27th October - 4th November 2018
HOPE U CAN PAINT promises the journey of a life time as participants will visit HOPE projects in Kolkata and as a team help paint some of the children’s crèches and homes.
Visit HOPE Projects in Kolkata
A unique aspect of this program is our visits to HOPE projects in Kolkata. This allows participants to see first-hand where your fund raised money is being put to use and to give some of your time and energy to the children who live in the HOPE homes and who attend other projects like schools, medical facilities and craft cooperatives run by HOPE together with our Indian partner groups. You will also get to meet project staff who will answer any questions you may have and tell you more about specific projects. This is a unique opportunity to see your fundraising in action and give a little of your time to help.
You will never forget your time with the children of Kolkata who have been given so little but have so much joy to share.
Marcella O’Sullivan from Rosscarbery writes from Kolkata, India about her experience
of painting one of HOPE’s Educational Centres
Today we are in a slum area called Chetla to paint an Educational Centre there. The people greet us so warmly and get very excited about the fresh lick of paint and wall murals which will brighten up their lives a little. As in the other slum areas we have visited, whole families live in one tiny room. These dark, crowded rooms have neither running water nor electricity. The families sleep on the floor and the few possessions they own are preciously stored within this confined space – a few pots and pans, a mat to sleep on… They wash fully clothed at a pump on the side of a dirty street alongside many more.
It’s hard to imagine the lifestyle that we live in comparison. I think of the luxurious life at home that I take for granted, more often than not oblivious to the misery that others endure on a daily basis. Here, there is little chance of change. No way out. No avenues to escape to a better life. It’s overwhelming and hard to grasp the inequality of it all.
The kids that we meet here have nothing, yet they are so full of spark and spirit. They don’t own a toy or a book, and I cannot but cast a thought home to the rooms filled with toys that are never played with and the disposable attitude we all hold towards our possessions.
Here at this educational centre, they write on small chalk boards which can be wiped clean and used by other students and they own one copy which they mind with such care. While we paint, they practice the few words of English that they know and despite the language barrier, they are wonderful company. To entertain themselves they play with one skipping rope between them and make little toy trains from string and bits of found rubbish. To cool off in the muggy heat, they jump from a bridge in to the rubbish-filled river nearby, which looks anything but clean, and is full of rats and snakes we are told. I think that they must have immune systems made of steel. For the few days that we are there, the whole community rallies around, in huge gratitude for a small act. They are absolutely mesmerised by the roller, as they are used to applying paint with a cloth and all take turns in zipping around with it!
How do I take part?
Each participant is asked to fundraise €2,100 between now and the 19th of October to take part in this programme. Flights* are not included. Out of these funds just under half will go towards your expenses i.e. accommodation, food etc. The rest will go directly to The Hope Foundation’s projects with the street and slum children of Kolkata. Each participant must submit an Application Form (included in the downloadable information pack), a Deposit of €300 & 2 Photocopies of your Passport to secure your place.
The following instalments of funds are requested for the trip:
1) Deposit €300: On registration (on or before July 1st, 2018)
2) Balance: by 19th October 2018.
*Flights: Participants are required to book their own flights to Kolkata. Please contact Eila in the HOPE office for further flight details before booking your flight.
So fill out the APPLICATION FORM and return with your DEPOSIT and PASSPORT COPIES NOW! A place will then be reserved for you and you will receive further information on fundraising, itinerary etc.
Please send to :
Eila Flynn, The Hope Foundation, Coleraine House, Coleraine Street, Dublin 7
For futher information please contact:
T. 01 871 6930
E. eila@hopefoundation.ie
