A magical experience

I had never been to India so did not know what to expect. Of course, I had seen much on to and the Internet but really went with open eyes and mind!

The children in the village school were some of the happiest I have ever met ...despite having very little. The village only had two or three taps for water and no sanitation as we, in the West, would know it. However, we were told that the Government were now giving grants for toilets to be built. These lovely children have nothing apart from the clothes they stood up in and the love of their families. It made me feel very humble. I am not a trained teacher or social worker ...just a retiree who lost her husband two years ago .... but I did feel I could contribute something to the project both at the village school and the boys home. The charity is doing some fantastic work and the children are so appreciative. The supervisor of the programme ...and young man wiser than his years ...was a great inspiration to both us volunteers and the children. We were lucky enough to be in India for Holi ....which was great fun for us all.

The social side of the programme gave us such an insight into this ancient culture and something I will never forget ....not just the obvious Tourist sights but riding camels though the desert at sunrise and noisy toot toots in Agra, practicing yoga on the roof as the sun set over the mountains surrounding Udipur, eating and learning to cook delicious local food, all added to a wonderful experience I will never forget! Cannot wait to do it all again!