I am Head of Sixth Form at St Joan of Arc School and I am certainly looking forward to being part of the group who will be visiting Udayan. It is a fantastic opportunity for us all and one which I am sure will have a profound effect upon us. Over the last couple of years Udayan has played a major role in the life of the Sixth Form as it has been at the centre of all our fundraising activities. We will now be able to see for ourselves exactly how our efforts have helped the children of Udayan and when we return it will spur us on to help even more.
I am currently Deputy Head Boy at St Joan’s and studying Business Studies, ICT and Maths. I am hoping to go on to study Accounting and Finance at Loughborough University. My introduction to Udayan was as Head of Sound and Lighting for the school when I was asked to assist at the first Light Music and Eats. Further down the line I became more involved with assemblies and other events related to Udayan and on hearing Mrs Weldon talking so passionately about the work of the home I became hooked. rnrnOver the past 3 years I have supported Udayan through my technical knowledge and have worked behind the scenes at many of the Udayan functions and assemblies both internal and external of St Joan’s. I was then asked by Mrs Weldon to manage the Udayan website and take over the day-to-day running from Tom O’Beirne who had previously not only masterminded the website but had created it in the first place. rn rnI am really looking forward to being at Udayan, and I believe it will not only be enjoyable there but very moving and a real eye-opener to how lucky we really are. I am interested in seeing how the money that has been raised by the VI Form at St Joan’s has been spent and how the children have benefited. I look forward to being able to share my experiences with the VI Form and the rest of the school through assemblies on our return from what is very likely going to be a life changing experience.rn
I am Michael Moore and am currently attending West Herts College studying Economics, English Literature, ICT and Accounts. I attended St. Joan of Arc until the end of the 2006 summer term. Once I finish my A-Levels I intend on going to university for an accounting degree. My interests consist mainly of music and sports. Proof of this sporting enthusiasm is the fact I play for a Sunday league football team. During weekends I spend my spare time socialising with my friends and enjoying the occasional party or two. I first became interested in the Udayan charity upon hearing about a “Light Music an’ Eats” night occurring in the St Joan of Arc school hall. I approached Mrs. Weldon to find out if I could help with the event in anyway. From then on, I have made a special effort to try and involve myself with the charity and its fund raising activities.rnrnI cannot wait until our trip to Udayan; it will be interesting to see how the money we have raised over the past few events has helped the children there. I feel the whole experience will be one to remember and from what I have been told it is unlike anything I have ever encountered before. I expect to face many challenges whilst on the journey, but I hope that the group will be able to overcome any problems we may face. I am of the belief the trip itself will be a whirlwind of emotions and I only hope we can make a difference during our stay in Udayan.
Hello, I am Shane and I’m 17 years old living with my parents and younger sister in Croxley Green. I am at Joan of Arc School studying for my A-levels in English, Drama and Business Studies. I am hoping to go on to university and do a degree in drama then follow on into Drama teaching. rnrnSome of my hobbies are hanging out with my friends, going shopping and dancing. Also I attend a Tae Kwon Do school which is a Korean form of martial art and I am a yellow belt (green tag).rnrnI first became involved with Udayan when I helped out at ‘A Flavour of India’ which was an evening of entertainment put on by the first group of students who travelled to India to visit Udayan and I thought how unique it was for Udayan to be the sixth form’s main charity. I am also in Mrs Weldon’s business class and got to find out more through asking her questions and talking to her about it. Since then I have done a number of things including selling Udayan Christmas cards and helping to organsie (organise!!)our sixth form’s charity weeks where we run all sorts of sponsored events to raise money for Udayan (I even agreed to have my legs waxed, very painful!). rnrnI always thought I would do my A-levels, go to university and then into work. I had not planned on taking a gap year or going traveling, even though I have always wanted to. I think going to India will be a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is giving me the chance to see some of the world and experience a very different culture from the one I know as I have not been outside Europe before. Furthermore I think it will be an extremely beneficial and invigorating experience to visit Udayan and see how all the money we are raising is being used and the difference it is making to the lives of Udayan’s children. rnrnI am looking forward tremendously to our trip and know it will be something I’ll remember and cherish probably for the rest of my life. I think I’ll return a more spritually and emotionally mature person.rn
My name is Katherine Oliver. I’m 18 years old and in my last year of sixth form studying Music, English Literature and Drama & Theatre Studies. I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to visit India; I have always wanted to go there. I cannot wait to experience their culture and also I have always been determined to help less fortunate people in my life. I believe the trip will be fulfilling and life changing. Seeing how they live will also change my aspects on life for the better and understand what is important. I have applied to various Universities this year where I have chosen to read Drama and Musical Theatre as I wish to become an actress when I’m older or even teach primary school children. I live with my Mother and Father and this is the longest time I have ever been away from my family. I’m so excited and my brothers and sisters and the rest of my family are so proud and very excited for me too! I’m sure when my little nephews and niece are grown up, they will appreciate all the fantastic stories and photos I have to share with them.
