India Immersion
India Immersion Project
In February 2005 a team of six students, two teachers and Fr. Michael Leamy travelled to India as part of the Christian Brothers Developing World Immersion Programme. This programme had been initiated by the Christian Brothers in 1996 at their Chapter meeting in Africa. Our school became involved in the project when Miss Maura Smyth and Mr. Kieran Kiely returned from their initial visit to Calcutta in April 2004. They saw firsthand the work that was been undertaken by the Christian Brothers and many others in India to care for those on the margins of society. In consultation with the principal, deputy principal and the Immersion Programme Committee, it was agreed that Midleton CBS would become part of the programme and strive to make a difference to the lives of those they encountered in India. Through the support of the entire school community, its Past Pupils Union and the generosity of the local community in Midleton and surrounding area, students and teachers from the school have travelled to their chosen projects on three occasions.
Team ‘05 at Shanti Nagar Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre
In 2005, Gearoid Collins, Paul Crotty Steven Donovan, Joe Fitzgerald, Paul Ryan and Andrew Walsh were the first students to travel to India with Miss Smyth, Mr. Kiely and Fr. Michael Leamy to Calcutta and Asansol to work with the Christian Brothers and the Missionaries of Charity. While in India they spent time teaching children basic English and Maths, played with orphans and took them for walks, painted and decorated the playground at St. George’s School and lived in community with the Christian Brothers in India.
Birthday Celebrations 2005
At the end of each day the team met to look at the events of the day and how each person was feeling. By the end of their eighteen day visit student and adult alike felt changed by their experiences. One student remarked on how happy all the children they met seemed to be, how they were not affected by the materialism of our world. Another felt this was a life changing experience and would change the way he looked at those on the margins of his own world back in Ireland.
The ‘welcome’ party 2007
The programme had become a major feature on the school calendar. Each year the Transition Year students, assisted by those who had travelled and members of the staff held many fundraising events to raise awareness for the programme. At Christmas a large team of students, parents and teachers got involved in bag packing at Hurley’s Supervalu Supermarket to raise money which went to the street children in Calcutta. In 2007 Jason Bowen, David Harpur, Eugene Kennefick, Martin O’Brien, Aidan O’Connell and Philip O’Neill travelled with Miss Maura Smyth and School Principal, Mr. Denis Ring to continue the work started by the team in 2005. They met with the same challenges as the previous team and were as dedicated to the work they undertook. They were particularly proud of the classroom they painted and decorated for a small school in Asansol and the painting and decorating in the playground at St. George’s. Here they were helped by students from the school who were very proud of the project when it was completed at the end of the week. Precious moments 2007 Team 09 after Mass at Motherhouse, first convent and final resting place of Mother Teresa.
Precious moments 2007
In February 2009 Mr. Niall Ahern and Miss Maura Smyth took the third team of students to India. Padraig Mulry, Kevin O’Brien, Simon O’Brien, John O’Halloran, Conor O’Keeffe, and Patrick O’Mahony left for India in February and spent eighteen days working with children in Calcutta and Asansol. They had spent almost a year preparing for their visit and when they arrived in India they immersed themselves in the projects. They found themselves working with some of the same children from previous visits and they too were very moved by the experience.
Team 09 after Mass at Motherhouse- first convent and final resting place of Mother Teresa
Each year the group of students and teachers that travel to India also attend Mass at Motherhouse, the first convent set up by Mother Teresa. This celebration is also attended by the volunteers from around the world who have come to work for the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. During our time in Asansol we also spend a day at a Shanti Nagar Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre. Here we spend time with the orphans at the centre and visit with the patients who are in the care of the Missionaries of Charity.
Work completed at Nai Disha Platform School for Street Childen
Work completed at Nai Disha Platform School for Street Childen The India Immersion Project has become an integral part of life at Midleton CBS. It has raised our awareness of the plight of those on the margins of society and given us the opportunity to reach out and make a difference as a community.
India Immersion Project
In February 2005 a team of six students, two teachers and Fr. Michael Leamy travelled to India as part of the Christian Brothers Developing World Immersion Programme. This programme had been initiated by the Christian Brothers in 1996 at their Chapter meeting in Africa. Our school became involved in the project when Miss Maura Smyth and Mr. Kieran Kiely returned from their initial visit to Calcutta in April 2004. They saw firsthand the work that was been undertaken by the Christian Brothers and many others in India to care for those on the margins of society. In consultation with the principal, deputy principal and the Immersion Programme Committee, it was agreed that Midleton CBS would become part of the programme and strive to make a difference to the lives of those they encountered in India. Through the support of the entire school community, its Past Pupils Union and the generosity of the local community in Midleton and surrounding area, students and teachers from the school have travelled to their chosen projects on three occasions.
In 2005, Gearoid Collins, Paul Crotty Steven Donovan, Joe Fitzgerald, Paul Ryan and Andrew Walsh were the first students to travel to India with Miss Smyth, Mr. Kiely and Fr. Michael Leamy to Calcutta and Asansol to work with the Christian Brothers and the Missionaries of Charity. While in India they spent time teaching children basic English and Maths, played with orphans and took them for walks, painted and decorated the playground at St. George’s School and lived in community with the Christian Brothers in India.
At the end of each day the team met to look at the events of the day and how each person was feeling. By the end of their eighteen day visit student and adult alike felt changed by their experiences. One student remarked on how happy all the children they met seemed to be, how they were not affected by the materialism of our world. Another felt this was a life changing experience and would change the way he looked at those on the margins of his own world back in Ireland.
The programme had become a major feature on the school calendar. Each year the Transition Year students, assisted by those who had travelled and members of the staff held many fundraising events to raise awareness for the programme. At Christmas a large team of students, parents and teachers got involved in bag packing at Hurley’s Supervalu Supermarket to raise money which went to the street children in Calcutta. In 2007 Jason Bowen, David Harpur, Eugene Kennefick, Martin O’Brien, Aidan O’Connell and Philip O’Neill travelled with Miss Maura Smyth and School Principal, Mr. Denis Ring to continue the work started by the team in 2005. They met with the same challenges as the previous team and were as dedicated to the work they undertook. They were particularly proud of the classroom they painted and decorated for a small school in Asansol and the painting and decorating in the playground at St. George’s. Here they were helped by students from the school who were very proud of the project when it was completed at the end of the week. Precious moments 2007 Team 09 after Mass at Motherhouse, first convent and final resting place of Mother Teresa.
Precious moments 2007
In February 2009 Mr. Niall Ahern and Miss Maura Smyth took the third team of students to India. Padraig Mulry, Kevin O’Brien, Simon O’Brien, John O’Halloran, Conor O’Keeffe, and Patrick O’Mahony left for India in February and spent eighteen days working with children in Calcutta and Asansol. They had spent almost a year preparing for their visit and when they arrived in India they immersed themselves in the projects. They found themselves working with some of the same children from previous visits and they too were very moved by the experience.
Each year the group of students and teachers that travel to India also attend Mass at Motherhouse, the first convent set up by Mother Teresa. This celebration is also attended by the volunteers from around the world who have come to work for the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. During our time in Asansol we also spend a day at a Shanti Nagar Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre. Here we spend time with the orphans at the centre and visit with the patients who are in the care of the Missionaries of Charity.
Work completed at Nai Disha Platform School for Street Childen The India Immersion Project has become an integral part of life at Midleton CBS. It has raised our awareness of the plight of those on the margins of society and given us the opportunity to reach out and make a difference as a community.