Udayan - a new beginning

After a 7.30 start, a lie in for us, we finally made our way towards Udayan, the pinnacle of the trip for all of us. The busy Calcutta traffic meant it took us about an hour and a half to get to get there. It was lovely to be greeted by Shanti, Lachmi, Asha and Tumpa: four of the 7 class XI girls whose studies we are helping to support through fundraising at St. Joan’s. Fortunately, they had a day off school today and gave us sweet smelling garlands of yellow marigolds to wear around our necks as a celebration of our arrival. We were also handed a calendar and the recent issue of Dawn (the Udayan newsletter). We were taken on a tour of the school; we saw the children in their classes, visited their dormitories and their sports hall. We were also shown clothes and accessories embroidered by some of the girls in a new training project.

Once we had visited the school Dominic and Joe performed ‘Horse with No Name’ by America for the children before they had their lunch which the assembly seemed to really enjoy. We then had delicious fish curry, made by Sanjay the assistant cook, before we left for the Missionaries of Charity Brothers’ Leprosy Hospital at Tittagarh. One of the Brothers showed us the different wards where many of the patients were being treated and the workshop where the prosthetic limbs were made, which we all found a very touching experience. This was further enhanced by the greeting we received from many patients. In the textile workshops the brothers give paid work to many able bodied leprosy sufferers who sat spinning yarn, which is also dyed there, or skilfully weaving fabric to be made into saris. Indeed, we saw them making the blue edged white cotton cloth favoured by Mother Teresa and still worn today by The Missionaries of Charity Sisters. Outside we saw the vegetable gardens and a small farm unit where pigs and goats are kept to increase the sustainability of the community.

Once back in Kolkata, we went to the local market to purchase our Indian dress for the celebration of our final meal and show at Udayan on Monday. We were met by a frenzied state of hard selling which resulted in each of us coming out with a smile on their face, pleased with their purchase. We have all eaten and are now off to rest ourselves for another busy day tomorrow, thank you to all readers for your continued support.