Hi, my name is Siobhan. I am 18 years old and I live with my parents and my younger brother in Ruislip. I am at St. Joan of Arc School studying for my A-Levels in Drama, History and Psychology. After finishing my A-Levels I wish to go onto University to study Drama, after which I would love to become a Drama teacher.rnrnTwice a week I help teach Drama to two Year 10 classes. I want to say a big hello to both my classes, I miss you and love you loads!rnrnMy hobbies include shopping, going out with my friends and sports. I’m not really a very sporty person, but I love watching any kind of sport, from football and rugby to ice-skating and athletics. I love going to Loftus Road to watch my team play, but seeing as I support QPR, we haven’t had much to celebrate recently!rnrnI’ve always wanted to travel around the world and to work with children. During my gap year (which I will take after university, otherwise I’ll never go back to education!) I want to go to Africa and teach English and help with the charities they have out there.rnrnI first heard about Udayan in lower school, but I became involved when I went along to help at the “A Flavour of India†night put on by the first group of students who went. Watching the presentation and speaking to the students about their experience really tugged at my heartstrings and got me interested and I knew instantly that I wanted to go. I spoke to Mrs. Weldon and told her how keen I was to get involved. Since then I have helped to raise money through selling Christmas cards, helping to run the sixth form tuck shop and helping to organise events during charity week.rnrnI was so happy when Mrs. Weldon told me that she had picked me as one of the students she was taking. I know that the opportunity she has given me is once in a lifetime and I will cherish my time there. I am really looking forward to visiting India, learning about the culture and seeing what good the money we raised has done. rnrnI have always loved children (probably stemming from having such a large family – over 40 cousins!), and I am really excited about meeting all the children of Udayan and helping out in anyway I can. I want to be able to go out there and make a difference, however small, to the lives of those who are less fortunate than myself. I know this trip will be a life changing experience and I will remember it for the rest of my life.rnrnFinally I just want to say that I am going to miss my family and friends and I love you all lots and lots. x x x
I’m 17 and currently studying Religious Studies, English Literature, and Business Studies at A level. I’m hoping to go to University this year, although I’ve not completely made my mind up which course I will take. My top two choices for Uni are Nottingham and Bournemouth. rnrnI believe going to India will be a truely life-changing experience and am very thankful that I am able to go. I’m most looking forward to helping the Udayan children progress with their literacy skills. It will be amazing to see first hand how the money raised through our sixth form has helped in aiding so many less fortunate than ourselves. rnrnWe hope that by documenting our travels we will be able to pass on greater understanding, and ultimately in the long-run raise more funding for Udayan.
Hi my name is Neal O’Shea, I am currently studying Business Studies, History and R.E. and am hoping to study Building Surveying next year at university. rnrnFrom the moment I heard of the Udayan charity I was inspired to give a helping hand to the children, and after listening to various assemblies lead by Mrs. Weldon, asked if I could come on the trip. rn rnI hope to gain an insight into the culture of India, and the lives of the people in it. I think that the trip will be a fantastic experience, and hopefully one which can show me how greatful I should be with my privileged lifestyle. I hope that I can in some way touch the lives of some of the Udayan children, and that I can bring a smile to their faces. I’m also looking forward to bonding with those I am travelling with.
Hi, I’m Grace and I am currently in the Sixth Form at St Joan’s. I am studying Physical Education, Religious Studies and Drama at A-Level and hope to go to Eastbourne university next year to study Physical Education.rnrnMrs Weldon and the students who went on the last trip to Udayan have inspired me to go to Udayan myself. I have jointly organised Light Music an’ Eats 2, which was a great night and raised £3000 for the children in Udayan. rnrnI’m intrigued to see how our money has helped the children and the best part will be seeing the children and spending time with them. This will be a life-changing experience for me and I hope to bring back many happy memories. I also hope that by sharing our experience with everyone when we return, we will inspire more people to visit and support Udayan.rn
Watford supporter, former RAF Officer, one-time hospice nurse, mother of 3, teacher of Religious Studies, Psychology and Business Studies.rnrnFirst visited India as a child then later when in the RAF. Returned two years ago on the first Udayan visit and delighted to be going again particularly as I am now the UK Coordinator of Friends of Udayan.