15.03.2013
Blessington Children Celebrate Calcutta School Project
Pupils of Blessington No 1 School gathered to celebrate the dedication of Khanaberia Primary School in Dhappa Dump in Calcutta yesterday (March 14). The children of the Blessington school have helped to give the gift of education to children in Calcutta by raising €10,000 to refurbish a school building on a dump in Calcutta giving hundreds of children there hope for better lives.
The school was dedicated by the Archbishop Michael Jackson, at a special service in Blessington. Lisa O’Shea from GOAL was also in attendance along with one of Ireland’s top cardiologists, Dr David Mulcahy of Tallaght Hospital, who sowed the seeds of inspiration for the ambitious project. Also present were the Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Ven Ricky Rountree; rector of the Blessington Union of Parishes, the Revd Leonard Ruddock and local councillor, Jim Ruttle.
The school is situated on Dhappa dump, one of the largest dumps in Calcutta. The children who now attend the school forage daily on the dump with their parents in order to earn money to survive. It is hoped that by providing a school for these children and giving them an education it will help improve their lives.
The project captured the imagination of the Blessington pupils and after much discussion, the children of 5th and 6th classes hosted a Mad Hatters Tea Party and raised €4,589. A number of other events were organised including a joint Carol Service with Blessington Community College and St Mary’s Junior and Senior Schools. The funds raised, combined with a donation from a private benefactor, amounted to over €10,000 for the project.
The Calcutta school was officially opened by Dr Mulcahy in October last year. To celebrate the occasion the children of the Irish school sent out a suitcase full of pencils, rubbers, colouring pencils, markers and other supplies.
To celebrate the pupil’s fundraising achievement and to highlight the project to the wider community, a photographic exhibition was unveiled in the school. The photographs were taken by Dr Mulcahy during his visit to Calcutta and show what the money raised by the Wicklow school was spent on.