(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) After spending time with destitute children at a charity school in Kolkata and spreading a message of hope and love in India, a group of 17 Dubai-based students returned to GEMS Modern Academy.
"The students who went on the trip were really moved by the experience because kids here in Dubai have a very different lifestyle. When they were coming back, they had tears in their eyes and it was really emotional," said Sydney Atkins, senior supervisor for Transition Years at the GEMS Modern Academy.
Partnering with Future Hope, a charity that helps street kids in Kolkata, the students undertook the journey as part of their community action service (CAS) project. The students underwent a transformational journey as part of the project where they spent five days with destitute children.
The school's previous community outreach programmes included adopting a village in South India, building a library for an orphanage and digging water wells.
"This time, our students designed a five-day programme where the children at Future Hope were hosted by our students to take part in various activities like, communication and debating, zumba, chemistry and photography," said Sydney.
Sarah Rahman was one of the students on the trip. She says the experience was remarkably different from what she expected it to be.
"All of us went with a mindset where we didn't know what to expect. This was the first time we weren't on a tourism trip and we were a bit apprehensive. However, when these children came to greet us for the first time, they were very lively, friendly and welcoming. They stood in a line with garlands and welcomed us.
They grabbed our hand and showed us around the school, making us instantly connect with their stories and lives."
Vinaya Jayadev, Community Action and Service coordinator, and Sunipa Neogi, International Baccalaureate assistant coordinator, accompanied the students who also painted a wall of hope to leave behind something for the street children to remember.
"The wall painting symbolises hope and a new future. It was a memory of the trip where students from both sides bonded," said Sarah.
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