Namaste from Udayan

Back in February a group of 10 students and 2 teachers from St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth returned to Kolkata for the school’s ninth trip to Udayan – a home for children of leprosy sufferers in Kolkata which has been a whole school charity for St Joan’s since 2004. The trip of students from St Joan’s students took a five year break owing to the covid 19 pandemic. They returned with as much passion and enthusiasm as ever before!

The group included 10 students (Lola Boi, Michael Bradfield, Evangeline Delargy, Madeleine Drury, Charlotte McEvaddy, Emily McEvaddy, Ruby O’Connor, Isabel Perez-Pineda, Amy Rodrigues, Eva Wise) from Year 12 & 13 together with 2 teachers Liam Lynch and Becky Bowden. This was Liam’s first trip as a trustee of City of Joy Aid, UK and the party were accompanied by former student of St Joan of Arc School and newly appointed chair on the charity – Chris Mann.

Whilst at Udayan, they spent some time in the classrooms with the children as well as turning their hand to teaching as well. They visited a local secondary school as well and helping those in Class X and Class XII  prepare for their exams. When the children were not at school they spent lots of time interacting, playing games and getting to know each other. This time enables the children of Udayan to working on their spoken English as well as learning about each others cultures.

They took a 3 day break from Udayan to visit Kolkata as well as Asha Bhavan Centre, ICOD and the Missionaries of Charity. On their way to Kolkata, they visited Titagarh to visit the Gandhiji Prem Nivas Leprosy Centre, a leper colony and health care centre founded by Mother Theresa. The colony offers a safe place to live, work and receive health care for those who would otherwise suffer exclusion because of the stigma associated with leprosy. They visited the factory and saw their workstations, kitchen gardens and wards, opening our eyes to the reality of leprosy. Whilst there they met some parents whose children attended Udayan, one now a police officer and another currently attending nursing college. The students also met a former pupil, now 30, healthy and with a 9-year-old daughter attending a local school – something she never believed would be possible.

Upon their return to Udayan the group with the support of the Udayan staff, all mucked in to paint the boundary wall which had been rebuilt using funds raised by St Joan’s in support of their Headteacher’s fundraising efforts entitled Le Tour de Province of Westminster in which Peter Sweeney cycled 583 kilometres visiting the five cathedrals within the Ecclesiastical Province of Westminster raising over £20,000 to keep the children of Udayan safe.

The pink and green walls around the girls wing at Udayan really does brighten the place up  and looks fantastic. Their handprints a lasting memory of their time at Udayan.

Of course the second part of the trip always focuses on the gala celebration evening where it has become tradition for Liam (Bachchan) Lynch to prepare a dance routine for the group to be performed on this evening which will be their last at Udayan before thet head back to the UK. It’s always a fantastic evening where they witness how talented the children of Udayan as they sang some traditional Indian songs and dances. There was then a short speech by Dipak Sahu, Director and a presentation of certificates from the Udayan Team. Then it was time for the group to dance…

The smiles quickly turned to tears as the children were dismissed and both visitors and hosts realised that soon saying goodnight, would turn to saying goodbye. That evening the the group had a celebration on the roof top with the staff of Udayan with a lovely meal and lots of dancing in between courses – a true Indian puja.

As the evening came to a close it was suggested that they share ‘two roses and a thorn’ – two joyful and beautiful things, and one thing that has perhaps challenged them the most. For perhaps the first time this trip, the table listened intensely to each other and phones weren’t touched for the longest time. The impact of this visit on each individual was put into words, perhaps for the first time. Again the tears flowed, filled with gratitude and joy, and a little pain. The pain that comes when you give a little piece of yourself to something or someone else, and when someone gives you a piece of their heart and you graft it to your own. No pictures. No video. It was just for them and something they will remember for a lifetime.

On their final day they signed a banner with their own messages of thanks. Then… the big farewell. The children made a tunnel for the students to pass through as they walked down the long path from the heart of Udayan to the gate. The children and staff threw flower petals, applauded and cheered as they passed through. Every child and member of staff then assembled on the field to sing their evening prayer of gratitude.

The students have now returned to life back in the UK and back to school. They return with memories they will cherish for a lifetime and share with their families and friends of this very special place in Kolkata started by James Stevens, as successful businessman, back in 1970 and now in its 54 years on!