It's spring in Vermont, and this new group of wonderful students and staff is now packing for Kolkata! You can see them here, against a backdrop of barely-green branches. We had just had a dinner of lentil dal and raita at my house.
We've been preparing since October for this trip, learning about the culture and challenges of Kolkata, and fundraising to help our community organizations--Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's life work), Missionaries of the Word (a school/home for underprivileged children), Freeset Global (a socially responsible business helping women transition from the sex trade) and Loreto school for girls. We heard the sad news that one of our partners, Sabera Foundation, had to close their school for girls this winter because they lacked the funds to continue. It's a sobering reminder of the day-to-day reality these children face.
I hope you'll follow the blogposts and comment as we prepare for the next week and then fly May 20. We arrive in Kolkata May 22 (long flight, huge time difference!) and will stay for three weeks, working with these organizations, and experiencing the noisy, colorful, heart-breaking, beautiful streets of Kolkata and its people. It was 104 F yesterday!
Thank you for your support. We have open hearts for the journey ahead, and feel comforted by all of the folks who send their blessings with us. As Mother Teresa said, "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."
Namaste,
Allison
Nicole Buckley, Julia Berberan, Edmilse Diaz, Lauren Dibona, Stephanie Mertens, Abbey Stillwell, Ben Rosbrook, Marlyn Semexant, Andrea Gemme, Allison Cleary
No comments:
Post a Comment