2 minute read
Ellie’s Bringing Hope To Kolkata
By ELLIE MCCARTHY
My name is Ellie McCarthy. I am fifteen years old and live in Rockchapel. I am one of four students from Boherbue Comprehensive School selected to partake in The Hope Foundations School Immersion Programme in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India for a week next March.
While in Kolkata, we will be visiting the populated slums and some of the sixty projects the Hope Foundation have set up, such as education centres, the hospital, the night ambulance and more. We will also get the chance to talk to people who grew up and live in Kolkata and hear their experiences in life and the struggles they face everyday. You can find out more about The Hope Foundation on their website - https://www.hopefoundation.ie/
I wanted to take this opportunity because after hearing the recent student’s stories about their experience in Kolkata, it fascinated me. I knew from the minute I heard I could have the chance to go that I would try my best to be one of the few chosen in 2024. Living in Ireland is very different to India, culture is not the only difference between us but also our economies. In Kolkata and all of India the difference between social classes is quite prominent, one side of the street could be a populated slum and just across the street could be a wealthy temple. I also want to see first hand how the Hope Foundation helps people in Kolkata and to be part of their work.
My goal for the trip is to do what I can to help the people who need it most and to also gain a different perspective on life in a different country.
As part of the School Immersion Programme I must fundraise €2,500 for the Hope Foundation to support the great work that they do. I must also pay for my travel expenses. So I am asking people to donate to my idonate fundraising page.
You can help me to help the Hope Foundation by donating what you can on the following link https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/ EllieMcCarthy or by scanning the QR code.
