Trip to India – Dec 2009 – Jan 2010

 

In December, 2009 & January, 2010 we took a team of students on a overseas service trip to India, jointly organized by the Rotaract Club of Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Go Beyond and an NGO project team in India.     The trip saw around 30 students spend 10 days in New Delhi helping 2 existing NGO projects, a volunteer-run school for children unable to afford regular schooling, and an orphanage.    Included were cultural orientation trips to the Taj Mahal and to Jaipur.

 

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

HUMANITARIAN WORK

  • Visit to a volunteer-run school in an poor area in Delhi
    • Donated sports equipment
    • Conducted children’s games and activities
    • Took children on an outing to watch a movie and have a picnic lunch in a park
    • Painted the exterior walls of the school as well as the classrooms
    • Arranged and helped with construction of a metal frame awning covering an outside area
    • Solved the lighting problem in classrooms
  • Visit to an orphanage funded by sponsors and well-wishers
    • Conducted children’s games, activities and English music class
    • Donated sports equipment and conducted sports activities
    • Showed a movie on donated computer projector
    • Donated a quantity of school stationery and audio visual teaching material
    • Held an art and craft session
  • Assistance to full-time volunteers in Delhi
    • Provided support of living costs during the duration of the trip and planning period
    • Fund-raised to provide a computer projector for use in volunteer activities held in Delhi

 

CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND OTHER GROUP ACTIVITIES

  • Visit to Agra
    • Toured the famous Taj Mahal with a tour guide, who explain the history of this amazing monument
    • Browsed carved marble souvenir shops in the area
    • Visited Agra Fort, and learnt more about the history of the area
  • Visit to Jaipur
    • Spent half a day at the surreal and picturesque Amber Fort
    • Drove through the area around Jaipur taking in the unique sights
    • Visited one of Jaipur’s many palaces
  • Delhi tour
    • Visited famous tourist areas in Delhi, including Delhi Gate, the government buildings, Delhi Heart and a vibrant market area
  • Fun and sharing activities
    • New Year’s Eve candle-light meeting - a look back at the year’s highlights as well as forward to each of our personal goals for 2010
    • New Year’s Eve fireworks – we headed out in front of the YMCA and worked our way through a huge box of fireworks of all descriptions
    • In the YMCA conference room - we watched two meaningful and motivating movies, including Dr Raymond Moody’s famous Life After Life documentary.

 

We want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all who helped to bring this trip about and who got behind it as sponsors.   The following photos tell the story.

 

(Click on any photo and then use left / right arrow to view a slide show)

 

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At HK Airport - ready for adventure …

 

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Amazing traditional performance by these girls at the village school

 

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Address while in Delhi

 

VILLAGE SCHOOL

 

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Steel tubing for roof frame

 

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Roof frame getting welded in place

 

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Completed frame

 

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With fibreglass sheeting in place

 

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Friendly neighbours next door to the village school

 

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Playing ‘Simon Says’

 

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Enthusiasm

 

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The painting team - hard at work in a classroom

 

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Meanwhile, outdoors …

 

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Donated sports equipment

 

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Excursion

 

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Sports activities

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Picnic lunch

 

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Saying farewell to new friends

 

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Hand-made appreciation card

 

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On the road again

 

ORPHANAGE VISIT

 

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Enjoying our visit to Grace Home

 

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Dedicated to the most needy children

 

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Introductions

 

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Art attack

 

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More happy faces at Grace Home

 

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Donated sports equipment, including a cricket set - always a ‘hit’ in India

 

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Sponsored children’s educational videos

 

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Movie time

 

AMAZING PLACES

 

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1-day trip to Jaipur - one of many surreal sights on the way

 

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Crowded market

 

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Cow changing lanes – In India, cows, not cars, have the right-of-way

 

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Taj Mahal visit

 

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Visit to another World Heritage site, Agra Fort

 

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Amber Fort

 

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The view

 

ACTIVITIES

 

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Sharing meeting in Delhi YMCA

 

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Crazy New Year’s Eve dancing

 

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Ad hoc band at orphanage

 

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One of our most creative team members – with his newspaper replica of a traditional Indian hat, alongside the ever-smiling front door guard at Delhi YMCA

 

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Projector donated to volunteers John and Juliana (right)

 

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Airport farewell photo

 

Finally, a very big thank you to our India hosts, full-time volunteers John and Juliana, and to those of you who supported this beginning effort of what we believe will grow to be an ongoing program to:

 

  • Cooperate with NGO’s in third world countries
  • Bring teams of students on trips and provide exciting on-the-job training in volunteer work
  • Identify ways in which help and expertise can be provided to NGOs working in difficult conditions
  • Raise funding for projects and provide clear and detailed accounting and allocation of funding
  • Organize and develop training programs which will build leadership skills in young people
  • Build a network of volunteers to share experiences, visions and dreams