rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnrnWelcome to the page for the 2005 trip to India. The trip is going to be held in February 2005, after the sixth form exams have finished and will last for two weeks.rnrnThe group consists of 10 individuals, 4 members of the current lower sixth, 4 members of the current upper sixth, and 2 members of staff (Mrs Weldon and Mrs Thorpe). Please click on the people above to find more about them.rnrnWe hope to have on this page a detailed outline of what we are going to be doing in India, a map so that you can see where we are going, and after the trip, pictures and a diary.
James left St Joans at the end of year 11, but has remained close friends with many of the group going to India. He hopes to become a photographer, and so as well as helping in India will also be using the trip as an opportunity to build up a portfolio and take some stunning pictures.
Hi, my name is Tom and I am currently in Year 13 at St Joans. I do maths, physics and chemistry, and am planning to read maths at university next year. So far for Udayan, I have jointly organised Light Music an’ Eats, and also designed this website.rnrnI am going to India because I feel it will be a truely life-changing experience. Although I know I will be shocked by the things I see there, I hope to see that the work we have been doing for Udayan has really made a difference to the lives of the children there. As well as helping in the home while we are there, I hope that the experiences and pictures we will bring back will inspire many other people to help Udayan.
Natalie left St Joan of Arc last year along with Declan and Kerry, and having been involved with events like Light Music an’ Eats decided she would like to come to Udayan to find out more about the work that is being done there.
Sinead is in her last year at St Joans and is taking English, History and Business Studies. She hopes to go onto University in Ireland next year to study law.rnrnSinead is coming to India for the chance to help those less fortunate than herself whilst putting her own life into perspective. She hopes it will be a truely life-changing experience.
I’m 18 and live in watford. I studied Psychology, Business Studies and English Lit. at Sixth Form and I’m hoping to go to Birmingham University to study Psychology. I volunteered to go to India because I believe it will be a great experience and will enable me to develop my perspective of life and gain the satisfaction of helping others less fortunate than myself.
Declan left St Joan’s in 2004 having completed his A-Levels and gained a place at Bristol University. However, he took a gap year to earn some money and to be able to travel to Udayan with us. He hopes to gain from the trip an understanding of what medical problems the children of Udayan have to deal with, with a view to possibly returning to India as a qualified doctor.
My name is Angela McCarthy and I am currently studying chemistry, business studies, English literature and art and design. This year, I will be applying for university, hoping to read law. In my spare time I enjoy horse riding and when I get the chance, often spend time at the stables. At weekends I socialise with my friends and enjoy a lively nightlife in which I can dance and meet new people.rnrnAlthough it can sometimes be tiring, those who know me know of my competitive nature and my determined drive to achieve. However, with this comes my tendency to worry too much, which is one of the reasons I chose to apply for the trip to India . If I could witness first hand, the way in which others live, I can learn to further appreciate how privileged I have come to be. I hope it will put my own life into perspective as the things that seem important to me, and cause my own apprehension will eventually seem trivial in comparison the things that those in India may face.rnrnI find the thought of interacting with people from an entirely different background interesting and hope to be given the opportunity to help out and do something worthwhile with my time. The trip will also give me the chance to travel and see more of the world, while facing new challenges with a team of students who are fun to be around. I expect my trip to India will enlighten me to other cultures and situations and be an experience I will never forget.
I am currently Head Boy at St Joan’s and am studying Maths, History and Business and am hoping to go to university this September to study Computer Science at Southampton. I got involved in Udayan when Mrs Weldon did her presentation to the Sixth Form. Then from hearing more from Mrs Weldon in Business lessons I became hooked, her enthusiasm rubbed off on to all of us.rnrnIn the last year I have jointly organised Light Music an’ Eats and the Hootenanny. I can’t wait to go to India and see Udayan, I feel it will be a life changing experience, and an emotional time, with many highs and lows. Going to see what our money has done will be great and how the children benefit from our efforts. I hope that once we return we will be able to share our experiences and inspire others like we have been to help Udayan.rn