Sunshine Coast teens help Indian children
Fri 07 December 2007
Jessica Poulton, Design and Communication
Sunshine Coast teenager Sinead Downes recently travelled to India with nine other high school students to live and work with some of the country’s poorest children.
Maroochydore State High School offered the three-week trip to students for the third time this year to provide an opportunity for them to serve others, encouraged by the school’s motto ‘To strive and to serve’.
At 15-years-old Sinead was the youngest member of the group, and said she went on the trip because she wanted to make a difference and learn about another culture.
“As a typical Australian teen I have not really had the chance to completely immerse myself in another culture, especially such a unique and traditional one as the Indian culture,” she said.
“It was a huge commitment deciding to go to India and it took a lot of hard work, but looking back it was definitely worth it.”
While in India the students stayed in Pannur, a small village where they helped at a local school for Dalit children. The students helped with building the school and teaching English to the children, as well as simply spending time with the children.
Sinead said the Dalits were considered the lowest members of society in India, and were often referred to as ‘untouchables’.
“The children would be so happy even when we just gave them a hug or taught them English because they are untouchables,” she said.
Sinead described the living conditions in Pannur as “basic” with no running water for much of the time she was there. She said the school had only one toilet, for the priest, which she and the other Australian students also used. But there was no toilet at the school for the Indian children to use, and no running water.
Sinead said one of the hardest parts of the trip was coming to terms with the poverty around her. However, she said she found satisfaction in knowing that she was helping improve the lives of some of the poorest children in the community.
“It felt like we all came to know the kids there and it was incredibly amazing,” she said.
As well as helping at the Pannur school the Maroochydore High School students also sponsored 50 Indian children.
Sinead said: “This year we have sponsored 50 Dalits for one year including schooling, accommodation, food and other extra items.”
Altogether the students raised $59,000, which covered the costs of their trip and the sponsorships.
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