Students set for trip to India

Asha means Hope in Hindi, and that is what the charity brings to those in need in Delhi’s most deprived areas.

Team leader, Moyra Richardson, an English teacher, is busy making plans for a visit in October this year with nine pupils and four staff members. They will be working with the charity in the slums of Delhi, teaching children English, doing arts and crafts, drama and music.

Mrs Richardson used her connections within the world of literature to organize a Book Reading in Holywood recently with popular local author and retired English teacher, David Park, who gave a stimulating address to a packed audience of around 150. In his talk, David provided an insight into the why, when, where and how he was inspired to write and, especially, quoting from his new novel “The Light of Amsterdam”.

Commenting on the trip, Mrs Richardson said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for our team from Wallace to make a real difference to the lives of those children who are most in need in Delhi. The team have enjoyed our fundraising activities so far and would encourage all those in the local community to support our upcoming events.”

Members of Book Clubs from locations such as Holywood, Titanic Quarter and Lisburn attended and the evening proved a most effective way to highlight the work of this fantastic charity, Almost £2,000 was raised towards the Wallace trip and Asha’s very successful higher education programme amongst the slum colony children of Delhi.

The team also raised £1,750 in a bag pack at Sainsbury’s Sprucefield before Christmas and hope to have a showing of Sing along Sound of Music in The Strand cinema, Belfast to raise further funds for this inspirational charity.

The next event is a showing of Slum Dog Millionaire in the Tudor cinema, Comber, on Wednesday March 12, 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Miss Walsh in the school.

For more information on the charity, visit www.asha-india.org