets, but he stuffed chillies in her mouth so she would be unable to speak and earn more.
They were such beautiful young ladies and we will never forget them.

We also visited a life skill centre that day where people can go to learn useful skills like sewing, computers and dress making.
Learning these skills, will help them obtain jobs.

The finale place we visited was a Rehabilitation Centre and Orthopaedic Hospital.
In this hospital, fake limbs are made to help the children who struggle with walking and who have lost their limbs.
This was such a heart warming place as the children danced for us although they struggled to walk, to see them up and about is really encouraging.

 

Day 6
We packed our bags and boarded the flight from Calcutta to Dubai, From Dubai to London and finally London to Cork, where it did not feel like home anymore.

We loved the whole trip so much and we hope to return someday.
It has been an experience of a life time and we thank everyone who has supported both us and the Hope foundation to make this trip possible.