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 four years ago on the first Udayan visit and delighted to be going again particularly as I am now the UK Coordinator for Friends of Udayan.
Kathryn Spink was born in the Himalayas and as the author of biographies of Mother Teresa, Dom Bede Griffiths, Little Sister Magdeleine of Jesus and others associated with the subcontinent, has been travelling to India for research purposes for longer than she cares to acknowledge! She is also the translator from French into English of Dominique Lapierre’s international best-seller, “City of Joy”. It was through her friendship with Dominique that she first became involved with Udayan and, together with her husband, formed the “Friends of Udayan”. In 2005 and 2007 she accompanied the group from Saint Joan of Arc School to assist with her knowledge of India and introduce them to contacts and friends along the way. She is the managing trustee of “Dominique Lapierre City of Joy Aid, England”, the umbrella charity with responsibility not only for Udayan but also for numerous other centres of humanitarian aid in and around Kolkata. In addition to again providing experienced support for the group, her purpose this time, as on previous occasions, is to visit some of these centres on behalf of the charity.
Hi I’m Jenny Smyth. I left St Joan of Arc last year and am currently taking a gap year. I am working in a pub at the moment, which I love. It gives me the chance to meet lots of people of all ages and from all walks of life. In September I am going to Chichester University of Performing Arts, which I just can’t wait to do.rnrnI have always wanted to travel and I think this trip is the best way as it has a purpose. rnrnI have helped out with Udayan fundraising schemes at school for over four years and have enjoyed doing each and every one of them, even dishing up 150 plates of chilli!rnrnI am very excited about the opportunity of going to India. I realise I have been given the chance to do something that a lot of people can only dream of, so I am very lucky and hope to make the most of the opportunity. I am really looking forward to seeing Udayan and meeting the children there. rnrnWe are going to keep a running record of all the activities and progress of our team through India so look out for our daily diary!rn
Hi my name is Katherine. I am currently still a student at St Joan of Arc. Having finished A levels in English, Philosophy & Ethics and History, I have stayed on an extra year to study Art. I hope to go to the University of the Arts to study Prosthetic Make-Up for the Performing Arts next year. rnrnI have been involved in Udayan since starting in the sixth form and have enjoyed taking part in car washing, a couple of the fund raising evenings, and a really hard sponsored silence! I have a couple of friends who have been on this same trip and I cannot wait to go and see everything for myself. rnrnI think that visiting the children at Udayan and being able to play with them and see what their life is like will be an extraordinary experience. I know am going to enjoy teaching the little ones to read the beautiful books we are taking with us. I’m so excited that I’m going to be seeing it all with my own eyes having heard so much about the home over the past few years.
Hi, my name is Emma Ridley. I’ve just left the sixth form after studying French, English and Drama at A level. Next year I am taking a gap year and planning to go travelling, starting in India, then to other parts of the world. Afterwards I am hoping to study English Literature at University. rnrnI became involved with Udayan in 2004 when my brother was part of the first group to go to India. I performed at Light Music an’ Eats and ever since then I have been interested with helping the home. After years of hearing wonderful stories of the journey to Udayan, and seeing the beautiful and inspiring pictures of the places on the itinerary, I’m definitely looking forward to having my own India experience. I can’t wait to finally visit Udayan and see for myself how our fundraising has helped the lives of the children, and to offer my services even if only for a short while. I’m also very excited to see India and experience the different culture. I think it will be an enriching and life changing trip for us all.rn
My name is Stephen Riddleston and I am studying English Literature, Business Studies and History. After sixth form I plan to go to Australia for a year and hopefully do some travelling from there. After that I hope to go to University. I got involved with Udayan and fundraising for the children there through Mrs Weldon. I am looking forward very much to this trip and to seeing many places in India as we make our way to Udayan.
My name is Daniel McNamara and I am currently in the sixth form at St Joan’s. I am taking Religious Studies, History and Design & Technology at A level. Next year I hope to go to university where I would like to pursue my studies of Religion and History. rnrnI first became involved with Udayan through the sixth form fundraising week for the children there, and it was during this time I learned all about the home. I myself took part in the pyjamas day which involved a crowd of us getting sponsored to attend lessons, walk around the school and Rickmansworth in our nightwear. Mine were pink and not very warm! It was after this that I asked if I could go on the trip because I was interested to see Udayan and the work it carries out. rnrnI hope to gain a wider perspective from this trip, and believe the experience will be challenging and fulfilling. I think I may return with a better understanding of what is important in life.rn
I’m currently studying A levels at St Joan of Arc School; Business Studies, Physical Education and English Language. I hope to study Physical Education at Brighton University, starting in September.rnI’m really curious about how the money we helped to raise during school activities and our sixth form charity weeks has helped benefit the children. I’m really excited about visiting Udayan because I think it will be a wonderful experience. I first became interested in Udayan when I heard about it in a school assembly about past trips. I want to become more involved and can’t wait for February.
Hi, I’m James and I’m currently studying A levels in Business, Maths, Music and English Language. If I have enough energy left after studying this lot I hope to go to university to study something …. but I’m not too sure what at the moment! Ultimately, I’d like to work in railway management and possibly move to Switzerland.rnrnMy parents have always served the community through charity work and I have always wanted to follow in their footsteps. My life so far has been shaped by helping at fund raising events, spending time out with the homeless on the streets of London or supporting my mum in her role as a charity trustee, so I guess I always knew what direction I’d be going in! rnrnHopefully, this trip will take things a few steps further. For as long as I can remember I’ve been aware of poverty and the cross that some people have to bear in life, but I feel that this trip will open my eyes to an extreme level of poverty that exists outside the UK.
I am Head of Sixth Form and an Assistant Headteacher at St Joan of Arc School. I am very much looking forward to being part of the team visiting Udayan in February, particularly as I was there two years ago. It is a fantastic opportunity for us all and one which I am sure will have a profound effect upon us. Over the last five 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. Furthermore, it has now become the whole school charity. We will soon be able to see for ourselves exactly how our efforts have helped the children of Udayan and when we return to school, our memories of the visit will spur us on to help even more.