Friends of Udayan

Returning from India at the end of February 2011, the students (past and present) from St Joan of Arc Catholic School have created a video of their time spent with the children at Udayan for our readers to enjoy.

It is with great excitement that seven past and present students along with Caroline Weldon, Beverley Schramm and Kathryn Spink are planning to set off on St Joan’s fourth pilgrimage to Udayan on Sunday 6th February 2011. The itinerary includes visits to centres of worship belonging to the major religions as well as to places of cultural and historical interest. The highlight and main purpose of the journey is the visit to St Joan’s whole school charity, Udayan, in order to see how it is developing and spend some time working alongside the children. During their time at Udayan the students will be helping the children with their literacy skills.

Congratulations to Hazel Nash completing her fourth successful summit, Mt Elbrus. At 5,642 metres it is the highest mountain on the European Plate. This coming year will find Hazel taking on Carstensz Pyramid in Papua New Guinea. All funds raised from this particular climb will go to Udayan, with the ultimate goal in mind of £60,000. Hazel will eventually tackle Mt Everest to become the oldest person to climb the highest mountains on all seven continents. See www.hazelnash.com for Hazel’s challenges and triumphs. Sponsorship can be made through www.justgiving.com/Hazel-Nash

Beverley Schramm returned to Udayan this summer in order to further develop the teaching of English. She was delighted with the progress that had been made but aware there is a long way yet to go.

To mark Udayan’s 40th Ruby Anniversary a special anniversary edition of Dawn magazine has been made for the occasion.

To download a copy please click here.

On 22nd April 2010 an evening of South Indian food and live music raised £750 for Udayan. Mohammed Noor, owner of the Krishna Inn, Ewell served a speciality menu and Mythiraye Ravinthiran gave an outstanding performance on the veena, accompanied by Archuna Vijendra on the miruthangam and Arun Maheswaran on the gudham and udu utar.

On the morning of 13th August 2009 I sat at Gatwick Airport feeling rather forlorn, tears pricking at my eyes, feeling guilty at leaving my husband and children for 3 weeks to travel over 5,000 miles to Udayan; it would be the first time in my life that I had ventured out of Europe.

Parents, teachers and students of St Joan of Arc Catholic School were treated to an exotic evening of Indian dance, food and music last Saturday in aid of Udayan, the home for children of leprosy sufferers in Calcutta.

Following on from the assembly given to St John’s Catholic primary school in Rickmansworth by a group of the St Joan of Arc sixth form students who visited Udayan earlier in the year, the children were inspired to raise money by doing various sponsored events during their sports week in the summer term.

Yesterday, Tinku underwent an operation on his right ear. Although almost totally deaf, doctors are hopeful that with this operation, he will regain his hearing in that ear. We keep him in our thoughts and prayers and wish him a speedy recovery. Friends of Udayan have funded the operation.