Cait Hanstock, Emma Deane and Sophie Russell volunteered to go to India in July-August 2017. Our photo above shows Cait, Emma & Sophie in Tiruvannamalai. Who took the selfie?’
Cait said: “My stay at Rangammal was hard work but very enjoyable and personally it has allowed me to develop and improve new skills. The children are very well looked after and they are given a very good education that will help them in the future.”
Sophie added: “Had an excellent time and it was a huge experience!”
This was a feeling endorsed by Emma who said: “I'm already missing the children! We all loved our time at the school. It was an unforgettable trip - one which I will remember forever.”
To read the full report, please click here.
Emma decided that she would do an overview of her experience and suggests reasons why others should get involved; she also gives her top tips for future volunteers. Very useful! Please click here for Emma’s report and ‘Top Tips’.
To see (and hear!) the lively 3 minute video that Cait created,
please Click here.

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Out of her comfort zone

Niamh with one of the deaf children.
Niamh Connor has written a most interesting report of her recent visit to Tiruvannamalai.
“Many people say that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. For me, travelling 4,500 miles to a whole new culture and environment was definitely out of my comfort zone. After recently completing a year abroad in Germany, the prospect of sitting at home waiting for university to restart after a whirlwind busy year was something I was desperate to avoid.”
To read Niamh’s full account (“ My Indian Adventure”) please click here

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To read Emma Nicholson’s reflections on her recent visit with Mary Crotty please click here

“An abundance of unforgettable memories”

Mary Crotty, a gap girl from St Mary’s Menston, has just returned from an unforgettable visit to Tiruvannamalai and has sent a fascinating summary of her experiences while she was there from January until March 2016. Her full report can be read by clicking here.

Mary Crotty (left) and Emma Nicholson (right) with a few Rangammal boys

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Back from Tiruvannanamalai in August 2015 were St Mary’s (Menston) students Niamh Lacy-Roberts, Laura Hickie and Agnieska Bucholc. To read their very interesting reports click here. (Laura)
or here (Agnieska).
Or here (Niamh)

Agnieska with children

Recent visitors to India included: Katie Grimbley and Louise Harrison currently at Sheffield Hallam University studying for a qualification in adult nursing. Katie wrote: ‘The work Sylvia and the team are doing out here is incredible and is a privilege to witness.’ To read Louise’s account of her stay please click here.

Louise with two students at the Nursing College.

2 more gap girls, Maddy Durkan and Hannah Armitage, have returned after 3 months with Sylvia. Hannah reported: “This trip was certainly a once in a lifetime experience. The school is just the most uplifting place; the children never stop smiling and it's contagious. “

Over the years Sylvia has received many visitors and each one of them has been amazed and inspired.Their accounts make for fascinating reading:

To read Dianne Ward’s report on her visit to Tiruvannamalai October-November 2014 please click here.

Lucy Furniss - Visit to Tiruvannamalai 17th February – 31st March 2014 download pdf here

Lucy Furniss

To read Anne-Marie Rose's report (Return to Tamil Nadu) click here

Dianne Ward paid her first visit to Rangammal School in November/December 2013. To read her report click here

''Two 'gap girls', Hannah Wilson and Kate Burton, have provided interesting accounts of their 3 months' experience in working at Rangammal School in 2013. To read Hannah's account 'That Doorstep Moment' click here. Kate's account 'My journey to Sylvia Wright' can be found here.

To read the account of Andrew & Liz Lowe who visited Sylvias school in February please click on here.

To read the account of a recent visits by Anne-Marie Rose, one of our Trustees, please click. My visit to India-Anne-Marie Rose. and Highlights of my second visit to India 2010.

To read the account of Tom Cullinan click here